It's Your Picket Line

It's twenty years since 3CR's 'ON THE PICKET LINE' burst on to the airwaves. Where else in the media but on 3CR would you hear about workers defying bosses? Where else do we hear the truth about why organised labour needs to fight? Where else on a Sunday morning can you hear a workers anthem rather than church bells and business reports. On 3CR, 855 on your AM dial at 10 am. That's where.

On 17 February 2006 there'll be a major fundraiser for 'ON THE PICKET LINE' in the Trades Hall Bar, Cnr Victoria & Lygon St Carlton South. For a mere $10 entry fee, which includes a door prize, live music, inspiring speeches and good politics, comrades can rally in the name of workers rights.

For more information phone Anthony Main 0417 368 215 or tune into the 'On The Picket Line' this Sunday at 10am

For those who don't know, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the ACTU's overseas humanitarian aid agency. In recent times APHEDA has given great support to people and organizations struggling for justice in countries such as Indonesia , East Timor and on the Thai-Burma border.

Candice, the Marketing and Fundraising Officer at Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, and Tara, Candice's university Intern, are looking for on-going support from Australian union members as APHEDA takes up the battle against globalisation's 'race to the bottom'. Through the support of Australian union members, APHEDA can help overseas workers unite against the growing trend in which wages and conditions are being lowered.

Through its magazines and various publications, the ETU carries information about APHEDA and the struggles of workers around the world. With the worldwide web allowing workers to communicate globally we can build important links. APHEDA needs our support, in this endeavour. For more information go to

http://www.apheda.org.au/

Pie in the Sky

In 2006, in an industry first, the ETU will partner its health provider fitness2live in a worksite health strategy with an emphasis on good eating habits. In a nutshell the idea is to encourage members to give healthy food a try. How many members, for example, choose to take their lunch to work? How many opt for a deep-fried lunch rather than a healthy bread roll? How many workplaces leave workers with little choice in the way of food? Are these industrial issues? The ETU's view is, yes. Although that advertisement showing a couple of workers eating pies and mocking vegetables and a straight-laced bloke in a restaurant is funny, it's bad ideology. Stay tuned for more information.

If you're looking for diet plan just click on the "Diet Plan" button in the "Members" section of the site

In the Diet Planner section you will find:

•  Help me choose a Diet Plan

•  What is the fitness2live Diet Planner

•  Diet Planner FAQ's

•  Setting Weight Loss Goals (article)

•  Create a Diet Plan

Join fitness2live NOW and better your diet.

Follow these 4 EASY STEPS to join NOW (it's FREE!).

•  Log on to http://etu.fitness2live.com.au

•  Click on the "Members" heading (on the top RHS of the F2L homepage)

•  Click on "Register Now" and complete the membership registration

•  Agree to "Terms of Service"

Congratulations!!! You're now a member.

The Anna Stewart Memorial Project

Anna Stewart, a former journalist and active Victorian union official from 1974 to 1983, died tragically in 1983, aged 35. Her involvement with the union movement began at a time when women workers comprised one-third of the paid workforce, but the few industries in which women were employed, offered jobs that were poorly paid, lacked job security and skills recognition.

A prime consideration motivating Anna was the need to develop strategies which would address the issues confronting working women and to facilitate the important contribution that women can make to the trade union movement.

During the two-week project women union members from diverse workplaces and occupations are placed with their own and sometimes with another union for two weeks. They experience the full range of union work, including mass meetings, enterprise negotiations and hearings in the Industrial Commission. In addition all participants meet for one whole day and two half days during the project to discuss women, work and union issues.

Every year members of the ETU participate in the Anna Stewart Memorial Project. The project broadens the participants understanding of the Union and its work as well as is to increase women's involvement in the union movement generally. Last year second year electrical apprentice Lauren from General Motors took part in the project. This is what she had to say about it.

"It is a development program designed to involve women in the workforce with their unions by getting them to spend two weeks shadowing their respective association around and learning how things are run from the union's perspective, and also the ways and strengths of other unions.

I can honestly say I have never met a more professional and forthcoming group of people. I am proud to be part of a union that's so well established, and would recommend to anyone the benefits of joining up with a strong coalition. It's opened my eyes so much as to what I can achieve for others and for myself in the future". (From ETU News December 2005)

And Jo Devenish took part in the project in 2000, these are her comments

http://www.etu.asn.au/nletter/3newsletter.html#anna

The project has been in existence since 1984 and so far approximately 600 women have participated in the Victorian project.

If your interested in participating, the next project is scheduled for Monday, May 15 - to Friday, May 26. Contact Linda on 8341 5555 or linda@etu.asn.au

It was a dark day when Bobby Sands died during the hunger strikes of 1981. British Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher, the great trade union wrecker of our time, didn't bat an eyelid. Sands was not only a courageous soldier, he was a poet and writer. With lines such as 'McIlhatton ye blurt we need you cry a million shaking men' the song McIlhatton is a glorious, witty tribute to the poitin (potato whiskey). On the other side of the emotional landscape is his Van Dieman's Land transportation song 'Back Home in Derry '. Written while incarcerated in the H-Block in occupied Ulster , the songs reflect Sands' prodigious talents and remind us how much he is missed.

Back Home in Derry can be found in the collection of Irish legend Christy Moore and ends as follows:

Twenty years have gone by and I've ended my bond

My comrades' ghosts walk behind me

A rebel I came and I'm still the same

On the cold winds of night you will find me

The Casement Group - Melbourne - in conjunction with Australian Aid for Ireland ( Sydney ) will celebrate Bobby Sands life at the Celtic Club on 18 February from 7.30pm. The band Gary Og (formerly of Eire Og) will head up a night of great entertainment, including Irish dancing and a special message from Jim Neeson - Casement Group Belfast. Tickets are $20 and $15 Concession. Contact ETU president John Doran on 0417 302 552 or Helen at the Celtic Club 9670 6472 to book a ticket.

While we're discussing things Irish you might like to think about the story we've been running on our website. Joanne Delaney is a 22-year-old shop steward, a member of the Mandate trade union, and two months ago Dunnes fired her for wearing her union pin on her uniform.  And despite pressure from her union they are refusing to take her back.? This is the same that is notorious for its anti-union policies.?? In fact, Dunnes so dislikes unions that it refused to meet with Joanne when she was accompanied by a union official.

Given the importance the ETU places on members wearing clothes that carry the ETU's emblems, this story should have a deep resonance in our ranks. Even casual observers are aware of how proud ETU members are to be associated with our Union . We wouldn't tolerate a boss trying this tactic on.

It’s timely that the ETU is supporting the Solidarity meeting to be held this Thursday at the Brunswick Town Hall, starting at 7 pm. If the riots in Cronulla weren’t bad enough, only a few days ago the captain of the South African cricket team was lamenting the racist abuse being delivered at members of his team in Australia. ETU secretary Dean Mighell told the online magazine he was angered by the racist abuse hurled at the Sri Lankans at a match he attended in Melbourne. You won't find the Prime Minister giving the yobbos a dressing down. All he's interested in is changing the way history is taught. We know what that means. Don’t mention the war, the one waged against indigenous Australians, that is. And don’t mention the exploitation of workers or the treatment of immigrants, of course. In an attempt to put the discrimination, hysteria and violence into perspective the ETU is encouraging members to attend the meeting on Thursday night. Speakers will include Dean Mighell, Omar Merhi and Phil Cleary.

Brunswick Town Hall - Cnr Sydney Rd and Dawson St

Thursday 9 February, starting at 7 pm

As we celebrate 150 years of the Eight Hour Day ETU members can now also celebrate the achievement of the 36-hour week in the contracting and service industry. A consequence of the ETU's pattern agreement strategy, something the Coalition wants to destroy, the 36-hour week takes shape as of right now.

When all the benefits are factored in - the increases in E Class licence payments and extra RDOs - this amounts to a 20.8 % pay increase for ETU members. Members will now be earning nearly $30 an hour, over $1,000 for a 36-hour week, before any overtime. If you add up the total dollar increases over the life of the agreement, excluding any overtime, an E Class electrician will be well over $10,500 ahead. This also does not include increases to severance, superannuation, long service leave and other benefits.

In addition to a 36-hour week and wage increases, the Victorian agreement includes:

•  paid down time for apprentices, and other apprentice benefits,

•  recognition of the need for employment ratios for older workers and apprentices, and encouragement for the employment of women in the industry and a commitment to training

•  improvements to fares and travel

•  an overtime limit

•  a Code of Conduct which will stamp out the DIY industry

•  improvements to severance, and other benefits

There's an old adage. If You Don't Fight, You Lose. Where have we seen that lately?

Wage rates are available at http://www.etu.asn.au/2006/union_rates.html

Your Rights at Work

The struggle against John Howard's IR laws has only just begun. Although we won the public relations battle with out advertising campaign before Christmas the Howard government is so abjectly anti-worker that there will be many real battles ahead. In the April edition of the ETU News Branch Secretary Dean Mighell will explain in detail how the Coalition is using its Code of Practice legislation to outlaw EBAs. Put simply, by denying government contracts to employers who sign agreements that don't meet the government's Code of Practice the Coalition is holding a gun at the head of employers and at the Union.

It's always intrigued progressive minded people how the Coalition can sing the praises of less government intervention yet meddle in the relationship between employers and workers when it suits. On 29 March 2006 there will be a VTHC - All Unions Shop Stewards and Delegates Rally - to keep officials abreast of the latest developments in the Your Rights at Work Campaign.

http://www.rightsatwork.com.au

It's absolutely crucial that we fill Dallas Brooks Hall on the day:

Wednesday 29 March

10am - Dallas Brooks Hall

The first 10 ETU members who contact etu@etu.asn.au and answer the following question will receive a free copy of the DVD Your Rights at Work.

What was the title of hunger striker, Bobby Sands' transportation song?

Women's Safety at Work

For a long time, violence against women in the home was one of the great taboo subjects. Although John Howard and his ministers will happily discuss indigenous violence towards women, you don't find then talking about white male violence behind the picket fence. As you read this online magazine, Paul Margach is on trial, charged with stabbing his wife to death. His defence has told the Supreme Court he lost control when his wife allegedly said she'd had sex with another man and was leaving him. It's known as the defence of provocation, a defence recently abolished by Labor Attorney-General Rob Hulls.

Eradicating violence against women is now a key plank in Trades Hall's platform. On Monday 20 February, at Trades Hall, starting at 5 pm, Professor Duncan Chappell will discuss the issue of violence towards women in the workplace. Workplace violence against women is a global problem, he says. Much of Professor Chappell's material is obtained from a study made of such violence by the Geneva based International Labour Office (ILO) and 'linkages between workplace violence and family and sexual violence and attention to contemporary and international best practice in making workplaces safer for women' will be addressed on the night'.

Although women are very much in the minority in the electrical industry the ETU is committed to attracting more women and encourages members, male and female to attend.

COST: Gold coin donation.

RSVP by Thursday, 16 th February 2006 - Ph. 9659 3575 or email ekleimaker@vthc.org.au

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