Victorian ETU ditches Labor
The recent disaffiliation from the ALP of the Victorian branch of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) is the most significant example so far of the tensions between the modern Labor Party and the more dynamic sections of the trade union movement. This act cannot be understood without some historical context.
During the post-war economic upswing from 1950 to 1973, there was a two-way relationship between the ALP and the trade unions. Capitalism was booming and wanted continued production and class peace. When put under pressure, employers were willing to give a higher share of production to wages than is the case now.
The unions happily bankrolled the ALP. In return, ALP governments introduced relatively worker-friendly legislation, training grants for unions, and supported a more pro-union environment than today.
Today the world economic situation is totally different. The neoliberal policies of privatisation, free trade and deregulation dominated from the mid-1970s until 2009. This was followed by a rightwing form of Keynesianism which saw governments bailing out the private sector. The resulting state debt now has to be paid back and the capitalist consensus is to make the working class pay.
Since the Hawke-Keating ALP governments of 1983-96, the relationship between the ALP and the more militant unions has slowly begun to unravel. The ALP now stands for privatisation, user pays, and a general diminishing role for the public sector. Unions are expected to sell these cuts to workers on behalf of the party. This is the role that the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) plays today.
The past 20 years has not only seen the party shift to the right but it has been emptied out of its working class base. It lacks even the most basic level of democracy and it is now just as connected to big business as the Liberal Party. These developments have not gone unnoticed by some sections of workers.
The Victorian ETU, under the leadership of Dean Mighell, is one such organisation. This union has been transformed over the last 15 years from a stale branch into a dynamic, strong organisation that is full of active members. There has been growing pressure in the branch to ditch the link to Labor and this was proven by the overwhelming vote to disaffiliate.
At a ballot conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission, 85% of almost 7000 financial members voted to disaffiliate from the ALP. The union has contributed more than $80,000 a year to the ALP and this will now be spent elsewhere.
The question is what now? One option is for the union to support the Greens and recently the Victorian ETU pumped serious money into the Greens Senate campaign and in the Federal seat of Melbourne. The Greens are the flavour of the month right now, as Obama and Rudd were in 2007, but they will disappoint once they get a taste of power. Already in Tasmania the Greens are part of a government that is privatising public housing stock and increasing electricity prices.
Workers need a political party of their own. A union can only protect its members in the workplace. Workers need their own political party to deal with other important issues such as health, education, climate change and public transport.
If working people want to reorganise society in order to meet their needs they need a party to fight for control over the economy and introduce democratic socialism. This need for a workers party was first learnt by Australian workers after the industrial defeats of the 1890s and this is what originally led to the creation of the ALP.
Similarly today we need to build a new mass party that represents workers interests. This would unify the militant unions, community, student and migrant organisations and the best of the existing left into one broad party. If it was organised along democratic lines with a campaigning approach, it would grow very quickly. The ETU has hopefully set a precedent that will be followed by other militant unions. This is a great first step but another big step still needs to be taken.
Socialism 2010 - A weekend of discussion about a world in crisis
Venue: Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street Carlton South, Victoria.
Friday October 1
7pm – Capitalist crisis and class struggle
Anthony Main will look at the effects of the economic crisis and perspectives for struggle internationally.
Saturday October 2
10am – 25 years of the Socialist Party
Stephen Jolly and Robyn Hohl will discuss the history and ideas of the Socialist Party in Australia.
1pm – Australia’s new minority government
Mel Gregson will look at the social, political and economic situation facing the new minority government. Can the relative quite last?
3.30pm – Recession and revolt in Greece
David Suter will look at the situation in Greece: The debt crisis, the general strikes and how people are fighting back.
7pm – SP State Election launch, Vote 1 Stephen Jolly for Richmond!
The Socialist Party will be joined by a range of community and trade union leaders to launch Stephen Jolly’s election campaign. (This function will be held at the British Crown Hotel on Smith St in Collingwood)
Sunday October 3
11am – 4pm
SP members will look at how we will build our organisation over the next year and discuss party business.
For more information or to arrange childcare or accommodation contact the SP National Office on 0396399111.
Upcoming SP meetings
The Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South.
Upcoming meetings include:
15/9 – Political crisis and floods in Pakistan
22/9 – Can a revolution be peaceful?
1,2&3/10 – Socialism 2010
For more information or for details of meetings in other parts of Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.
News links:
Turkey: 12 September 2010 - 30th anniversary of the military coup
http://socialistworld.net/doc/4510
Joe Higgins condemns scapegoating of Roma peoples by Sarkozy
http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/4512
Afghanistan: War Plans in Disarray — Bring the Troops Home Now
http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/4502
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, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.
Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!
Support the Socialist Party by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. Subscription rates are only $10 per year or $20 solidarity price. You will receive 11 copies per year delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a subscription form.
Socialist Party contact details
Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Adelaide: Phone David on 0883441474.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.
