WA meatworkers strengthen leadership

WA meatworkers strengthen leadership

By Stephen Robson

PERTH — Elections in the meatworkers union here have consolidated the team around branch secretary Glenn Ferguson.

Ferguson originally won his position 18 months earlier, but faced a hostile committee of management that supported the right wing in the ALP.

Membership in the union had declined to 1800. Since Ferguson was first elected, the membership has risen to more than 3400. This occurred at a time when hundreds of jobs have been lost in the industry.

Ferguson's team won about 70% of the vote, with members following the ticket closely. "The heart of why we were re-elected is because we ran a very strong campaign over the closure of Robbs Jetty", Ferguson told Green Left Weekly.

"We will be involving the rank and file in the debates [within the union] and at the same time posing questions to them so that they start to understand their class position", Ferguson explained.

One of the first political issues they planned to take up is around Mabo.

The union is seeking federal award coverage. This decision was made 18 months ago, following a federal inquiry into the meat industry, but the "catalyst" has been the Court state government's industrial relations legislation.

About 1000 jobs have been lost in the meat industry this year alone through the closure of Robbs Jetty. Now, following the sale of Metro Meats on November 18, 300 meatworkers will lose their jobs in Albany.

A Christmas appeal has been launched for the sacked workers in Albany. Donations should be made payable to "Albany Xmas Appeal", and sent to AMIEU, First floor, 82 Beaufort St, Perth.

From GLW issue 124