Qld AMWU discusses response to IR 'reforms'

Andrew Martin
& Lynda Hansen, Brisbane

On March 7, 180 Australian Manufacturing Workers Union delegates, activists and officials met to discuss the AMWU's response to the anti-union industrial "reforms" that the Howard government plans to push through the Senate after July 1.

The meeting was addressed by AMWU national president Julius Roe and Queensland AMWU secretary Andrew Dettmar.

"The industrial legislation proposed by the Howard government is designed to prevent people from belonging to an effective, independent and strong union", said Roe. "The biggest weakness we face is all the non-union workshops where workers are fair game for this legislation. Weak unions will not survive."

He went on to outline the history of attacks on union rights in Australia and how unions had fought these attacks.

Dettmar told the meeting: "Anyone who thinks that Howard's industrial relations bill can be stopped is living in cuckoo land. However, the AMWU is planning to be at the forefront of campaigning against this legislation." However, he failed to provide any detail on how the AMWU would campaign against the legislation, other than trying to strengthening the union's existing workplace organisation.

A resolution was adopted by those attending the meeting to "maximise participation at meetings, rallies and demonstrations designed to raise public understanding and opposition to further attacks on workers' rights and access to their union".

From Green Left Weekly, March 23, 2005.

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From GLW issue 620