Strikes hit Sydney Buses
SYDNEY — Bus mechanics at NSW government-owned Sydney Buses workshops struck for three hours on June 30, disrupting morning peak-hour services. The strike was over conditions in their latest enterprise bargaining agreement.
In negotiations since December, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has argued for an 8% wage increase with no loss of jobs. Management initially offered 3% with redundancies, then increased their offer to 4% with trade-offs, prompting the maintenance workers to take protected industrial action.
The strike action took 90% of buses off the road until mid-morning. The union allowed only school buses to operate.
Management reduced the trade-offs in its offer after the strike, which the union will take back to its members for approval. Another morning stoppage was called off pending the workers' decision.
Sydney Buses will soon be hit by further industrial action from drivers, who are also negotiating an industrial agreement.
Liam Mitchell
Standing room only to hear Andrew Wilkie
WOLLONGONG — After mass-media coverage exposed the Illawarra Leagues Club's cancellation of a planned public meeting with Andrew Wilkie on the grounds that it would be "too political", 300 people packed out the Aboriginal Cultural Centre to hear him speak on June 30.
At the meeting, organised by Illawarra NoWar, Wilkie outlined his opposition to the occupation of Iraq and exposed the Coalition government's lies about Iraq's weapons capabilities. He described PM John Howard as dangerously incompetent on national security and his party as "unfit to govern".
The biggest cheer of the night came after the announcement that Wilkie will stand for the Greens against John Howard in his seat of Bennelong in the federal election.
Members of the crowd applauded Wilkie's courage and integrity, while some criticised his support for the US-led bombing of Afghanistan, and his opposition to the armed resistance in Iraq.
Chris Williams
From Green Left Weekly, July 7, 2004.
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