Comrades
Issue 5 of Voice is out now. Below is article from the paper on recent ACTU
Congress
ACTU Congress was no "shift to the Left"
The Financial Review claimed the recent ACTU Congress in Wollongong was a
"shift to the Left". Congress delegate Jacqui Armani says that was a tad
optimistic=8A
The new kids on the block, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet and President Sharon
Burrows are just as manipulative and uninspiring as their predecessors.
The four-day Congress held in the industrial town of Wollongong in southern
NSW was predicted to be a new dawn for the trade union movement, led by
fresh youthful leadership.
Unfortunately for workers the well-orchestrated Congress proved to be more
of the same. As Combet and Burrows walked into a standing ovation by a
700-strong or so crowd, Combet stopped and gave his old mate John Combes,
leader of the MUA, a big hug.
Combet then went onto give a long speech about how militancy should be used
when needed, and peppered his speech with the example of the now three year
old wharfies dispute. While it might be OK to talk about the use of
militancy, the fact is that since the wharfies dispute, there have been
many other disputes around the country that were more vicious, longer, but
not as well heard of.
There have been disputes that have set a dangerous precedent where unions,
their leaders and now maybe even workers are facing fines, and/or the
possibility of jail terms. The miners for examples have had their
agreements torn up and have been put back on Award wages and conditions.
This has seen mass wage cuts and many conditions lost.
The David's workers lost their 36-hour week amongst other conditions and
were awarded a wage rise which was actually a wage cut when averaged over a
38-hour week.
Many other workers have lost and continued to lose their jobs as they are
retrenched and their work contracted out with wages and conditions of the
new workforce attacked.
Whilst some of these issues were raised at Congress, the so-called debate
was so well organised that no real debate took place. Many resolutions
opposing this or that were passed but no plans were made on how to fight
off the on-going attacks on workers and their organisations.
One of the biggest threats faced by the union movement is the fines and/or
jail terms for trade unionists. This wasn't even raised in any serious way.
This is despite the fact that at least 28 trade unionists and some unions
are now facing court action for what seems to be trade union activity of
one kind or another.
It appears that as a result of this inactiveness that the unions and their
members will continue to be left to fight their battles on their own. With
the ACTU leadership keeping their heads buried in the sands, then it will
be left to individual unions to show the way forward.
Those unions who are facing court action or whose officials or members are,
should form a Pact and prepare to act together as a union force in order to
make big business back off. Congress wasn't all about unions.
The so-called political wing in the form of Kim Beazley, ALP leader, graced
Congress with his presence. In yet another pre-organised entrance Kim
entered to a standing ovation and spoke for a long time=8A
We all got to hear how the ALP are better managers of the system than the
Liberals.
Just to ensure that everyone who wasn't asleep would soon be, we got to
hear about superannuation from Bernie Fraser and after that the benefits of
cheap computers. Any real debates that took place happened in the pubs and
clubs of Wollongong.
While some leaders took the opportunity to meet each other and discuss the
burning issues facing unions, others felt fearless after a few beers in
their bellies, took one further step down the ladder and let their
frustrations out on each other as grudges amongst themselves came to the
fore. It's a pity that those people don't use more of that energy trying to
build links and solidarity thereby making their unions stronger.
By far the most stirring event to happen was the resignation of NSW
Industrial Relations Minister, the ALP's Jeff Shaw. No sooner had Shaw
announced his resignation than phones started ringing. Some Congress
delegates started disappearing. People were running around like chooks with
their heads cut off. It seemed that everyone who was anyone was looking for
a chance to seize the moment and attempt to get a new job. Deals or
attempts at deals were all some were concerned with.
Anyone at Congress who witnessed this swift reaction would have been
forgiven if they thought some disaster had occurred. But this is exactly
the problem with the ACTU. So many leaders' main mission is to get a cozy
job elsewhere, via the ALP. While people like this are allowed to lead our
union movement, things will never change.
The Socialist Party says:
* No official on more than the average wage of a skilled worker
* Break the link with Labor, give support to political parties and
candidates on the basis of their support for union policy
* The new militant unions breaking through in Victoria should link up with
the NSW NUW and form a Pact to defend each other
* Full support for industry-wide bargaining and pattern bargaining
--
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