Jabiluka Action Group (Melbourne)
union sub-committee
PO Box 2074,
Fitzroy 3065.
May 21, 1999
Attention: Branch Secretary
Dear comrade,
As you are probably aware, the campaign against the Jabiluka uranium mine
is having an impact. Mining company ERA has been forced to put back its
timetable and the project has been condemned by a United Nations committee
for endangering Kakadu national park, a world heritage area.
The campaign has received excellent support from the union movement. At the
recent Palm Sunday rally, a number of unions were officially represented
with banners. Unions have given tremendous backing to initiatives such as
the blockades of North Ltd's St Kilda Road headquarters (North is ERA's
parent company).
We would like to take further steps in this united activity.
1) JAG has called a Hiroshima Day rally after work at 5.30pm on Friday,
August 6, at the State Library (corner of Latrobe and Swanston sts). We
would welcome your union's endorsement and active support.
2) We are circulating a model motion (enclosed) which aims to put the
Jabiluka question on next year's ACTU congress agenda. We would be grateful
if you would consider discussing this motion at your next appropriate meeting.
We would be very happy to send representatives to explain either or both
initiatives if you think this would be useful. Please contact us at the JAG
office on 9417 6660 (24-hour message service) or me directly on 9384 0225
or 0418 316 310.
We look forward to further fruitful collaboration,
David Glanz, for the sub-committee
***
Proposed motion:
This meeting of the ....................... committee of the
..................... union notes:
1) That Energy Resources Australia and North Ltd are building a uranium
mine at Jabiluka (NT) in defiance of the wishes of the indigenous land
owners, the Mirrar people.
2) That the mine is within the land mass of Kakadu national park, listed
as a world heritage area on both environmental and cultural grounds.
3) That Australian uranium is part of the nuclear cycle, creating
radioactive waste at the point of mining, in transport and at nuclear
plants. This meeting further notes that it is impossible to fully
guarantee that Australian uranium is not used in nuclear weapons.
4) That for every million dollars invested in uranium mining, two jobs
are created, whereas every million invested in manufacturing creates 33
jobs.
5) That the Coalition federal government is committed to a dramatic
escalation of the uranium mining industry, in defiance of widespread
concerns among indigenous people, environmental activists and the
broader community. Two thirds of Australians oppose the Jabiluka mine.
6) That the union movement has a proud history of opposing the nuclear
cycle.
This meeting believes:
i) That the union movement should commit to playing a leading role in
the anti-nuclear campaign.
ii) That the union movement should oppose the opening of the Jabiluka
uranium mine and the massive extension to the industry proposed by the
Coalition.
iii) That such opposition should include a variety of tactics, varying
from informing the membership to participation in rallies to industrial
action, as deemed appropriate by ACTU affiliates.
Accordingly, this meeting calls upon the state council/committee of
management to send this resolution to the national executive/federal
council for consideration. This meeting calls upon the national
leadership to table such a resolution on the agenda of the ACTU national
congress to be held in Wollongong in 2000.
***
Australia Asia Worker Links
PO Box 264 Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
Tel: 03 9419 5045 Fax: 03 9416 2746 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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