Now That's A Flag For June

The November Rally against the Howard government's WorkChoices legislation was the biggest rally in Australian history. Members, friends and family should make the 28 June rally yet another milestone in community protest. This isn't just about trade unions. It's about all working people and even people who aren't working. It's about parents who care about the future of their children. 'Even if it doesn't affect you directly, it will affect your friends. Anyone who thinks it's not going to affect them is way off the mark,' says Trevor Darwall, organiser on delegation to the ETU and member of the rally organising committee.

The committee is asking members to meet at the ETU Melbourne office at 9 am on Wednesday 28 June. And of course we need you to bring as many friends and comrades as possible. Outside the office fifty ETU members will unveil the biggest Eureka flag in the world, the event being captured for posterity on the ETU camera for publication in the August Edition of the ETU magazine.

At around 9.40 am the ETU contingent, led by honorary members and apprentices, will march to Trades Hall. From here the ETU will lead the march to the Bourke Street Mall, where there will be speeches and entertainment. Anyone who would like to be one of the ETU's one hundred and fifty flag bearers should contact Brent Matthews or Trevor Darwall at the office on 8341 5555.

There's still time to get your torches for Open Family's Longest Night Appeal, in aid of the homeless. All funds raised will assist Open Family's efforts in looking after the homeless.

ETU members can help in many ways:

As was the case last year shop stewards will be at the frontline of the fund raising, selling Longest Night Key Ring Torches. Torches are still available from Phil Cleary at the Mills Building , First Floor, 200 Arden Street North Melbourne .

On Saturday 17 June the ABC-televised VFL match from Preston will be dedicated to the appeal, and will feature a half-time interview with ETU branch secretary Dean Mighell and Open Family's Les Twentyman. ETU members who wish to distribute Longest Night Key Ring Torches at worksites or at VFL grounds during the weekend of 17 June should contact Phil Cleary - phil@etu.asn.au or phone 0400 982 292.

And we'd love to see as many ETU members as possible, with flags, at the Preston ground, in Cramer Street , on 17 June. The game starts at 1.10 pm.

Neil Mitchell's Truth

Trevor Darwall reports:

Once again it appears John Laws, I mean Derryn Hinch, no Alan Jones, sorry Neil Mitchell (Herald Sun 1 July), that's the one (hard to tell them apart sometimes) has subscribed to the time honoured tradition of sensationalist reporting. His attack on the CFMEU - despite it raising $95,000 for the widow of a member killed at work - was based entirely on the Australian Building Construction Commission claim that the CFMEU had been involved in a set-up. We wouldn't mind so much if these articles appeared in the Truth paper, because most people are aware of the irony in the name of that paper.

But I get annoyed when these articles are printed in the Herald Sun, because some people actually believe them to be the truth. The government set up the ABCC. If it is an independent body, as Mitchell suggests, why does it have the coat of arms on everything? How come Mitchell originally supported the collection and now has changed his tune? More union bashing! He says 'The public has been fooled'. No. Just Mitchell. And not by the union! The public is awake up to journalists who try to make news instead of reporting news. Perhaps that's why union membership is increasing daily. However, Mitchell did pose one important question. 'What is really wrong with these laws and what can be improved? If only he'd ask us!

Marginal Seats Campaign

Shop Steward Mike Symon is looking for comrades to support the marginal seats campaign in Deakin. Currently held by the anti-worker Liberal, Phil Barresi, Deakin is the most marginal seat in Victoria , with a margin of 4.9%. As Mike says, it's not his job to tell you how to vote, but it is the ETU's responsibility to put the cards on the table as far as the WorkChoices/NoChoices legislation is concerned.

And those cards show a very nasty government, obsessed with destroying hard fought conditions.

Volunteers are needed for the battle ahead. There is much to be done, he says, including the following:

Staffing a stall at shopping centres.

Helping to collate stories about workers being done in by WorkChoices and greedy employers.

Signing up to the Your Rights at Work mailing list.

Leafletting the electorate in the lead-up to the election.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the campaign in Deakin should ring Mike Symon on 0418 362 154 or email on mike@etu.asn.au

At the upcoming Split Enz shows at Rod Laver Arena Neil and Tim Finn have agreed to support Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign, by allowing representatives to talk to concertgoers as they enter and leave.

Volunteers to staff 1-2 stands and hand out information, get signatures for the Big Noise petition and talk to anyone who wants to find out more are needed Oxfam needs five volunteers for each show.

The dates are: Sunday 11 June and Monday 12 June. The shows are in the evening and volunteers will be required from late afternoon until the end of the show. Oxfam is holding in discussions about getting volunteers in to see the show but cannot guarantee show entry at this point.

Briefing notes and a briefing session in the evening of your show will be provided to get you up to speed. If you can assist please email terrencer@oxfam.org.au or contact Victoria Oxfam Australia 156 George St Fitzroy, Victoria , 3065

Ring (03) 9289 9332 to join the campaign to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY. Visit http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns to get involved. 

On the evening of Wednesday, 7 June there will be a public meeting involving c communities, unions and churches in a discussion titled Creating a Fairer Future. The discussion, to be held at the Melbourne Town Hall , will start around 7.00 pm and close around 10.00 pm.

MC for the night will be Father Bob Maguire, who was featured in the last edition of the ETU News and is the force behind Open Family, whose Longest Night campaign is sponsored by the ETU.

A range of informative speakers - churches, unions and community - will discuss the new workplace and welfare laws and consider the moral dimension and impact on the most vulnerable.

These include:

1. Introductions

   - Maureen Postma, General Secretary of the Victorian Council of Churches

2. The moral dimension - justice for workers

    - Father Bruce Duncan, Redemption Priest

3.  "WorkChoices" working people

     -Chris Walton, ACTU

     - Brian Boyd, Victorian Trades Hall Council

4.  WorkChoices and "Welfare to Work"

     - Sally James, GM Community Development, Melbourne City Mission

5.  Church, Communities and Unions Working Together

    - (Fairwear Campaign) Rev. David Pargeter, Exec. Director Uniting Church Commission.

6.  Creating a Hopeful Future

     - Rev. Canon Ray Cleary, CEO, Anglicare Victoria

Union Solidarity will facilitate general discussion after the speakers conclude.

 Community representatives will be available to discuss your involvement after the meeting. For more information contact Dave 0412 484 094.

The ETU has received notification that the leader of the opposition, Kim Beazley, who has restated his pledge to 'rip up' John Howard's extreme industrial relations laws, would welcome the opportunity to discuss his attitude to the WorkChoices/NoChoices legislation.

This might include:Workplace meetings and BBQs, delegates meetings or conferences, union picnic or family days, protests or rallies, public or community meetings. He's also interested to know about cases of individuals who have been adversely affected by WorkChoices.

If ETU members have any specific events they think might be appropriate places for Kim Beazley to articulate his views please ring Mike Symon on 0418 362 154 or email him on mike@etu.asn.au or ring the office.

We're all well aware of the problems confronting East Timor and how some right wing columnists are gloating at the prospect of a progressive government there throwing itself on the mercy of the West. Few of these people want to acknowledge the destruction created by the pro-Indonesian militia in the wake of the independence referendum in 1999.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA - has had an office in Dili since 1999, and though its Australian volunteers have been temporarily withdrawn, local staff are assisting in the relief efforts in Dili. It's APHEDA's view that 'Situations of civil conflict, such as East Timor or Solomon Islands , arise not just because of governance concerns, but because of the terrible suffering and alienation caused by mass unemployment'.

APHEDA has identified skills training - so young women and men can get jobs or establish production cooperatives - as a key issue. To this end APHEDA is seeking donations, in order that staff in Dili can provide relief to displaced people in the coming weeks, and to assist local organisations in rebuilding a peaceful, free and productive society in East Timor over the coming months.

 If you wish to make a contribution, please ring Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA:

1800 888 674 (in Australia, 8.00 to 18.00 Eastern Standard Time M-F) or email office@apheda.org.au Candice Feuerring - Marketing & Fundraising Officer - can be contacted on 02 9264 9343 - Mob: 0404 347 165

www.apheda.org.au email: cfeuerring@apheda.org.au

Shine The Light On Spotlight

Members would be aware, through media reports, that the fabric distributor, Spotlight, has offered workers a pay increase of just two cents an hour in exchange for losing entitlements such as penalty rates, rest breaks and overtime. It's indeed ironic that a company with traditionally strong connections with a working class market, should behave in this way. The ACTU reports that the Australian-owned chain of fabric and homewares stores employs 6000 workers with a profit of over $600 million a year but that new staff will lose up to $90 a week under the terms of the company's new individual contracts.

It is further reported in ACTU press releases that management has argued that they were given the green light to bring in AWAs. AAP reported the company as saying 'Our AWA obviously meets all of the Work Choices'. The Herald Sun quoted the company as saying 'We are not the ones writing the laws'. These statements raise a number of questions. Is this what the laws are really about? Kevin Andrews seems to have a different view. And is it right that companies should treat employees this way simply because they can?

All the research shows that Australians do not support these laws. To support the Spotlight staff and tell Spotlight's owners Morry Fraid and Ruben Fried how you feel about their company's actions all you need to do is click here:

http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/spotlight

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