Congratulations to Victorian Electrical Trades Union secretary Dean Mighell for his frank comment in the February 11 Age (“Unions must leave Labor”).
Tim Gooden
Delivering for all Working Australians was the slogan for the 2009 Australian Council of Trade Unions congress held June on 2-4. This raises the question what if you are not working or an Australian citizen? But the congress will not be remembered for such philosophical questions there were many more immediate issues at stake.
At first glance it seems like just about everyone is pleased with the federal government’s car industry bailout. The car industry bosses are delighted. The car industry unions are happy.
Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union official Noel Washington appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 31. He is charged with refusing to be forcefully interrogated by the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Two
The global financial crisis isnt just clipping the wings of grossly overpaid bank executives and speculators in shonky financial instruments. Its going to hit ordinary working people hard.
To lobby or not to lobby? Fortunately for the Australian union movement our forebears in the union leaderships didnt spend much time trying to answer this question. Campaigns were more direct and more successful than todays so-called strategies of boxing smart and keeping your powder dry.
Fifty ambulance officers and paramedics campaigning for more staff and better conditions bailed up Victorian health minister Daniel Andrews as he visited Geelong on September 19.
Workers at Huyck Wagner in Breakwater have been trying to negotiate a new wage agreement for several months. The bosss offer of a 2% pay rise would mean, given current inflation, a pay cut in real terms.
When does a worker, even a casual or part-time worker, join a union? When its clear that membership brings better pay, working conditions and job security. Why, then, is union membership among workers at an all-time low? Because in so many industries union membership doesnt seem to bring these benefits.
When does a worker, even a casual or part-time worker, join a union? When its clear that membership brings better pay, working conditions and job security. Why, then, is union membership among workers at an all-time low? Because in so many industries union membership doesnt seem to bring these benefits.
Right at the beginning of his draft report on climate change, Professor Ross Garnaut points out that global warming cant be beaten unless an international prisoners dilemma gets resolved.
The following article is abridged from a speech to the February 24 Victorian state conference of the Socialist Alliance by Geelong Trades Hall Council secretary and alliance member Tim Gooden.
Around 200 union leaders from around Australia attended a trade union leadership forum organised by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in Canberra from January 30 to February 1. Many had a lot on their minds. First and foremost, many wondered how the Rudd Labor governments new industrial relations systems would shape up and what the union movement will have to do to make sure it benefits workers? Unfortunately most walked away after three days asking themselves the same questions they arrived with.
On September 8, Tim Gooden spoke to Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Sydney branch secretary Warren Smith for the Geelong Trades Halls Union Air community radio program. The interview took place at the protest that day against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and US President George Bush.
A workshop involving trade unionists from around Australia is being held in Geelong on October 28 from 1pm. Socialist Alliance initiated the workshop because union activists are telling us that there are many issues in the campaign against Work Choices that arent getting discussed.
Trade union activists from around Australia will gather in Geelong, Victoria, on October 28 to discuss ways forward in the campaign against the Howard governments many assaults on workers and union rights.
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