By Ray Fulcher
MELBOURNE — The Victorian Trades Hall Council has called for a "week of action" against the Kennett government's attacks on workers and public services.
Beginning October 3 and culminating in a city rally on October 6 as yet unspecified actions will occur throughout the state, focusing on cuts in health, education and kindergartens. This is the first major anti-Kennett action organised by Trades Hall since May 5.
October 6 will involve workers stopping work to attend, but according to Trades Hall secretary John Halfpenny, "We are not planning to shut down the state".
The word around the union movement is that October 6 will be another "do your own thing" day with individual unions, and in some cases individual workplaces and workers, deciding how long to down tools to attend the rally.
The lack of direction by Trades Hall against Kennett and the interference by the ALP and ACTU have spread demoralisation among workers. Since November 10 the anti-Kennett rallies have become progressively smaller, though still significant.
Anger against Kennett is still strong and was reflected in local elections on August 7, which produced a resurgence of the ALP vote and a strong showing by independents who campaigned against the government's cuts and attacks.
There are also the examples of kindergarten protests, the teachers' strike on August 26 and the blocking of the last train out of Bairnsdale in the state's east by local residents angry at the closure of their rail service.
The anger against Kennett's attacks has not been harnessed to a combined industrial/mass action campaign. Instead Trades Hall has "called out the troops" two or three times, paraded them around the city, exhorted them to vote Labor next time and then called for "discussion" with Kennett. Meanwhile the government's attacks continued unabated.
Trades Hall is also facing a revolt by some right-wing unions. The Federation of Industrial, Manufacturing and Engineering Employees and the Shop Distributive & Allied Employees Association have opposed the October 6 rally and resigned from the THC.
The Victorian Secondary Teachers Association, State Public Service Federation and Communication Workers Union have expressed support and can be expected to endorse their members' participation in some form.
October 6 is likely to draw some tens of thousands into the streets, but it is not clear how long Trades Hall can keep this momentum going (or if it wants to).