Workers Solidarity
The irregular newssheet from the Melbourne General Membership Branch of the IWW
No. 5 September 2000
[NB: The latest issue of the Australian IWW paper - Direct Action - will be
out soon, in the NIB and elsewhere].
Contents:
S 11 Page 1
AMWU Dispute at Kockums Page 2
S.T.O.P. Surviving Time Outside Prison
Refugee Centre Demo Page 3
East Timor Computer Project Page 4
Page 1. S11
Want to go to the S11 protests?
Well, there's two big events, which will help you to link into a myriad of
others.
The First: Turn up 7am, Monday 11th September, outside Crown Casino for the
blockade, there will be plenty of info there about what's going on over the
next three days. If you're aghast at turning up so early, come at 9am to
coincide with the High School Students arrival.
The Second; Trades Hall Rally, 10.30am, outside Trades Hall - Victoria St.
To hear about some of the myriad - www.s11.org
or phone 9925 3327
To find totally inaccurate predictions about mass violence by misled youth
- pick up a copy of the 'Herald Sun' !
Page 2 AMWU Dispute at Kockums, Cambelfield
Dispute at Kockums
AMWU members out.
The 25 strong AMWU Local at Kockums, in Campbellfield, here in Melbourne,
have been negotiating with their management over their Enterprise
Bargaining Agreement (EBA) for months, and were eventually forced to
walkout, about the 15th August, in a bid to get management to negotiate
seriously. The Union response to the EBA's, that each Local negotiates and
signs with their management, has been the 'patterned agreement'. A
patterned agreement is a 'pattern' for all EBA's developed by the Union,
based on shop steward experience. A wide Trade Union response is necessary
as EBA's encourage a loss of industrywide standards and worker solidarity.
The patterned agreement especially helps out smaller workshops, which
Kockums is, because it it helps lift industrywide standards and worker
solidarity .Over 170 companies in the industry (including some in the
locality) have signed. Not Kockums.
I visited the picket last Sunday (27.8.00), and was lucky enough to be
taken through this agreement by Ron and Jim, two of the strikers.This
helped me understand how the granting of the 6 demands on their
leaflet, flows onto all workers in the industry.The 6 points listed on the
leaflet are the main sticking points with management.
a) A 5 % per year wage increase, over the three years of the agreement .
Since the workers walked out , there has been one offer -3% a year, only
grudgingly offered, alongside a reduction in eligibility for overtime. The
owner, Arrowcrest Group, has given more in its other factories and this,
alongside pennypinching in material investment, has led to workers feeling
that the factory is being run down to make profit, rather than built up to
make profit. When this happens,you either let Arrowcrest grind you
down too, to make profit, or fight for your due.
b) Better Long Service Leave Here the bosses won't come up to the patterned
agreement standards. The patterned agreement reduces the number of years
you have to work until your eligible for your Long Service Leave (which is
13 weeks in total), from the current agreement. Here the Union Local is
pushing for better, higher standards.
c) Income Protection Income protection comes in to play in the event
of injury or illness. In the event of an accident, such as an injured
hand, the manager's job is to fill out and send off the claim immediately.
With the payout, surgery or whatevers needed can be done quickly. At
Kockums it took three months for the boss to do it, resulting in a
permanent injury. The Liberal government, by abolishing the Workers Right
to Sue, have made this a top demand. {As an aside - what IS Labour doing
about it?}
d) Decent Redundancy Deal What with the lack of investment in the factory,
and the low value put on workers, the Union Local here want this better
deal to help provide stability for their future. Here the deal is 2 weeks
pay for each year worked, with a ceiling of 4 years worth. Seeing as sister
factories in the Group have got agreements on 3 or even 4 weeks for each
year worked, Kockums workers are negotiating for a deal the Group can
obviously already deliver.
e) Union Rights Union members are asking Kockums to set up automatic check
off ( automatic deduction of union dues from the paypacket). The refusal to
do so hasn't weakened the Local, there is close to 100% union here; but its
what the Local wants. This, along with obstructing Union organiser visits,
is whats demanded in the patterned EBA. Whats demanded in principle and
practice, is that the bosses start dealing with the workers Union reps, now
and over the next three years.
f) Respect The bosses don't respect the workers. This is shown when they
don't respond to pay demands (inflation for the last quarter stood at 3.2%
- more than the 3% Kockums offer); when they don't respond to peoples
injuries and illness; when they don't respond to union negotiating. When
the workers in the TIEMANS factory next door got the bosses to agree to the
patterned EBA in 11 days, it shows up the "Tin Shed Company", whose doors
your walking through every workday.
The AMWU picketline is well run and organised, and seems to have plenty of
wider Union support.The feeling on the line was that they were fighting for
a basically good deal, and expect that other workers would understand -
reducing the chance of scabs, this coupled with the bosses not seeming to
want to escalate things, meant it was pretty peaceful. It is a small
workforce to hold a 24 hour picket, and they appreciate people dropping by
to add to the woodpile, strikefund . It's a little off the Hume Highway and
easy to spot. Call Ron, on 0438 515 642, if you need to check.
As we went to press ( well photocopier, really), The Kockums workers and
management were negotiating on the basis of the patterned agreement. After
a day in Arbitration on Monday 28th August, management decided to
negotiate properly rather than play silly buggers. Hopefully, by the time
you read this the Union Local has secured a good EBA; not too watered down,
despite being forced far closer to the Arbitration Court than wanted.
Page 3 Surviving Time Outside Prison campaign, and Marybyrnong Detention
Centre Demo
S.T.O.P
Surviving Time Outside Prison
On Sunday 27th August the S.T.O.P. people held a gathering at Coburg Lake
Park. (opposite the now closed Pentridge Prison). I and a couple of other
wobblies went down to see how they were going.
Their campaign, run by the Victorian Deaths in Custody Watch Committee,
which grew out of worries that so many women were dying so soon after
coming out of prison, is working on pushing the prisons, government and
welfare groups to get more pre- and post-release support services and
information going, especially as there are few now.
Their monthly newsletter covers this by advertising existing services for
accomodation, legal, drug/alcohol, emotional and domestic violence
services. As you'd expect they also touch on lots of other isues related to
prisons, that affect inmates ( both men and women), such as private
prisons, VIVAids (drug use), parole and mandatory sentencing.
What struck me was how hard it's made for women to rehabilitate after
coming out of prison; parole seems hard, especially when accomodation,
work, and a social life are shakey. A specific problem for women is
childcare to go to parole interviews. They don't make it easy for ex
inmates, - the sentence seems to drag on after being made "free".
If you want to hear more tune in the the "Doin' Time " show, on 855am 3CR
radio, 5pm Monday nights, or contact:
Victorian Deaths in Custody Watch Committee
P.O. Box 1467, Collingwood 3066
email; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.geocities.com/custodywatch/
Maribynong Detention Centre Demo
August 26th 2000.
On Saturday the 26th August a demo was called, simultaneously in Sydney and
Melbourne, outside of 2 detention centres for refugees. Here in Melbourne
we met outside the Maribyrnong detention centre in Maidstone, West
Melbourne. Around 300 -400 people met, with the police presence swelling
numbers closer to 500.
Speakers were heard from various groups, especially those representative of
the main ethnic groups becoming refugees today. The detention centres
currently hold people especially from Iraqi, Iranian, Afganistani
and Somali backgrounds. All places that the West, including Australia have
destabilised; other recent waves have included Kosovars, and Cambodians.
One speaker said "Refugees are flowers, uprooted from their native soil" ,
another that "What would someone have to be leaving to entrust the fruits
of many years hard work to a smuggler in a leaky boat, who might cheat them
at any time, to come to an unknown country?" and another described her
mental and physical anguish of going through the system.
Refugees have hit the headlines recently for organising group breakouts and
hunger strikes, in addition to individual acts of protest, desperation or
anger.
The demonstration had a generally relaxed character, despite the police
presence, with cheap food sold as a fund raiser and colourful flags from
various countries, related campaigns and political tendencies. Balloons
were let off, containing messages, to float over the centre. Kids there,
and later adults, played some disorganised, but energetic soccer. Without
the wire between them, refugee newcomers and Aussies proved they would get
together and get along - given a soccer ball.
For further information, from the demonstrations organisers:
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.antimedia.net/xborder/
Page 4 East Timor Computer Project Report
ETCCP
East Timor Community Computer Project
Solidarity in Action
The East Timor Community Computer Project (ETCCP) is a non-profit
organisation of volunteers who have come together to answer a request from
Timorese community organisations, education groups and NGOs, for the
installation and training in computers, computer networks and computers
skills at a grassroots/community level in East Timor. Along with equipment,
the project aims to send computer technicians to Timor for up to six months
at a time, developing a local network that is low maintenance and
community-managed. Meanwhile, back in Australia, pledges and fundraisers
are being organised to cover the project's costs, which are many, along
with more shiptments of equipment - computers and such-like, but also
educational materials such as how-to books and even whiteboard markers - to
Timor.
Begun back in May, by the beginning of July things were really moving. A
three tonne truck was donated, that was overhauled by volunteers, then
filled to the brim with equipment, and driven across to Darwin, After the
necassary delays, it was shipped over in late August. It carried , in
addition to ETCCP equipment, computers, spectacles, urns, presents,
blankets and a moped, all destined for people and projects in Timor. Its a
fast moving situation over there, and as a small organisation we are
quickly adaptable. Without relying on UN, government or big charity money,
we need to raise all funds and materials ourselves, so are asking unions,
community groups and people (like you) to help. This appeal is to be
printed just before our Full Report for September is out, so feel free to
email or write for a copy. All pledgees and Donators receive one, if you
give us your address.
While the ETCCP is not a formal IWW initiative, it has been taken up
enthusiastically by the Melbourne General Membership Branch, which has been
organising monthly fundraisers. The project's first two techies to go to
Timor- both wobs - are now there with 80 computers and lots of cable, and
are expected to report back soon on developments.
You can follow the progress of the ETCCP at the project website. Better
yet, why not:
* Get involved with the ETCCP
* Join the pledge group
* Donate money or equipment
* Hold a fundraiser
* Copy and distribute the project's Charter and Proposal
* Tell your friends
* Join the ETCCP News List
Further details are available from:
PO BOX 756 Brunswick Lower Victoria 3056 Australia
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website: http://www.solidarity.infoshop.org.au/etccp/
Mobile Phone: 0409 544 088
Account Details for donations:
ETCCP General Fund
Commonwealth Bank (Coburg Vic)
Branch Number: 063122
Account Number: 10303491
_______________
ETCCP FundaiseR
TRIVIAL DISPUTE
Saturday 9 September
7pm $8/ $10
SMITH ST BAR
14-18 Smith St Collingwood
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