WA shows there's power in a union

By Jorge Jorquera PERTH — The sight of Perth City railway station empty would usually be considered a disaster from the point of view of a regular Green Left Weekly seller. But on October 17, it was an inspiring sight as Western Australia was brought to a halt in a day of union and community protest against the Court government's anti-democratic industrial relations proposals. The state was paralysed and unions in other states blockaded transport and mail to WA. There were no Westrail services in country or city areas, nine interstate freight trains were cancelled and MetroBus services were cancelled. The airport stood still. One British Airways plane landed but there were no workers to unload luggage. Eleven ships could not get in or out of Port Fremantle and another seven were unable to move at Bunbury, Port Hedland and Geraldton. Around 1000 workers also braved pouring rain to attend a "morning tea action" at Parliament House where ACTU president Jennie George spoke. The unions did not mobilise their members for this action, however. For example, mail worker John McGill says that about 50 workers from the Perth Mail Exchange walked off the night shift and marched down to the action, but did so with little support from officials of the Communications Division of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union. The officials were too busy hosing down media suggestions that postal workers would strike on the day of action. While they supported workers attending the morning tea action, official notices to members stressed that "There has never been any direction from this office for members to strike". Later that day workers took control of the parliamentary gallery, drowning out Liberal MPs with choruses of "You won't get me, I am part of the union". When threatened with removal by the police, the workers pledged to return when the industrial legislation is put to parliament. Some employers and government department heads bleated about "being held to ransom by the unions" and renewed their calls for contract labour and more laws restricting the rights of unionists. But while premier Richard Court and his labour relations minister, Graham Kierath, have stood firm, the strength of the trade union campaign has forced others in the state and federal Coalition to seek a partial retreat. Deputy premier and National Party leader, Hendy Cowan, has expressed his concern that the proposed industrial legislation and the consequent dispute could jeopardise the state and federal electoral chances of the Coalition. Cowan's remarks also reflect the uneasiness of a section of the corporate sector which has fared quite well under Labor's industrial reforms and wage restraint. Wary of risking serious financial loses in a premature head-on confrontation with the unions, Cowan and his supporters prefer to wait till trade unions are worn down a bit more. Federal opposition leader John Howard has also been careful not to give full backing to Court's legislation, although he supports key aspects of it, such as the law enforcing secret ballots before industrial action can be taken. Prime Minister Paul Keating refused to endorse or condemn the blockade but eagerly sought to exploit the "Court bogey". Keatin