Solidarity with Craig Johnston
MELBOURNE The Socialist Alliance is organising a public meeting in solidarity with the elected Victorian leader of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Craig Johnston and the Skilled Six on September 2 at Trades Hall.The Skilled Six are a group of AMWU officials and members who have been charged over an alleged incident of vandalism at the labour-hire firm Skilled Engineering.
Justine Kamprad, an AMWU women's committee member and speaker at the meeting, told Green Left Weekly that attacks on militant unions have reached a fever pitch in Victoria from the federal government's royal commission into the building industry to the attacks on the Workers First leadership of the Victorian AMWU so it's important that unionists say enough is enough.
Craig Johnston will be the featured speaker. Other speakers will include: Michelle O'Neil, Victorian secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union; Martin Kingham, Victorian secretary of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Dean Mighell, Victorian secretary of the Electrical Trades Union; and maritime union and Socialist Alliance activist Chris Cain.
Union militants join Socialist Alliance
MELBOURNE The Socialist Alliance campaign to win electoral registration in Victoria is attracting significant support from militant trade unionists. More than 70 union militants have joined the alliance since August 11.The Socialist Alliance has campaigned solidly against the attacks on workers' rights, Jackie Lynch, Socialist Alliance candidate for Northcote and an electrical trades apprentice, told Green Left Weekly. We have been vocal opponents of the dodgy royal commission into the building industry and of the attempts to oust Craig Johnston and the Workers First leadership of the Victorian branch of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.
Around 40 trade unionists mostly members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union joined the Socialist Alliance at the August 12 rally against the royal commission. On August 14, a further 30 unionists joined at a CFMEU delegates' meeting at Trades Hall and at a rally outside the AMWU offices in Elizabeth Street.
[To assist with the Socialist Alliance registration campaign, phone (03) 9639 8622 or visit <www.socialist-alliance.org>.]
Socialist Alliance WA conference
PERTH Around 40 people attended the Socialist Alliance state conference on August 14. Since the launch of the WA electoral registration campaign, more than 100 people have joined the alliance.Campaigning for refugees' rights and against the impending war on Iraq were discussed. Both Fremantle and Perth Socialist Alliance branches decided to organise anti-war public meetings in late September. The meeting also decided to produce newsletters every two months. To find out more about Perth and Fremantle Socialist Alliance activities, phone (08) 9218 9608.
From Green Left Weekly, August 21, 2002.
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