WA TLC attempts to close 'workers' embassy'
By Michael Bramwell and Mary Nielson
PERTH — November 5 was Guy Fawkes Day, named after the man who was executed in 1606 for attempting to detonate a bomb under the British parliament. A ball on November 8, marking Guy Fawkes Day and closing the "workers' embassy" outside the WA Parliament House, was attended by 800 people.
The embassy was set up on April 29 following a 25,000-strong rally against the state Liberal government's "third wave" of regressive industrial relations legislation.
In closing the embassy, the WA Trades and Labour Council has acted against the wishes of the majority of union delegates, who voted last month for the embassy to remain staffed until the legislation was defeated.
The embassy has come to symbolise the broad community support for unionists' fight to stop the government and business's attacks on workers' right to organise.
On November 5, the TLC held an unpublicised meeting to initiate closing down the embassy. Tony Cooke, TLC president, claimed that he had the support of 90% of the union leadership.
However, many unionists believe that Cooke agreed to close the embassy in a deal stitched up with Premier Richard Court. These activists turned up to the November 5 meeting, where they argued down Cooke's proposal. As a result, the embassy will remain, but it will no longer be supported by the TLC with staff 24 hours a day.
The TLC's capitulation to the government on this issue reflects its general approach to the fight against the legislation. Despite massive rank and file and community support for further action when the legislation was passed, the TLC decided against it.
Instead, it promised a general strike if any unionist was impeded in their work by the legislation. Months later, despite the gradual implementation of the legislation, there has been no union action.