GLOBALISATION & CORPORATE TYRANNY:
Labour Movement Resistance in the Asia Pacific - a union solidairty
seminar
Saturday September 2, 11am - 6pm
Gaelic Club, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, Sydney
Cost: $20/12 (conc) for seminar (including lunch) and evening dinner
or $12/6 for seminar or dinner only
Organised by Unionists Against Corporate Tyranny (UACT)
(ph 9690 1977 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED])
and
Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)
(ph 9690 1032 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit www.asiet.org.au)
The seminar will feature guest speakers:
Romawati Sinaga (Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle)
Francisco Pascual (Resource Centre for People's Development)
John Maitland (National Secretary, CFMEU)
Dick Bryan (NTEU, lecturer, Political Economy, Sydney Uni)
Daniel Ooi (International Solidarity Officer, Sydney Uni SRC)
Agenda
11am: Introduction and welcome
Alana Kerr (PSA delegate, DOCS)
11.30am-1pm: Globalisation, corporate capital and their relationship to
the IMF, World Bank, and WTO.
Dick Bryan (NTEU) Lecturer in Political Economy at Sydney University
will examine the phenomenon of globalisation. Many people talk about
globalisation as a new phenomenon. What is it, and what is new about it?
How does corporate capital operate on the international scene today?
Sam Wainwright (MUA) will examine the role of the IMF, World Bank and
World Trade Organisation, and the significance of the coming World
Economic Forum in Melbourne. He will look at the nature of the
relationship of the IMF/World Bank/World Trade Organisation to national
governments and to corporate capital, and at how Australian capital fits
into the equation.
1-2pm: Lunch
2-3.30pm: Fighting corporate tyranny: goals and challenges
The Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI) has been at
the leadership of a major campaign against implementation of IMF imposed
policies by the Indonesian government. FNPBI representative Romawati
Sinaga will discuss the impact of these austerity measures on working
people and their experiences in waging a fightback.
Philippines anti-debt activist Francisco Pascual will speak on the issue
of debt cancellation. His organisation, the Resource Centre for People's
Development, was a key participant in the National Debt Forum held in
the Philippines on July 17. It points out that, for 20 years, 30-50% of
that country's total national budget has gone to debt servicing, while
60% of Filipinos live below the poverty line. It demands total and
unconditional debt cancellation for all countries of the South.
Janet Parker (Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor) will
examine the relevance of the current debate around free trade versus
fair trade and the implications of social tariffs for third world
workers.
Daniel Ooi (International Solidarity Officer, Sydney University SRC)
will look at the important role students can play in relation to
workers' struggles and international solidarity.
4 - 4.30pm Break
4.30 - 6pm Internationalism and the labour movement: what do we mean by
solidarity and how do we carry it out?
John Maitland, National Secretary of the CFMEU, will discuss that
union's ongoing involvement in the worldwide campaign against the
excesses of mining giant Rio Tinto.
Steve O'Brien, PSA delegate and ASIET member, will speak about his work
as a grassroots solidarity activist and his experiences as a District
Electoral Officer with UNAMET in East Timor last year. He will also
refer to his earlier work for the Centre for American Studies in
Nicaragua.
Melanie Sjoberg, a former state public sector organiser and Democratic
Socialist Party national industrial coordinator will discuss the
importance of international solidarity solidarity and its practical
application in the context of the current neoliberal offensive. The
significance of workers having an internationalist as opposed to a
nationalist outlook will also be examined.
6.30 pm Evening dinner (a fundraiser for the FNPBI) featuring the
Solidarity Choir. Dinner includes an Indonesian meal and a showing of
the 1940's solidarity film Indonesia Calling and footage of this year's
May Day rally in Jakarta. (This event
will be held at 23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale.)
(Rank and file union members speaking at this seminar are doing so in a
personal capacity and not necessarily representing the views of their
union.)
LL.NI
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