WA unions continue campaign against 'third wave'
By Anthony Benbow
PERTH — The next stages of the campaign against the state government's anti-union "third wave" legislation are being planned by the WA Trades and Labour Council.
Half the legislation was proclaimed on May 23, including the section which forces union officials to seek permission and identify union members before they can enter a workplace, and prevents checks on time and wage records of non-unionised workers.
However, proclaiming it isn't the same as making it work, and unions immediately went on a campaign to break this law 100 times in the first week. As yet there has been no response from the government.
The Workers' Embassy outside Parliament House remains a big success despite government threats. After two weeks of Premier Richard Court blustering that the embassy was illegal and would be removed by police that day/the following day/within a week/very soon, the ultimatum came down: move out within 90 days — or else.
A successful family day was held at the embassy on May 25, and the anniversary of the Aboriginal citizenship referendum was celebrated with a traditional corroboree on May 30.
On May 28, a ratbag aged care hostel trying to force miscellaneous workers' union (ALHMWU) members onto individual contracts awoke to find an official "annexe" of the workers' embassy established at its front gate — along with a picket line.
The annexe remained there day and night for two days while part of the dispute was being heard in the IRC.
The possibility is being considered of further annexes or "consulates" of the workers' embassy being established in regional areas as one focus of the ongoing campaign. A mass meeting of union delegates on June 4 will decide the next steps, including the possibility of coordinated industrial action.
Meanwhile, the government continues to push criminal charges against unionists. Two CEPU members had to face the courts on May 28 after Clive Griffiths, Liberal president of WA's upper house, had them charged for allegedly blocking his entry to the parliament on May 15, as the government gagged debate and rammed the bill through. The two were released on bail and will face court again in July.
It is believed Griffiths is trying to pursue other unionists as well — for doing no more than standing together. All the signs point to WA unions standing together for a long time yet.