Militant unions and the Labor government

Militant unions and the Labor government

By Jorge Jorquera

MELBOURNE — On March 22, Green Left Weekly's regular Politics in the Pub at Comrades Bar hosted a discussion on issues facing the union movement in Victoria.

Speakers included Dave Cushion, assistant-secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, Craig Johnston, assistant-secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), and Sue Bull from the Geelong branch of the Democratic Socialist Party and a former Community and Public Sector Union organiser.

Participants discussed the development of industry-wide campaigns and the challenge presented by the recently elected Labor state government. Johnston made the point that the only times that Premier Steve Bracks has contacted the AMWU was after bosses had raised concerns with the government.

From GLW issue 399