Unions NSW announces mass meetings

Susan Price, Sydney

Unions NSW secretary John Robertson used an April 28 May Day toast to announce that Unions NSW will organise a cross-union delegates' Sky Channel meeting in Sydney on May 27, followed by an all-in members' Sky Channel meeting on July 1, in response to the federal Coalition government's industrial relations agenda.

These activities will be part of the ACTU national week of union and community action from June 27 to July 1, which will coincide with the Coalition taking control of the Senate on July 1.

Sydney's May Day toast, organised by the May Day Committee, drew more than 340 people — the largest ever according to committee members. George Gotsis, president of the May Day committee, reminded the gathering of the real meaning of May Day, including its tradition as a day of working-class struggle for workers' rights and against imperialism.

Robertson also defended Unions NSW's strategy, which he stated had "copped a lot of flack". As well as announcing the mass meetings, Robertson took aim at reliance on street protests against PM John Howard's agenda, and emphasised the need for the union movement to campaign "smarter".

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Andrew Ferguson congratulated the 5000 students who had taken to the streets that day to protest against "voluntary student unionism" legislation. Ferguson also made special mention of the need for unionists to give solidarity to the Cuban Revolution and to the unfolding revolutionary process in Venezuela.

The gathering also heard from Robert Coombs of the NSW branch of the Maritime Union of Australia.

From Green Left Weekly, May 4, 2005.

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From GLW issue 625