Northern Communities & Union Solidarity

Next Meeting

2007-08-23T16:59:00.000+10:00

6pm Thursday
30 August
1100 Pascoe Vale Rd
Broadmeadows

There are two main issues for the agenda. One will be the public meeting that we have been planning.

The other issue is a big union protest which has been planned for 26 September. We will want to organise publicity for the rally in the northern suburbs.

Hope to see you at the meeting.

more info: Sue 0413-377-978

November Meeting

2006-11-08T17:24:00.000+11:00

WEDNESDAY 6PM
15 NOVEMBER
1100 Pascoe Vale Rd
Broadmeadows
(near train station)

more info: Sue, sue_bolton@hotmail.com

Group Activities

2006-11-08T17:12:00.000+11:00

The next major activity for the Northern Suburbs Union & Community Solidarity Group
will be publicising the big union protest at the MCG ("Fill the 'G") on Thursday 30
November.

It is critical that we have a massive turnout on the day, to demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of Australians still oppose the anti-worker laws.

We will be aiming to leaflet train stations (Broadmeadows, Glenroy, Upfield, Gowrie / Fawkner, Essendon & Craigieburn) in the mornings or afternoons in the lead-up to November 30.

Some of the other Union Solidarity groups are also planning to leaflet some of the bigger polling booths on the day of the state elections (Saturday 25 November). Our next meeting will plan which polling booths that our group will cover on the day.

If you want to help out with publicity but can't do any of these things, give Wayne a ring on 0438-304-326.

Next meeting
WEDNESDAY 6PM
15 NOVEMBER
1100 Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows
(near train station)

Other News
A new union/community solidarity group in Western Australia, the Peel
Community Solidarity Group, had just had its first successful action outside the massive Alcoa plant at Pinjarra in WA on 1 & 2 November.

Alcoa had canelled a building firm's contract and employed a new contractor which indicated that it would only reemploy the workers if they signed AWAs.

The community assembly held a mass meeting in the middle of the road, resulting in a traffic gridlock around the plant for up to 10 kilometres.

more info: Sue, sue_bolton@hotmail.com

Successful Public Meeting

2006-09-17T13:05:00.000+10:00

Last night from 7-9pm Thusday 14 September at St Matthews Hall cnr Widford St & Melbourne Ave Glenroy locals and activists gathered to hear speakers and ask questions discuss what has been happening since we last met at this location.

Some of the local job losses:

Autoliv: 250 jobs lost 150 remain in jeopardy.
Johnson Controls: Company closed with 80 jobs lost.
Meritor: Company closed with 40 jobs lost.
Kozma: Company closed 50 jobs lost.
Visy, Coburg: 70 redundancies.
Kraft, Broadmeadows: Company closed, 200 jobs lost.

(the above job losses are due to the policies of the Howard Government including the Free Trade Agreement with China.)

Finlay Engineering's attack on Union delegates before the closure of the Company.
Amcor Flexibles in Preston attack union delegates under the pretext of redundancies.
Guest Labour 457 visas at Austral Bricks.
Minimum Award conditions attacked and stripped.
Diffiiculties with negotiations and the taking of legal protected action. (industrial action)
Unfair dismissals - for example Karin Palmer at Greer Industries.

The great volunteer work done (eg leafletting at Broady and other shopping centres, attending community protests and the Big Ralies, etc) by some of those gathered local industrial and community activists was cheered. All present were encouraged to also consider using their time, energy and wits in
solidarity in the ongoing and upcoming struggles.

One local Melbourne Avenue resident (who was letter boxed with a leaflet about the night's meeting) reminded us all that 35 years ago there was a rising working class community expectation for an end to Conscription & the war in Vietnam, the end of the bleak years Liberal Government... in this very building an overflowing, huge community rally was held and out of that upsurge came the improvements in the local area which may now be taken away if we do not organise again.

We heard first hand about the impact of the Howard government's anti-worker laws and
the sort of campaign's that defeat them.

Speakers included:

Joan Doyle, state secretary of the postal workers' union spoke about the ongoing situation of increased casualisation and the current resistance to the bosses schemes.

Tim Gooden, Geelong Trades Hall secretary spoke about their local preparations for disputes eg a picket line kit they distributed a year ago and the local events there since. We heard about the the 107 WA construction workers who face fines of $28,600 for going on strike now joined by 40 AMWU members also charged by the ABCC. A Portland Victoria health & safety rep was recently hassled by the ABCC and faced six month in jail if she refused to answer their questions.

A delegate from Amcor discussed their strike for the reinstatement of sacked delegates which was won (!) thanks to industrial action at other Amcor plants in solidarity with Preston & Union Solidarity other union Unions and community support.

Mary Merkenich, Australian Education Union delegate and state councillor spoke about the need to have to take on the collaborating bureaucrats in the Unions. Also about the problems with the State ALP government's education policies and the Federal ALP Opposition education policies' holes; hardly an improvment on the current Liberal national party exploitation of the sector and incremental
privatisation of "state" school system for profiteers.

A delegate from Finlay Engineering who was sacked for standing up for a sacked worker then won reinstatement through a community campaign could not make it. However a summary of the Finlays dispute and security gained from being in the AMWU explained contrasted with those on AWAs who lost $ to their despicable boss.

A worker, sacked when she returned from sick leave after 14 years' work for Greer Industries could not make it but sent a letter which was read out.

Questions/statements from the audience included an ex meat worker who was very pissed off with the ALP Accord period which did over the union in the 1980s and warned us not to trust the ALP again. Others echoed the call that we must take over the running of our unions and our community struggles for ourselves and by taking direct action inevitably this may put some of us into situation of breaking these bad laws.

Local issues like the Toxic Waste Dump at Tullamarine, the closure of the after hours service at the Dianella Health Centre and long awaited opening of the Coolaroo Railway station (45 years on and still waiting!) were discussed.

We ended the unusually upbeat but long meeting with a unanimous vote for our concerns to be noted by our local politicians to ensure that the IR Laws be ripped up after the next election.

To close the Tulla Toxic Waste Dump
To support manufacturing in Australia
Repeal the Industrial realtions Laws
Ensure Dianella medical Clinic after hours service is retained.
Coolaroo Railway Station be opend on the electrified line to Craigieburn.

.......................................................

There is to be a public meeting at the
Good Shepherd Hall,
88 South Circular Drive,
Gladstone Park
Tuesday 19th September 2006
at 7.30pm
with a demand for Zero health Risks.
Contact Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group

more info: Kaylene 9308 7515 | 0402 135 507 or George 9324 4455 | 0417 496 996.

NOTE:
Northern Communities and Union Solidarity group meets in two weeks time in Broadmeadows to organise a Rally on Sunday October 22nd from 1.00pm at Pearcedale Parade Broadmeadows, then march through the shopping centre. Speakers & BBQ.

more info: sue_bolton@hotmail.com | 0413-377-978 | Wayne 0438-304-326

Thanks to the organisers & all who came out on the night and shared their experiences and enthusiasm that we can and will defeate te Howard Laws.

PUBLIC MEETING: "This could happen to you"

2006-08-22T12:35:00.000+10:00

7PM Thusday
14 September
St Matthews Hall
cnr Widford St & Melbourne Ave
Glenroy

Union leaders and rank and file workers will discuss the impact of the Howard government's anti-worker laws and the sort of campaign that is needed to defeat them.

Speakers:

Joan Doyle, state secretary of the postal workers' union
A representative of the CFMEU to discuss the campaign in solidarity with the 107 WA construction workers who face fines of $28,600 for going on strike
Tim Gooden, Geelong Trades Hall secretary
A delegate from Amcor to discuss their strike for the reinstatement of sacked delegates
Mary Merkenich, Australian Education Union delegate and state councillor
Harry Rai, a delegate from Finlay Engineering who was sacked for standing up for a sacked worker then won reinstatement through a community campaign
Karen Palmer, sacked when she returned from sick leave after 14 years' work for Greer Industries

more info: sue_bolton@hotmail.com | 0413-377-978 | Wayne 0438-304-326

Upcoming Meetings

2006-07-06T13:44:00.000+10:00

Wednesday 12 July
6pm
1100 Pascoe Vale Road
Broadmeadows
(near train station)

more info: Wayne 0438-304-326 | Sue, sue_bolton@hotmail.com

Wednesday 26 July
6pm
1100 Pascoe Vale Road
Broadmeadows
(near train station)

more info: Wayne 0438-304-326 | Sue, sue_bolton@hotmail.com

June 14 Meeting

2006-06-13T22:41:00.000+10:00

6pm Wednesday 14 June
110 Pascoe Vale Road
Broadmeadows

more info: Wayne 0438 304 326

Next meeting

2006-05-18T08:05:00.000+10:00

Wednesday May
6:00-7.00 pm
110 Pascoe Vale Road
Broadmeadows
(near the station)

Lets see a great big Northern suburbs presence on the train going in to the June 28th 2006 ACTU's stop work rally and stick it up John Howard's Union-busting agenda !

more info: Wayne toneyex@bigpond.com | 0438 304 321

Broady event

2006-05-02T09:43:00.000+10:00

Northern Communities & Union Solidarity Group family day at Town Park rotunda, Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows heard local speakers and musician Danny Spooner then marched through the streets.

click to enlarge

Commemorating the 8 Hour day musician Danny Spooner sang union songs and brought good cheer on a grey and raining Sunday afternoon in Broadmeadows. Local speakers exposed Howard's dirty war on workers and the unfair dismissal laws. A popular call went out to defend wages and conditions.

We also heard from the campaign to stop Cleanaways plan to expand the Tullamarine Toxic Waste Dump; they are holding a rally:

June 17th 10am to 12 noon
more info: Ivon 9338 5974 | Kaylene 9308 7515.

The Broadmeadows Progress Association speaker told us about the campaign to save the Dianella Medical Centre after hours GP Service and their next meeting on May 3rd 7.30pm at the Uniting Church Mission "Care Centre" 415, camp Road, Broadmeadows. The Progress asociation will also hear more from the Metal Workers Union and a local sacked worker.

More info: 9309 6296 | jsrutherford@bigpond.com

A Daytime meeting of the Defend Dianella Campaign will take place:
Monday May 8th
1.30pm Global Learning Village, cafe area.

Stop the Tulla Toxic waste dump

click to enlarge

Sacked worker Harry

click to enlarge

more info: Melbourne Indymedia | 0438 304 326
article and pictures: Viola Wilkins violawil@bigpond.net

Northern Communities & Union Solidarity

2006-04-27T08:08:00.000+10:00

Broady Family Day & March for Your Rights and Future

Northern Communities and Union Solidarity Group invite you, your family and friends to join us in an historic first for the Northern suburbs. Come and be part of the fight against Howard's draconian industrial relations laws.

Sunday 30th April 2006
(May Day Eve)
1.00pm to 3.30pm
Town Park
Pearcedale Parade
Broadmeadows

Celebrate the 8 Hour Day - 150th anniversary.
Defeat Howard's dirty war on workers
Say NO to unfair dismissal laws
Fight to defend wages and conditions
Defend and support the union movement that supports all
Fight for your kid’s future
Support the closure of the Tullamarine Toxic Waste
Help Save Dianella Medical centre Broadmeadows
Fight to keep jobs in Australia.

More info: Wayne 0438 304 326