Action updates

Salmat strike ends

SYDNEY — Ninety members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union's
printing division, employed at Salmat Laser Printing Services in Chester
Hill, returned to work on June 5 after nine days on strike.

The AMWU members, who make up more than two-thirds of the plant's work
force, picketed the factory around the clock to protest against management
attempts to introduce 12-hour shifts. Workers voted to return to work and
continue negotiations after Salmat offered workers a 6% wage rise and the
option of completing their week's working hours in shifts of either eight,
10 or 12 hours.

Canberra unions place bans

CANBERRA — The ACT Trades and Labor Council has said it will picket the
gates of the Fijian and the Burmese embassies if the human rights situation
in either country worsens or if it is requested to do so by trade unions
in the two countries.

The decision, taken at the TLC's June meeting, was prompted by union
participation in local solidarity actions for Burma and Fiji. A proposal
for an immediate picket outside the Fijian embassy was referred to the
TLC executive.

Members First successful

HOBART — Members First, a new progressive ticket put together to contest
the recent State Public Services Federation Tasmania elections, won around
35% of the vote.

Running against a ticket dominated by the generally ALP-right-aligned
incumbents, Members First's Sharyn von Bertouch won the position of vice-president
on the executive, while Carolyn Francis and Christine Bentley were elected
delegates to branch council.

Hobart March for Women 2000

HOBART — Activists are preparing for the Hobart end of the World March
for Women 2000, a global campaign which will culminate in an October 17
presentation to the UN of millions of postcards calling for measures to
eliminate poverty and violence against women.

Reclaim the Night, the annual march against violence against women,
normally held on the last Friday of October, will this year combine with
the World March in a rally and march on October 13. The groups are also
planning information stalls and a forum with Amnesty International. Their
meetings will be held fortnightly at the Women's Health Centre from June
28.

WA 'bastardry' on native title

PERTH — Aboriginal Legal Service spokesperson Glenn Shaw has described
as “an act of bastardry” a WA government decision to allow the processing
of thousands of mining applications on certain pastoral leases.

The government's decision relies on a Federal Court decision to disallow
the Miriuwung-Gajerrong native title claim, a decision which will be appealed
before the High Court.

East Timor headbangers rock Darwin

DARWIN — Darwin musicians combined their talents with Timorese bands at
the Botanical Gardens on June 10 for “A musical celebration of freedom”
in East Timor.

Around 1500 people heard the popular indigenous acts Saltwater Band
and Larrakia Band, as well as Drum Drum, Horse Trank and many others. The
highlight of the night, organised by the Asia Pacific Support Collective,
was the awesome Vi Almaa X from East Timor, who had the crowd screaming
for more.

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