Action updates

Action updates

Hunter Valley miners

SYDNEY — About 150 supporters attended a benefit for the Hunter Valley No 1 miners at the Gaelic Club here on November 14. Peter Hicks, Denis Kevans, John Dengate and the Travelling Agitators all performed to raise funds for the miners in their dispute with Rio Tinto.

Ross Peters, miners' union lodge president, talked about the huge support the miners have received while travelling around the country to publicise the dispute. He said the dispute is far from over and that it is likely that Rio Tinto will victimise workers while the arbitration process proceeds.

Stick With Wik

MELBOURNE — Opponents of the Howard government's racist Wik legislation will have another means to express their support for native title with the "Stick With Wik" campaign, launched here on November 17. Three ribbons in the colours of the Aboriginal flag — printed with the messages "Defend Native Title", "Coexistence, Justice, Reconciliation" and "Stick With Wik" — will be sold on a postcard to be forwarded to John Howard.

A Stick With Wik benefit gig will be held over two nights on November 18-19 at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Performers will include Tiddas, Paul Kelly, Blackfire, Dave Graney, and Weddings, Parties, Anything. Phone (03) 9481 1180.

Airport shops picketed

SYDNEY — Downtown Duty Free Shops at Kingsford Smith international airport are being picketed by 40 bond store employees made redundant and then replaced by casual workers. Another 360 employees in the company's shops were forced to reapply for their jobs and sign a list of job conditions.

The workers, members of the National Union of Workers, are asking travellers not to cross the picket line into the shops.

From GLW issue 298