ACTU calls Nov 15 national day of protest

Sue Bolton, convenor of the Socialist Alliance National Trade Committee

Following the success of the June 30-July 1 nationwide union protests against the Howard government's proposed anti-union laws, in which up to 350,000 people participated, the ACTU executive has called a national day of protest action on Tuesday, November 15.

In the lead-up to the national day of action, some trades and labour councils have called mass all union delegates' meetings. Melbourne: Wednesday 7 September, 10am Dallas Brookes Hall; Perth: Tuesday 13 September.

Already two opinion polls show a 60% public opposition to these new laws. And this is just the beginning of the campaign!

PM John Howard’s top priority in this term of government is to attack Australian workers and their unions.

He plans to introduce a wave of legislation that will, if passed, severely restrict workers’ rights. This legislation will:

If Howard gets away with these attacks, all workers will be worse off, not just those in unions.

For example, in New Zealand similar laws were passed in 1991. Since then, despite a growing economy workers’ real wages have declined up to 30%.

Howard may appear to be in a strong position after winning control of the Senate but many of those who voted for him did so in the mistaken belief that he could guarantee a strong economy and would not take more rights and social gains from working people. Most Australians also want an end to the indefinite detention of refugees and are opposed to sending more troops to Iraq. So a campaign against the new attacks can draw on broad opposition to the Howard government.

Union leader: 'Give Howard the finger'

Strong and united action by trade unions, with community support, can force the Howard government to back down. For example, similar anti-union laws were scrapped after mass protests and industrial action in 1999 following the union-busting attacks on waterside workers in 1998.

In Victoria, a mass delegates meeting voted for general strike action and a mass protest on June 30, the day before the Liberal-National Coalition takes control of the Senate. Victorian unions have called on unions in other states to take similar action on June 30. So far Western Australia and Queensland unions have decided to join the strike. Strong action like this across Australia can defeat Howard’s anti-union laws.

Socialist Alliance members joined other militant unionists in campaigning strongly for unions around the country to endorse this call for nation-wide strike action on June 30. And this campaign demonstrated its tremendouse potential on June 30 and July 1.

But getting to this point has required a political struggle to generalise the Victorian unions' initiative:

***What next to defeat Howard’s anti-union laws? click here.

Often the union movement is relied upon as the last line of defence in many non-industrial campaigns. If the Howard government is allowed to get away with smashing unions, it will have an impact on all campaigns, not just immediate workers’ rights.

Socialist Alliance initiated a broad national gathering of trade unionists on June 11 in Melbourne to discuss strategy and tactics for building resistance to the Howard government's anti-union laws.

Reports on National Trade Union Fight-back Conference:

All working people and their families and communities will be worse off if Howard gets away with these attacks. Now more than ever, we need a party which consistently supports workers against these attacks and goes beyond the Labor Party’s half-hearted opposition. Socialist Alliance is working towards building such a party.

To get in touch with your local Socialist Alliance trade union network telephone 02-9690 2508 or 03-9663 7429.

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