As the article on the front page of the Age today (Wednesday 18 August) explains, there is every good reason for the ETU to donate to the Greens' election campaign in the Senate and in the seat of Melbourne. And of course this money does not come from a member's dues. It comes from the ETU's various other income streams, including investments. It is money spent to improve the lot of our members.

This decision was made by State Council, which is made up of rank and file shop stewards. It was agreed that we support a party committed to abolishing the ABCC, not to a party which supports the ABCC, which the ETU National Office effectively did in giving the ALP $200,000. 

We know members won't be rolling the eyes when the enemy starts asking why the union would spend 'your money' on the Greens. It hasn't spent union membership fees on the Greens. But given members have voted overwhelmingly (86 per cent) to disaffiliate from the ALP it makes sense that the ETU would support the Greens.

The only way to get rid of the anti-worker ABCC and ensure that ILO Conventions are embodied in industrial relations laws - the right to strike for example - is by supporting candidates who will vote this way in parliament. The only way to put pressure on the ALP is to work towards giving the Greens the balance of power in the Senate, a position supported by the CFMEU. We have of course supported a number of ALP candidates and have encouraged members to put the Liberals last.

Click below to read the article in the Age: 

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/union-bankrolls-greens-20100817-128iu.html

Watch a video of Dean Mighell discussing the donation below: