Fighting for Democracy

The ACTU Congress held in Melbourne in October launched a new alternate industrial relations policy based on a national scheme allowing a newly elected Labor government to quickly overturn the Howard government's IR laws.

ACTU policy also provides a strong legislative frameworkfor workers' rights in fair workplace laws.

As well the ACTU launched a new one-stop service for people to join unions or financially support the campaign for workers' rights. Once joined the ACTU will refer workers to the appropriate union which has coverage.

"The trade union movement is providing a real alternative for the Australian community," said MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "We want a country where you get a go at work not a belt in the chops."

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley was special guest at Congress and again committed an ALP government to ripping up the current IR laws.

"It will be the first thing I do," he said. "I stand before you today and make this commitment. The party I lead is unashamedly the party of collective bargaining, and collective agreements."

The Opposition leader also pledged minimum standards would reflect the Australian belief that all working people are entitled to the dignity of a living wage.

"It's just ridiculous to think that an 18 year old kid or a working mum can bargain on equal terms with powerful multinationals," he said. "Yet John Howard and his IR ideologues carry on with this deceit."

Mr Beazley applauded the union movement for arguing that employers and governments must respect the democratic wish of the majority in the workplace. He pledged a Labor government would commit to skills training and abolish John Howard's wage-cutting Australian Workplace Agreements.

He promised to introduce laws that protect all Australians from the threat of unfair dismissal, recognise that unions must be allowed to play a role in the education of workers - especially in occupational health and safety training - without the threat of $33,000 fines and uphold Australians' right to bargain collectively and to be represented by a union.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow and ACTU Secretary Greg Combet focused on the declining protections that currently confront Australian workers as a result of current industrial relations legislation.

"The Howard government is a government against its own people," Sharan Burrow told Congress. "The Howard government legacy is one of punitive welfare to work laws that punish single mothers, the disabled, the sick who are temporarily unable to work or vulnerable workers sacked unfairly."

Sharan Burrow said that at every community meeting she attended people tell stories that break your heart, stories people tell about themselves or a family member.

"In Hobart last week we all shed a tear with the father and sister of Mick Webb. Mick Webb was 45 years old," said Sharan. "He had worked for the same employer for nearly 20 years and, after the introduction of the government's laws, was made redundant. He later committed suicide. The coroner's report confirms the circumstances. A tragic waste of a life that might have been saved if the unfair dismissal laws were still in place. In Mick's case no redress meant no hope."

She spoke of the impact on family and community - "on our ability to share a meal, to assist with homework, spend time reading to or playing with our kids. These AWAs are the antithesis of family friendly. They are family hostile."

One recent example was the former United Petroleum worker who courageously spoke out about the panic he felt when he realised he would lose $190 week or a quarter of his take home pay, after his employer restructured the company into a greenfields site. He knew he couldn't pay the mortgage or the loan on his new family car.

ACTU Secretary Greg Combet recounted John Howard's ideological obsession with destroying workers' rights.

"We all knew his determination to attack unions - the waterfront dispute was evidence enough," he said. "Freely operating trade unions are an essential feature of any decent democracy. Freely operating trade unions are founded upon internationally respected human rights, including the right to associate in a union and the right to collectively bargain.

"We are fighting for the future of our democracy, we are fighting for the future of our kids, and we are fighting for a fair and just Australian society."

He also publicly thanked the MUA and the CFMEU mining and energy division for the financial support which will allow the ACTU to stage a sky channel broadcast on November 30.

"They have been exceptionally generous, not just to the ACTU, but to the movement generally. Let's use November 30 as a launching pad for our campaign in 2007," he said to resounding applause from all Congress delegates.

"The most outstanding component of the Congress was the level of unity and solidarity of the ACTU affiliates," said MUA President Robert Coombs. "Over 500 delegates attended and a comprehensive policy on industrial relations legislation was unanimously endorsed. This was a magnificent achievement and puts us in the best possible position to ensure that the ALP endorses the policies of the trade union movement, and more importantly puts us in the best possible position to defeat the Howard government."

The MUA Congress contingent was national officers Jim Tannock, Mick Doleman, Sydney Branch Secretary Robert Coombs, South Queensland Branch Secretary Mick Carr, Northern NSW Branch Secretary Jim Boyle, Tasmanian Branch Secretary Mick Wickham and Women's delegate Michelle Mackay. MUA observers were Kevin Bracken and David Schleibs (MUA, Victoria) and Joanne White (MUA, national office).

All ACTU Congress papers & policies can be downloaded from the ACTU

website - www.actu.asn.au

November 30 Rally details

VICTORIA

Thu Nov 30, 2006

The main Victorian community protest will take place on 'People's Ground,' the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Thursday November 30.

It will take place from 8am to 10am Melbourne-time, and will be broadcast by satellite to capital cities and more than three hundred regional centres across Australia.

Please arrive early so we can start on time! Gates open at 7am.

GEELONG_There will be no venues as everyone coming down on buses to the MCG (buses and trains leaving 6.30 am South Geelong Train Station). Contact GTLC on 5221 1712 if you are interested in a spot on a bus to Melbourne.__ SOUTH WEST_Portland: Sky Channel broadcast 9 am to 10 am Portland Iron Bar, 101 Bentinck Street, Portland_

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Thu Nov 30, 2006

ADELAIDE: Elder Park, Thursday November 30, commencing at 8am, SA time.

The rally at Elder Park finishes at 9.30 followed by a march to Rundle Park for a concert until 12 noon. __Please arrive at around 7.30am. The rally will be finished by 10am.

The nationwide rally will be brought to locations around SA via a Sky Channel broadcast.

_PORT PIRIE Harness Racing Club, _RIVERLAND Berri Resort Motel/Hotel, Riverview Drive Berri_ _WHYALLA West Whyalla Football Club, K M Bennett Oval, Whyalla

Venues at Port Augusta, Victor Harbour, Kangaroo Island, Clare Valley, Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula to be confirmed.__Please arrive at Sky Channel venues at around 8am. The broadcast will be finished by 10am.

TASMANIA

Thu Nov 30, 2006

Hobart: There will be a major march to the rally at City Hall in Hobart on Thursday November 30__The march departs Parliament House lawns at 7.45. Please arrive at around 7.30am.__Rally at City Hall commences 8.15 and will finish shortly after 10am__Launceston Central TRC Hotel, 131 Paterson St, starts at 8.30am.

There will also be rallies in regional centres - all rallies and and Sky Channel broadcasts start at 8.30am.

_Devonport Devonport RSL Club, 18 Macfie St _ _Burnie Burnie RSL, 36 Alexander Street_

The nationwide rally will be brought to locations around Tas via a Sky Channel broadcast.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Thu Nov 30, 2006

Perth rally: Members Equity Stadium (Perth Oval) - 310 Pier St, Perth. Thursday November 30, commencing at 12 noon, WA time.

Please arrive at around 11.30am. The rally will be finished by 2pm.

Food, beverage and entertainment will be available.

There will also be rallies in regional centres. The nationwide rally will be brought to locations around WA via a Sky Channel broadcast.

BROOME Divers Camp Tavern, Cable Beach Rd GERALDTON Mercantile Club, 159 Marine Tce _ _BUNBURY Bunbury Trotting Club, Entrance via Milligan St, Bunbury_ALBANY Town Hall, York St Albany __Carnarvon, Collie, Port Hedland, Newman all still to be confirmed. Venues will be published here as they are confirmed.

Please arrive at Sky Channel venues at around 12 for a 12:30pm start. The broadcast will be finished by 2pm.

QUEENSLAND

Thu Nov 30, 2006

There will be a major rally in Brisbane on Thursday November 30, commencing at 8.30am, QLD time.

Brisbane city rally: Cultural Forecourt - Southbank (Victoria Bridge Entrance)__Please arrive at around 8am. The rally will be finished by 11am.

There will also be rallies in regional centres.

The nationwide rally will be brought to locations around QLD via a Sky Channel broadcast.

_Brisbane Southbank Cultural Forecourt _ Cairns Barlow Park, cnr Scott & Severun Sts, Parramatta Park_ _Gladstone Gladstone Turf Club, Ferguson Park Racecourse, Racecourse Reserve, Gladstone_ _Mackay Harrup Park Country Club, Juliet St, Mackay_ Rockhampton Rockhampton Jockey Club Callaghan Racecourse, Rockhampton Townsville The Strand Park Townsville _

NEW SOUTH WALES

Thu Nov 30, 2006

There are two main venues for the Sydney city rally:Belmore Park, Cnr Eddy Ave & Pitt Street (near Central Station)Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (Entry via Liverpool Street)The Sydney rally starts at 8.30, but please arrive from 8am! The nationwide rally will be brought to locations around NSW via a Sky Channel broadcast. Venues open at 8am. Broadcast starts at 8.30am. Please see below for Sky Channel venue closest to you. Venues are in alphabetical order by city. Need help finding the closest venue? Call the ACTU Union Helpline on 1300 362 223.

EDEN Eden Fishermen's Club_217 Imlay Street, Eden_EDENSOR PARK King Tomislav Croation Club_223-227 Edensor Road, Edensor _NEWCASTLE/LAKE MACQUARIE Energy Australia Stadium_NEWPORT The Newport Arms Hotel, Sunset Bar_Kalinya Street, Newport_NYNGAN Nyngan RSL Club_106 Pangee Street, Nyngan_ _SYDNEY Belmore Park_Cnr Eddy Ave & Pitt Street_(near Central Station)_SYDNEY Tumbalong Park_Darling Harbour (Entry via Liverpool Street)_TABULAM Tabulam Hotel_Court Street, Tabulam_ WOLLONGONG WIN Stadium_Crown Street, Wollongong_

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Thu Nov 30, 2006

There will be a major rally in the Fannie Bay Turf Club on Thursday November 30, commencing at 8am, NT time.

Please arrive at around 7.30am. The rally will be finished by 10am.

There will also be rallies in regional centres throughout the NT.

The nationwide rally will be brought to locations around the NT via a Sky Channel broadcast.

Venues will be published here as they are confirmed.

Please arrive at Sky Channel venues at around 7am. The broadcast will be finished by 10am.

Need help finding the closest venue? Call the ACTU Union Helpline on 1300 362 223.