Tax office campaign falters

Tax office campaign falters

By Ben Courtice

MELBOURNE — The Community and Public Sector Union's Tax Section has stepped back from its campaign against staff sackings in Victoria.

While the CPSU has promised to strike the moment any member is declared "excess", management has already begun the process of identifying excess staff. They have agreed to meet with the union after the completion of this process but what union officials expect to gain from this meeting is unclear. In the meantime, the momentum behind industrial action risks being lost.

The union activist network Members First has called for a half-day strike and a rally for job security in each major city so as to maintain the momentum of the campaign, take the initiative, and put pressure on management before redundancies are decided.

Members First's motion also calls on other public service departments to take part. Another motion calls for a stop-work meeting of all departments. Although service-wide action is union policy, the national leaders of the union have failed to put it into practice.

Members First's bulletin points out that there have been victories recently, such as the Cairns wharfies and the Victorian nurses. "The government, embarrassed by the travel rorts affair, is vulnerable. A strong campaign against public service sackings could force them to retreat."

To contact Members First, telephone Ben Courtice on (03) 9275 4823.

From GLW issue 293