IR: Will the ALP save us?
SP Newsletter No.163
It is almost one year since Howard’s ‘Work Choices’ legislation was introduced. These laws have had a detrimental effect, not just to the working conditions of millions of Australians, but also to the union movement’s ability to organise and strike.
The absence of a fighting alternative has been stark. The ALP (Australian Labour Party) has done nothing to organise on this issue, despite much talk of ‘ripping up the IR laws’. Along with the ACTU they have argued against any militant organised action taking place.
Initially under Kim Beazley, we saw Greg Combet and many other union leaders happy to sit by while many mass actions, such as ‘Fill the G’ became an election rally for the ALP. They assured us that all that was needed was to vote for the ALP at the next election and donate to the ACTU’s advertising campaign.
Now under the leadership of Kevin Rudd, the ALP’s position is even less clear. Julia Gillard, the ALP’s new industrial spokesperson, came out recently to inform us that the ALP would possibly not be ‘ripping up’ all the laws. She is keen to meet with the Council of Small Business to‘re-negotiate’ the unfair dismissal laws.
The Council have already made it clear that they support businesses with less then 100 employees being exempt from unfair dismissal laws. It is clear that if elected the ALP will attempt do a dirty deal with small business bosses which will leave thousands of workers vulnerable to being sacked without reason.
It is also unclear what Rudd stands for in relation to individual contracts or Australian Workplace Agreements. He has been interviewed at different times saying that the current agreements would continue if the employee wanted them too. Workers that have very little bargaining power or are in unorganised sectors will undoubtedly be coerced by bosses into saying that ‘the current agreement is OK’.
The reality is that even at this late stage the ALP are yet to come out with a clear alternative to ‘Work Choices’. And this is the party that the unions are telling us to pin our hopes on! When Labor finally does come out with an ‘alternative’ you can rest assured it will be nothing but a different version of the same thing!
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The Socialist
Issue 31 of SP’s monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’ is out now! Readers can pick up a copy at our regular street stalls, from our National Office or by joining the SP subscriber’s list. This month’s paper features articles on Iraq, nationalisation, IR, public transport, Iran, a report from our councillor in Yarra, a report back from the world congress of the CWI and a back page special on women.
SP now on My Space!
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Regional Activity
Victoria
The Melbourne Branch of SP meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall in Carlton South. 1st Floor Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets. This week the branch will host a public meeting titled Politics and Religion – What do Marxists say? All over the world, religious belief seems to be rising - especially in Islam, Christian evangelicalism, and ‘New Age’ religions. Why is this? What is the basic socialist view on religion and the belief in a God or spirit world? Can one be both religious and socialist? This public meeting, which will have plenty of time for questions and discussion, attempts to answer these questions. The introduction talk will be SP Councillor, Stephen Jolly. All welcome.
SP stall in Swanston St City outside McDonald’s restaurant 12-1pm every Saturday. All welcome. For more info contact Antony on 0401356132
SP stall in Smith St Collingwood outside Safeway supermarket 12-1pm every Saturday. All welcome. For more info contact Steve on 0433113421
New South Wales
To find out more info or to join SP in Sydney contact Gary - 02 9728 7727
To find out more info or to join SP in Newcastle contact Samantha - 02 4968 1545
Western Australia
To find out more info or to join SP in Perth contact John on – 08 9402 0728
Please note childcare is available at all SP meetings but only by prior arrangement please call ahead first.
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