Johnston addresses packed meeting

BY TIM STEWART

BRISBANE — To a packed Kurilpa Hall of 90 people, Craig Johnston, Victorian state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), gave a gripping account of union struggle Workers First-style.

Organised by the Defend Our Unions committee in conjunction with the Socialist Alliance, the August 24 public meeting provided an opportunity for Johnston to explain the development of militant unionism in Victoria, and some background on the attempts by AMWU national secretary Doug Cameron to get rid of Workers First influence in union's Victorian branch.

Johnston explained how he'd previously been a member of Cameron's National Left faction, but had left after seeing the results of union leaders and bosses collaborating during the long years of ALP-ACTU Accord. He explained how he'd been fined $20,000 for contempt of court for continuing to organise mass meetings of members during the AMWU's Campaign 2000.

"We didn't back off, and eventually we won", said Johnston. As a result of Campaign 2000, Victorian metalworkers won an increase of 15% in their wages. "But it wasn't just the wages issue that we won on, it was other issues of health, safety, hours and job security too."

Johnston also noted how over the decades the AMWU had given support to progressive social movements such as the campaign against uranium mining, and added that this approach had continued during his term as Victorian branch secretary. He cited the Victorian branch's support for the refugee rights movement, the International Women's Day marches and the anti-globalisation protests outside the World Economic Forum in Melbourne in September 2000. Johnston said the response to members involvement in the M1 May Day protests had increased by the thousands.

Also dealt with during the presentation were the charges laid against Johnston and other AMWU members (known collectively as the Skilled Six). Johnston explained how these charges were full of inconsistencies such as video footage showing a union meeting on the grass outside the company building being used to identify a later allegation of trespass.

Ian McLeod, former AMWU organiser from the retired unionists association, stated the association had passed a motion of support for Craig Johnston to be reinstated.

In closing the meeting, Defend Our Unions member Jim McIlroy noted that the struggle inside the AMWU in Victoria deserved all unionists' support. He added that the Cameron camp had played right into the hands of the bosses as all manoeuvres and attempts to block Workers First initiatives had resulted in a weaker workers' movement overall.

From Green Left Weekly, September 4, 2002.

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From GLW issue 507