Nursing Victory

Trades Hall secretary Brian Boyd likened the atmosphere to that on the docks during the great battle with Corrigan and his mob a decade ago. And ETU members, in a sea of flags, were out in full force when Lisa Fitzpatrick and her brigade of nurses filed into Festival Hall on Thursday 25 October.

Peter Marshall secretary of the firefighters union was so angry about the state government’s treatment of the nurses he told the media he’d be voting for the Greens. In the end the nurses won the day, with nursing ratios enshrined in the agreement and conditions secured. It’s probably fair to say we’ve all been to a few emotional union meetings in our time. But most people say they can’t recall one that was more passionate and defiant than this one.

Against a backdrop of red placards Lisa Fitzpatrick was like a rock star when she arrived. And when she declared the agreement, reached only minutes before the meeting, to be a success there was pandemonium.

Those nurses do know how to put on a show. That aside, the solidarity shown by other unions and unionists was a lesson for every unionist and progressive-minded person. Solidarity forever!

Your Rights at Work

The battle to defeat John Howard and his anti-union mates is in full force, with the election less than three weeks away.

The ETU is calling on all members who can spare the time to assist Mike Symon and the Your Rights at Work campaign in Deakin. With a margin of around 5%, sitting Liberal member Phil Barresi can be beaten. As explained in previous online magazines, Barresi voted on 23 separate occasions in support of Howard’s raft of IR legislation.

Just as importantly, he is a compliant member of a party that has no regard for working people, the environment or a just society. Despite all the rhetoric about John Howard being a man who tells us what he thinks, he will go down as one of the most opportunistic politicians in Australian history.

John Howard deserves to lose this election and lose his seat. He has done nothing to enhance the Australian character or psyche, and he has made us a lesser country. For all Paul Keating’s sins he could did paint a picture that inspired many people. He was certainly more entertaining than boring old John Howard.

A vote against Phil Barresi in Deakin is a vote against John Howard and his misery bags view of the world. It’s also a vote for a renewed debate with the ALP about the future of Australia. To assist Mike in driving Howard from the parliament just ring Alex McCallum on 8329 0000 or email on alex@etu.asn.au

The Youtube Future

The first Australian union to use podcasts – radio on the web – to communicate with its members and the world, the ETU has now embraced Youtube. If you haven’t discovered Youtube but have children of school age, we suggest you ask them to find it for you.

In recent weeks the ETU has posted various programs – the nurses’ dispute among them – on Youtube. This means members can now see and hear working people talking about their lives and their politics. So let’s not worry about what the media is up to. With our stories on the website people from all around the world are becoming our audience.

These stories and interviews - conducted by Phil Cleary and compiled for the web by Jason Gibson in the communications department - are the way of the future. Ford workers, secretary Dean Mighell and president John Doran, the Heinemann dispute and much more can be found on the web at the following links.

http://www.youtube.com/user/etusouthernstates

http://www.youtube.com/etuholdtheline

http://www.etu.asn.au/2007/hold_the_line.html

If you have any thoughts about stories, or want to make a comment, please email me: phil@etu.asn.au

A Union Show for You

Many members are probably not aware there is a show on TV specifically dedicated to unions and progressive issues. The Channel 31 Union Show screens every Monday night at 8.30 pm. In recent weeks the show has featured the union response to climate issues, the race day at Moe sponsored by the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council, the nurses dispute and a series of vox pops on the upcoming election.

The ETU is now heavily involved in the show, with Dean Mighell giving the union’s support and your correspondent (Phil Cleary) hosting the program. With Jason Gibson editing and compiling segments of the show, those who can’t get Channel 31 on their TV or miss the program can catch highlights on our Youtube site:
http://www.youtube.com/user/etusouthernstates

Channel 31’s site on Youtube is found at: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=unionshow

The intention is to make the show as entertaining and informative as possible, within the constraints of money and time. And there’s no doubting the possibilities the program offers for progressive people. ETU shop steward Omar Merhi sees it this way: ‘I sit down and watch the show with my 8-year-old son, Sammy. It allows me to teach him a bit about fairness and the union movement. I encourage all unionists to do the same’.

As always, send us an email if you have any thoughts: phil@etu.asn.au

Geelong – Defending Manufacturing

In the aftermath of Geelong’s AFL premiership the Union Show featured local workers talking about the plight of manufacturing in Geelong. Two ETU shop stewards at Ford, Jim Kontogeorgis and Chris Reilly, are extremely active in the campaign to defend manufacturing in Geelong.

They are now members of a committee established specifically to defend manufacturing in the city of Geelong. And of course they are looking for ideas and support. Jim can be contacted via email at jkontoge@gmail.com

Those who’ve followed the stories about Ford would be aware that 600 jobs will disappear by 2010. Among the ranks of the displaced will be 66 ETU members. As pointed out previously, members are encouraged to visit the Ford Australia Workers Unite Blog at http://www.fordworkers.blogspot.com/

If you wish to add a post to the blog please email Ivor Sixer at isixer@gmail.com or you can add any comments at the blog.

Jim and Chris are also featured in the latest Spark podcast, which can be found at http://au.youtube.com/etusouthernstates

It’s well worth listening to what they have to say about the possibilities at Ford in relation to new technologies and environmentally friendly cars.

On Friday 2 November Dean Rioli and Christian Gaylard – the ETU’s indigenous apprenticeship project officers – presented employers with plaques in recognition of their support of the program.

Christian was full of praise for the commitment of secretary, Dean Mighell, to the project and for the efforts of Linda Dobson (executive support officer) and Troy Gray (organiser) from the ETU office. While John Howard indulges in paternalism and cultural imperialism the ETU is on the ground delivering apprenticeships to indigenous kids.

Indigenous representative Shaun Braybrook, who is also on the advisory committee, spoke about the importance of an apprenticeship (plumbing) in his life. He especially thanked the following companies – Elecraft, Apps, Watters, Heday, Corke, Nilsens, Victec, Wetspot, Gordon McKay and Hickory – who were on hand to receive their plaques.

Despite John Howard’s obstacles it is still possible for unions and companies to work together for the greater good.

On Sunday 25 November - the day after the election - the ETU will be sponsoring a charity cricket match involving sporting celebrities and former elite cricketers, at the Merv Hughes Oval.

The Merv Hughes 11 will be led by former test cricketer Merv Hughes. ETU secretary Dean Mighell and communications manager Phil Cleary will play with Merv’s opponents, the Centurions. There will be an auction after the match with all proceeds going to the Asthma Foundation of Victoria.

The ETU is calling on all members to bring their friends and family to the match, which will not only support the Asthma cause but be a lot of fun. And of course, we are hoping the day will be a celebration of the end of the Howard government. Our collective fingers are crossed. After all it’s only with collective action led by strong unions that we can maintain a decent life for workers and their families.

We intend to take some group photos for the ETU magazine, which will go to print within days of the charity match. We’ll also offer children the opportunity to be photographed with Merv and other sporting celebrities. It’s an opportunity not to be missed

See you at Merv Hughes Oval.

BOWLING JOHN HOWARD OVER

WHERE: The Footscray-Edgewater Cricket Mervyn G Hughes Oval (Footscray-Edgewater cricket club) Farnsworth Avenue, Footscray Melway Map Ref 2S

WHEN: Sunday 25 November commencing at 12 noon

Raffle tickets to assist long-time ETU member John Lock and his family are on worksites and the website donation link is now up.

John was described by a family friend, Kerry Wall, this way:

He is one of those everyday blokes who never puts his hand out or asks for any help but will be first in line if you need help. He has over the past year suffered several major setbacks in his life, and on behalf of his severely disabled son Tom I am here to ask for your help.

With John’s son Tom suffering cerebral palsy and epilepsy and requiring a wheelchair and his other son Jordon and wife Leigh experiencing challenging health issues the family needs our support. In the last edition of the ETU News secretary Dean Mighell had this to say:

Unions are always digging deep to help a comrade. It’s something our enemies in the media never think about or acknowledge. We just do it. I visited him and his family in May and don’t know that I’ve ever felt such a need to help someone. Please dig deep.

All monies raised will go towards the purchase of a Kia car – valued at $65,000 - with modifications for Tom’s wheelchair. We thank you for the support and looks forward to delivering the car to John and his family.

To donate to the cause go to the ETU website www.etu.asn.au and follow the links or ring the office on 8329 0000

Flying the Flag Against the Tasforce

At the Eureka stockade the motto was simple: ‘We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other, and fight to defend our rights and liberties’.

We don’t know whether Mr. Lloyd and his hairy chested mates at the building industry taskforce have read any history. If they had they might wonder how a so-called democratic country could include in its Australian Government Implementation Guidelines for the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry a clause which reads:

Section 8.5.3 of the guidelines deems ‘no ticket, no start’ signs, or other notices such as posters, helmets, stickers or union logos or flags etcetera that imply that union membership is anything other than a matter for individual choice’ to be inconsistent with the Code.

This has led to companies telling workers not to fly the Eureka flag. So much for the claim that the ‘fundamental principles underpinning the Australian Government’s workplace relations policy include’:

-freedom of choice;
- freedom of association—the choice to be or not to be in a union or employer association, and-the choice of which union or employer organisation; and
all Australians must be treated equally before the law.

What crap!

On election eve, Friday 23 November at 5 pm outside the State Library, unionists and lawyers will be joined by Father Bob Maguire, Eureka descendants and indigenous footy legend Michael Long in ‘rebellion’ against the anti-democratic taskforce and its bullyboy laws. Let’s see the ETU flag flying high in the spirit of Eureka.

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