A number of workplace meetings and protests were held today in Melbourne, called by the Victorian Trades Hall.
Victorian Trades Hall today encouraged workers across Melbourne to stop work briefly to debate and protest the war in Iraq. Trades Hall Secretary, Leigh Hubbard, called on meetings to draft resolutions against the war and send them to the Prime Minister.
"We've got people like nurses in hospitals, we've got parliamentarians for peace, who will be on the front steps of parliament house, building workers will be dropping a banner on a building site, all of those things will be happening today, and we would ask people to actually speak out against this war," said Mr Hubbard, according to the ABC news webiste.
"All day today, we're asking people in the workplace to debate the issue around the war, to pass resolutions and if they pass one opposing the war, which we hope they do, then send the prime minister a fax or an email outlining their concerns."
MUA protest
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This morning saw Maritime Union of Australia members unfurling an anti-war banner on the Bass Strait ferry just before docking. The 5 metre banner read "No war on Iraq". According to ABC News website, union official David Cushion argued for Australian trrops to be brought home.
"We believe this is a defence force, it shouldn't be fighting in an aggressive war. We support the troops but we do believe that their role is in defence of this country and we don't see the current war in Iraq as part of the defence of this country."
The banner was displayed by union members with the permission of the TT-line company.
State Parliamentarians protest
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According to the Age, About 35 Victorian MPs gathered on the steps of the state parliament in protest against the war in Iraq. They were all Labor MPs. The only minister present was Employment Minister Jacinta Allan. 67 state Labor MPs have signed a statement against the war, but the list does not include Premier Steve Bracks, Deputy Premier John Thwaites or Treasurer John Brumby..
Don Nardella, spokesman for Parliamentarians for Peace, said the group was opposed to Sadam Hussain's regime but did not support the war in Iraq.
"We call on the Australian government to pursue non-military solutions to disarm Iraq," he told reporters.
Construction Workers unfurl banner
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According to the Age, about 100 construction workers stopped work at Melbourne's Crown Casino and unfurled a banner opposing the war in Iraq. The banner read "peace now - bring troops home" and was unfurled about 9.15am. The workers also passed a resolution calling on Prime Minister John Howard to bring the Australian troops home from the Middle East.
Leigh Hubbard, secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council told the crowd "peace is union business. Ordinary workers and their families, workers on both sides of the fence, are killed in war. We as workers have a right, a constitutional right, to be able to protest and have our say."
Lawyers Rally against War
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Several hundred lawyers and legal workers rallied outside the Supreme Court. See seperate report:
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=44959&group=webcast
Sources: The Age http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/27/1048653783783.html ABC Victorian news: http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/vic/default.htm
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