After the recent strike at the Boeing plant in Port Melbourne, the Australian Workplace Ombudsman has issued Union Solidarity Coordinator Dave Kerin with a “Notice to produce documents”. If he fails to provide this information Dave could face up to six months in jail.

The Ombudsman has asked Dave to supply a government agency with all information and documents concerning Union Solidarity, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and individual workers who participated in the strike.

Dave has made it clear that Union Solidarity will not comply with laws and government agencies whose sole purpose is to prevent workers having the ability to strike and organise. It is clear that the Workplace Ombudsman (on behalf of the Federal Government) is pursuing Dave in order to break Union Solidarity, which has played a crutial role in many industrial disputes across Victoria in the past three and a half years.

Above: Dave Kerin speaking at a mass meeting of Boeing workers.

The Socialist Party fully supports Dave and Union Solidarity and we are asking our supporters to also indicate their support.

For updates about this battle click the link below to visit the Union Solidarity website. Please add your name to the sign up form while you are there.

http://www.unionsolidarity.org/irnews/2008/05/defend-dave-kerin.html

Messages of support can be sent to Dave Kerin at defenddave@unionsolidarity.org

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 at 10:35 am and is filed under Australian news and analysis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.