BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS
MELBOURNE — More than 10,000 people rallied in opposition to the federal coalition government's attacks on union, health and education on November 11. The protest was part of Victorian Trades Hall Council's Fair Go campaign.
Most of the protesters were construction workers, currently facing big attacks from the federal government on their right to organise. Canberra has had the construction division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) in its sights for some time. In 2001, it set up a royal commission to investigate "the building industry", which ignored employer corruption to focus on demonising militant union action.
Using the commission's predictably anti-union report as justification, the Coalition has drafted legislation specifically targeted at the construction industry that will: force secret ballots before industrial action can be taken; force 14-day cooling-off periods for some industrial action — including when the action is to prevent work in unsafe conditions; outlaw industry-wide (pattern) bargaining; and establish a building industry commission with police powers.
Victorian CFMEU secretary Martin Kingham gave an impassioned speech to the rally calling for more solidarity with building workers in the face of the attacks. He argued that the construction workers were just the first targets in a campaign to take away workers right to organise.
The rally was also attended by a strong contingent of maritime workers, many vehicle building workers and members of the National Tertiary Education Union, among others. "look around", Kingham told the building workers present, "You're not alone. You don't have to fight alone."
Victorian Trades Hall secretary Leigh Hubbard emphasised the importance of publicly funded education, and a universal health care system, detailing the Coalition government's plan to increase student fees and dismantle Medicare. He pointed out that the date was an important one: it was the day of the Whitlam sacking.
Given that it was also Remembrance Day, the protesters held a minutes silence at 11am, Kingham pointing out, "Our own fallen, those that have been killed in industrial accidents in the workplace, need to be acknowledged as well [as soldiers]." Around 400 workers are killed on the job every year.
From Green Left Weekly, November 19, 2003.
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