ADELAIDE — A mass meeting of state public service unionists has been called for February 24 to discuss the dispute between the Public Service Association and the South Australian government over wages and conditions.
The call came at a 200-strong meeting of PSA delegates on February 11, which was told that the government's latest wage offer was for a 3.5-4% increase over two years. It originally offered 3%. The union has been campaigning for a 12% increase over two years.
The "improved" offer was soundly rejected by the meeting. Delegates pointed to the 20% rise in electricity prices and increases in state fees and taxes. The meeting endorsed a proposal to accept any government offer of double digit figures.
Public support for the PSA's pay campaign remains strong. In contrast, the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers was critical of the PSA for taking industrial action. A spokesperson for the APESM, which has around 300 members in the state public service, told the February 14 Advertiser that "a mature union" should concentrate on negotiation.
Bronwen Beechey
SPC production workers win shorter hours
Workers at the SPC Ardmona fruit processing and canning factories in Shepparton and Mooropna returned to work on February 16 and February 17 respectively after having won an enterprise bargaining agreement which includes eight extra paid rostered days off per year.
Prior to the EBA, the workers — members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Australian Workers Union — went on strike for six days. It had been nine months since the expiry of their last EBA.
A key component of the new EBA is a 13.5% wage increase.
Following the merger of SPC with Ardmona in 2002, the company is the main producer of canned fruit in Australia and up to 60% of its production is exported.
Graham Williams
'We can fight and win'
CANBERRA — James Vassilopoulos, convenor of the ACT Network Opposing War (ACT NOW), was selected as the Socialist Alliance candidate for the federal seat of Fraser on February 17.
The meeting also launched a drive to secure the necessary 100 members for the ACT Socialist Alliance branch to run candidates in the October 16 ACT Legislative Assembly election under the name of the Socialist Alliance.
"It is clear that the Socialist Alliance is leading the movements that have a chance to topple Howard", Vassilopoulos said. "The unity and gains from the Socialist Alliance have given people the hope that we can fight and we can win."
Nick Everett
Brown speaks at Adelaide University
ADELAIDE — On February 18, 250 people attended a forum featuring Greens senator Bob Brown at Adelaide University. He spoke about the current logging of old-growth forests in Tasmania.
Introduced as the "de facto opposition leader", Brown attacked the Coalition government for exempting Forestry Tasmania from environmental laws, and for the legal loop-hole which ensures that if the forests are ever protected, woodchipping companies will be compensated by the government to the total value of the forests in woodchips.
Brown stressed the importance of movements around Australia to save Tasmania's forests, arguing that, like the campaign to stop the Franklin Dam, local actions in Tasmania will not be enough.
Brown also commented on the recent clashes between police and Aboriginal youth in the Sydney suburb of Redfern. He said that he had been "predicting it in parliament since 1996, when Native Title effectively pulled the rug on real native title". He said it indicated white Australia's lack of understanding or respect of the original inhabitants of this country.
Emma Murphy
Brisbane for the millions
BRISBANE — The Central-Northern branch of the Socialist Alliance has endorsed Coral Wynter as its candidate for the Central ward in the March 27 Brisbane City Council election.
Wynter recently contested the overlapping electorate of Brisbane Central in the Queensland state election.
"The Socialist Alliance will focus on the theme of Brisbane as a 'city for the millions, not the millionaires!' Homelessness, affordable public housing, protection of our urban environment, public transport and racism will be highlighted in our campaign", she told Green Left Weekly.
Bill Mason
War, health, democracy, and the WSF
ADELAIDE — Sixty people attended a meeting on February 19 addressed by local activists recently returned from the World Social Forum (WSF) in Mumbai.
Fran Baum from the People's Health Movement reported on the public health issues canvassed at the WSF. "The capitalist system [is] driven by the need for more oil fields, or more markets to conquer, or less competitors. Capitalist 'free trade' has huge implications and huge impacts for public health", she said.
The meeting was also addressed by Ruth Russell, who was a human shield in Iraq during the US-led invasion. She said that one of the main issues raised at anti-war workshops during the WSF was the need for people to become activists, to struggle for democracy, and to force governments to be accountable to the people if war is to be prevented. "We don't have democracy in Australia", Russell said. "Not many countries do. One vote every three years is laughable."
Leslie Richmond
From Green Left Weekly, February 25, 2004.
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