SP Newsletter No.178
Time for a new workers’ party.
A vast majority of working people, especially young workers, don’t like Work Choices. They believe bosses today have too much power in the workplace. They face bullying by bosses, not bullying by unions.

Today in most workplaces, the bosses dictate if and when workers get overtime; the bosses dictate the ‘flexibility’, while the workers get told when to work; the bosses hire and fire, not unions; the bosses are responsible for unsafe and intense working conditions, not unions.

In fact, the vast majority of workers aren’t in unions at all and those that are sometimes face ineffectual unions. Militant and effective unions like the ETU are rare today.
The media, employer and Coalition onslaught on ‘union power’ is about creating a climate of fear in the workplace.

Unfortunately the ALP Federal opposition, led by Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, have tried to play catch-up with this campaign. They have supported almost every request from bosses to water-down their IR platform. The worst example is the decision to extend the life of the ‘Australian Building and Construction Commission’ that allows officials with police powers to arrest, fine, and jail workers indefinitely without access to a lawyer if they undertake industrial action to (for example) deal with an unsafe workplace.

The ALP calls for democratic rights for Iranians and North Koreans but proudly take them off construction workers. Labor openly supports the core economic policies of the Coalition and the only seeming difference on policy was over IR. Most workers believed that Labor would soften Work Choices and, in the ALP’s words, “restore balance”. This was enough to put them way ahead in the opinion polls.

Yet as soon as Rudd and Gillard began to retreat on IR and promise to keep the ABCC, expel Victorian ETU Secretary Dean Mighell for colourfully telling his members how the union had won wage gains, and hint at a retreat on their opposition to individual contracts they began to lose momentum in the polls.

At the moment union leaders are telling their members to keep their heads down so as not to give the Coalition any excuse to bleat about union thuggery. The danger is the demobilisation of members demoralises and atomises the union – by the time workers are called into action, after the election, they will not be strongly organised and confident. Fighting Work Choices on the ground with industrial action will undermine support for the Coalition. This was seen in the big loss in support for Howard in the polls after all the big worker mobilisations in the past two years.

A Bulletin poll showed that over 50% of Australians believe that after 11 years of John Howard and an economic upturn they are no better off. They suffer the effects of public transport privatisation. They face working lives trapped in casual employment. They have the burden of big HECs debts. They face job insecurity.

A new leftwing, working class party with policies of expanding public education, health and transport, of serious and immediate action on climate change, of taking on capitalism, would get huge support. The Socialist Party is fighting for such a party to be created to offer working people a real alternative. Within such a broad church, we would argue for clear socialist polices and a campaigning approach.

The Greens try to pose themselves as this alternative, but they do not argue against the system and therefore have a utopian platform of reforms within the context of capitalism. They become, therefore, a left face for capitalism.

At the moment a new party is not on the agenda – this could change after the election no matter who wins. A Coalition win would see a demoralised ALP and real possibility to create a new party. An ALP win would see it carry on with anti-working class policies and face battles with workers and young people – again opening up the possibility for a new party.

The reason the ALP is basically standing for the same policies as the Coalition is not merely because its leaders are cowardly, sell-outs etc. All over the world, global capitalism dictates the rules to governments operating their system: tax cuts for the rich, cuts to social spending, privatisation, attacks on unions etc. This has been the common programme since the 1970s.

The Socialist Party explains that to get decent working conditions and the social services workers want we have to get rid of the system that in its desperate search for new profit opportunities to put our future at risk. Join the fight for socialism; for a new workers party; and for a REAL alternative to the Coalition.

Important Public Meeting in Melbourne next week

How should we protest at APEC?
Drawing on the lessons of the recent G20 and G8 demonstrations – SP is sponsoring a debate amongst activists. Speakers include Socialist Party Organiser, Anthony Main and ‘A Space Outside’ Organiser, Liz Turner. 7pm Wednesday 11th July at Trades Hall, corner of Lygon and Victoria Sts Carlton South. For more info phone 96399111.

Socialist Party National Conference

SP will be holding its National Conference at Trades Hall in Melbourne on August 3 & 4. It will open on the Friday night with a public meeting titled ‘Where is Australia going?’ It will feature a range of speakers including SP members and labour movement leaders. On the Saturday morning we will also have a session open to the public on World Relations. This will also feature SP members including Denise Dudley who will be recently returned from Venezuela! On the Saturday afternoon we will discuss business and building the party.

On the Saturday evening we will be organising a trivia night fundraiser featuring Australia’s most famous (and funniest) left wing comedian, Corrine Grant. All proceeds will go to the campaign to save St Andrews Kindergarten and the Atherton Gardens public housing estate.

We encourage all SP supporters to attend both the public events at the conference and the fundraiser. SP members should ensure they book the weekend in now as it will be the most important meeting we have all year. Members from interstate travelling to Melbourne should contact the National Office soon to discuss assistance with transport costs.

Get on the ‘Red Buses’ to APEC

SP will be organising a fleet of ‘Red Buses to APEC’ from Melbourne to Sydney on September 7-9. We are taking expressions of interest for seats now. If you support the APEC protests against the neo-liberal heavy weights, and can’t make it in person to the protests, you can sponsor a place by donation. In the lead up to the event we will also be holding regular organising meetings. For more information or to put your name down for a seat call our National Office on 03 9639 9111

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states. We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to overthrow the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more information about joining in your area contact the SP National Office. 0396399111

SP subscriber List

Become a supporter of SP today! Join our subscribers list - only $20 per year or $10 concession. You will receive our newspaper ‘The Socialist’, delivered to your door every month, and our email newsletter every week. You will also know that you are supporting a party that is at the fore of the fight back against Howard and against capitalism. Contact the SP National Office now on 0396399111 to join the list.

The Socialist

Issue 35 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 Howard’s emergency plan for Aboriginal communities in NT, Labor and the federal election, tidal power, Tamil arrests, eyewitness accounts from the G8 protests in Germany, a report from our councillor in Yarra, and a centre page spread on the world economy.

SP now on My Space!

My Space is an online forum for networking. You can use it to chat, share photos, videos and journals. SP is using it to promote our party and meet people interested in socialist politics. Check out our site here

Regional Activity

Victoria

The SP Melbourne Branch meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall in Carlton South. 1st Floor Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets. This week the Melbourne branch will host a public meeting called - How should we protest at APEC? Speakers include Socialist Party Organiser, Anthony Main and ‘A Space Outside’ Organiser, Liz Turner. All welcome.

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.

News links just a click away –

Poland: Nurses rock government
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Riots over petrol rationing and price hikes
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Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).
To contact or join the SP or CWI anywhere in Australia or the world call our National Office
++61 3 9639 9111

‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’

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