Motion on police at S11

The following is the text of a model motion for trade unions and community groups to condemn police violence at S11.

This (union/meeting/executive) condemns the September 11-13 assaults by the Victoria Police on non-violent blockaders at Crown Casino and the endorsement of these savage attack by ALP premiers Steve Bracks and Bob Carr.

The union regards these police actions as an assault on the right to protest in general and on the right of all unions to establish picket lines in the course of industrial campaigns in particular.

The union recognises that the police have options other than the use of force when faced with non-violent picketers or blockaders, even when they may be breaking the law by obstructing entry to particular premises.

The union regards the use of overwhelming force against S11 protesters by the Victoria Police as an attempt to dish out summary justice rather than an attempt to enforce the law.

The union therefore demands that Premier Steve Bracks:

• publicly repudiate his comments endorsing the assaults by the Victoria Police on S11 protesters;

• state that the Victorian government opposes the use of overwhelming force by the police against non-violent demonstrators engaging in acts of civil disobedience;

• support an independent inquiry into police violence against S11 demonstrators which would examine who ordered the baton charges on September 12, why demonstrators were given no warning prior to the baton charges and why police failed to wear their identification badges;

• instruct the Victoria Police that when confronted with people engaging in summary offences, such as blockading driveways and the like, they are only entitled to enforce the law by making arrests. In making such arrests, police are permitted to use only reasonable force and are duty bound to use minimum force only. The use of overwhelming force against non-violent picketers/blockaders engaging in such summary offences is not acceptable.

The officials of this union will take the necessary steps to make its position on this issue known to union members and the general public.

The union will also work closely with other unions and community organisations to see that our demands in relation to this issue are met.

[Copies of this motion can be found at <www.asiet.org.au/uact>.]

From GLW issue 422