SP Newsletter No.202
Australia is the 19th richest country in the world with a trillion dollar economy. The total wealth of the top 200 people is $126 billion. In 2007 these top 200 richest people increased their wealth by 26.7%!

At the same time most workers received meagre pay rises of between 2% and 5%. Many received no pay rise at all. Even if you were lucky enough to receive a pay rise it was quickly eroded by increases in the cost of living. The price of petrol, rent, food and many other basic items has gone through the roof.

What is clear is that over the past decade we have seen the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, not just in Australia but world wide. If this is what happens during an unprecedented economic boom what will happen when the economy slips into recession?

The vast majority of jobs that have been created in recent years are either part time or casual. There has been a drop of 51,000 full time jobs in the last decade alone. It is estimated that 483,000 Australians are currently unemployed and another 800,000 want more work. The wage gap between permanent and casual workers continues to increase.

Many sections of society are largely stuck in low paid casual jobs and as such are the most disadvantaged. This is the case in particular with women and young people who are mostly employed in the low paid sectors of retail, fast food, hospitality and childcare.

These problems are particularly stark in Western Australia and it is for this reason that the Socialist Party (SP) has launched the End Low Pay campaign in that state. SP is also campaigning for all of Howard’s Work Choices laws to be scrapped immediately. We support the right for workers to have trade union representation and for the right to strike and organize without restrictions.

It’s only by getting organised that we can fight low pay and casualisation. Both Labor and the Liberals put the interests of big business before those of ordinary working people. If we want to end low pay and insecurity we have to organise in the workplaces and build a new party that will fight for us in the same way that the Liberals and Labor stand up for their mates in big business.

The End Low Pay campaign in Perth demands:

- The immediate introduction of a $16 per hour minimum wage as a step towards a $20 per hour minimum wage.
- That all casuals to have the option of transferring to permanent full time or part time jobs after a period of six months.
- That the Rudd ALP government scraps Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) immediately and pledge not to introduce another form of individual contract.

Socialist Party regional activity-

Victoria

SP Melbourne Branch

This week the Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party will be discussing How to build a revolutionary party. The meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday February 27 @ Trades Hall, corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets Carlton. All members should try to attend.

Socialism 2008 - A day of discussion on a world in crisis!

The Socialist Party will be holding our annual Socialism event on the weekend of March 14 & 15 at Trades Hall in Melbourne. Our special guest for the event will be Pakistani socialist and trade unionist, Khalid Bhatti.

Khalid is the National Organiser of the Trade Union Rights Campaign in Pakistan (TURCP) and the leader of the Socialist Movement Pakistan (SMP). He will report on the situation in Pakistan, post the election, and talk about the Middle East and the War on Terror. Khalid will also be meeting with many labour movement leaders and activists whilst he is in town.

This event will also discuss all the main issues facing workers and young people in 2008. If you have an interest in revolutionary politics or want to find out more about the Socialist Party this event must not be missed!

The full agenda for the weekend is as follows-

Friday March 14th

7.00pm – 9.00pm – The Middle East and the War on Terror.
Speaker: Khalid Bhatti (Pakistani socialist & trade unionist)

Saturday March 15th

10.00am – 11.30am – World economy on the brink! Will China save Australia?
Speaker: Stephen Jolly (SP Councillor)

11.45am – 1.15pm - Environmental challenges in the 21st century.
Speaker: Kylie McGregor (SP)

2.00pm – 3.30pm – The future of the unions under Rudd.
Speakers: Shaun Reardon (CFMEU), Dave Kerin (Union Solidarity), Anthony Main (UNITE)

3.45pm – 5.15pm – France 68: 40th anniversary of the biggest general strike ever!
Speakers: Khalid Bhatti (SMP) and Denise Dudley (SP)

Raffle

In order to pay for the costs of bringing over our Pakistani guest we have organised a special raffle. Tickets are $10 and the prizes are $400 first prize, $200 second prize and $100 third prize. It will be drawn on Saturday March 15 at Socialism.

To purchase some raffle tickets or to get a book of 5 on a sale or return basis contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

Costs

Money raised from entrance fees to the event will go towards paying for our international guests travel costs as well as advertising and room hire costs. The entrance fees are very cheap considering the expenses.

For the entire event the costs are $30 high waged, $20 low waged and $10 unwaged. For a single session the costs are $5 waged or $2 unwaged.

Venue

The venue for the event is Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets in Carlton South (Melbourne). All meetings will be held in Meeting room 1 which is located on the ground floor. Enter via the Victoria Street entrance.

After the sessions finish on the Saturday evening we will get together in the Trades Hall Bar. To book or for more information contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

New South Wales

To find out more about SP in Sydney contact Gary on 02 9728 7727.

To find out more about SP in Newcastle contact Samantha on 02 4968 1545.

Western Australia

To find out more about SP in Perth contact John on 08 9402 0728.

Rest of Australia

To find out more about SP anywhere else in Australia contact 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 get rid of the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more info contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!

Become a supporter of SP by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. It only costs $20 per year or $10 concession and you will receive our paper delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe phone 03 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

The February edition is out now! Pick it up from one of our street stalls!

News links just a click away –

Pakistan: Crushing defeat for pro-Musharraf parties, landslide for opposition
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/02/21pakisa.html

Cuba: Castro’s resignation opens up new chapter
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/02/21cubaa.html

Bolivia: The struggle between revolution and counter-revolution
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/02/21boliva.html

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 the CWI anywhere in Australia, or the world, call +61 3 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

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

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http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org
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