Workers Online
16 Apr 1999
Public Speaks: We Are Not Monsters!
Two-thirds of Australians believe unions are good for the country,
laying down a clear challenge for the movement to intensify
recruiting.
The national Newspoll survey, commissioned by [The NSW] Labor
Council, came up with heartening findings, with support for unionism
far outstripping actual membership rates.
The Labor Council executive will restructure its operations to place
greater empahsis on organising and recruiting. Labor Council
secretary Michael Costa will chair the high-level committee which
will co-ordinate organising and recruiting campaigns across the
affiliates.
Importantly, the Committee will be given an annual six-figure budget
generated from income from the Currawong development, should it be
approved next month. It would work closely with the Trade Union
Training Authority to develop and implement recruitment strategies.
Costa says the survey results shows the tremendous opportunity for
unions, while rebuffing the federal government's anti-union agenda.
Key finds of the survey were:
- 67 per cent of respondents rejected the proposition that Australia
would be better off without trade unions.
- 44 per cent said they'd join a trade union if they were free to
choose.
- 53 per cent said management had more power than unions.
NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Costa said the figures were
heartening and showed that the blatant attacks on unionism from the
Howard Government and rogue employers did not have widespread public
support.
"What this shows is that the community overwhelmingly supports trade
unions; it's our job to ensure the unions are effective in organising
and delivering services," Costa says.
"It highlights the critical importance of providing training and
skills for unions officials to meet this challenge.
"It's also clear from the figures that management hostility is a
deterrent to many workers who want to join a union and shows the
Employment Advocate is not doing its job.
"The Employment Advocate should be focussing on employers who
discourage or threaten employees who want to be union members rather
than harassing unions in conducting their legitimate activities.
"I call on the federal government to alter its industrial relations
legislation to provide structures that allow the community to fulfil
its desire to join trade unions."
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