Australian unions have been central to the advancement of progressive economic and social policy in the past.

Unions have fought for, and secured, vital elements of the social wage, like pensions, superannuation, Medicare, and income for the unemployed.

Australian unions have always had a vision for a fair and prosperous Australia that starts with rights at work, and looks outward beyond the workplace. Congress recognises the challenges and opportunities that Australia faces over the coming decades and commits to the development a new union agenda for the future of the economy.

 While the Australian economy has outperformed most other advanced economies since the global financial crisis (with low public sector debt, a low unemployment rate and solid real growth in average wages) the benefits of prosperity have not been shared broadly enough.

 Key areas of the economy are under pressure – the multi-speed economy is real. Some sectors, particularly trade-exposed industries such as manufacturing, finance, and tourism, are struggling with the dramatic and sustained appreciation in the exchange rate.

Jobs have been lost and more are under threat. Australia needs a comprehensive plan for sustaining employment and economic development beyond the mining boom.

 Secure jobs are becoming rarer, with precarious work on the rise. Income, job and working time insecurity have profound negative implications for workers, their families, and their communities.

 Inequality has risen, putting at risk the long-standing norm that Australian should remain a relatively egalitarian place.

 A form of corporate inequality has developed. A greater share of corporate profits are being taken by a handful of the largest companies while many smaller enterprises struggle. An enormous share of national wealth is being captured by a handful of mega-rich individuals who also seek to dominate policy making and public debate.

 Public services are under threat, with the rise of a radical ‘small government’ ideology threatening the health, education, and other vital community services that Australians take for granted.

 There has been a decade long under-investment in infrastructure and skills, leaving Australia under-equipped to grow and compete in the Asian Century.

Unions seek a strong Australia that is fair and prosperous, with secure employment for all who want it, social assistance for all who need it, and truly equal opportunities for all.

Unions seek dialogue with political parties, civil society, and business leaders on this agenda.

Consistent with the policies adopted at the Congress the ACTU will urgently convene experts from across Australian unions to develop a plan to make sure workers and their families, no matter where they live or work, benefit from a prosperous economy. The union agenda for the Australian economy will be centred on the following issues.

 Jobs & Employment: Ensuring that Government policy does everything possible to create and sustain good jobs;

 Productivity: The human and physical capital necessary to secure sustainable productivity growth that lifts real wages and workers’ living standards;

 Public Services: Securing adequate and sustainable revenue to provide high-quality public services; and a response to the ideological attacks on public services.

 Macroeconomic Policy: The appropriate framework for managing macroeconomic policy, (including the inflation target, fiscal rules, and exchange rate policy) and the possible role for policies such as the creation of a sovereign wealth fund.

 The Mining Boom: The best ways to ensure that the benefits of the current mining boom are used to benefit all Australians, including future generations of Australians;

 Inequality: Rising inequality, especially inequality of earned income, and the need for intergenerational equity;

 Personal Tax & Transfers: An equitable personal tax that will help promote social inclusion and jobs and a welfare system that does not create or entrench poverty; and

 The Social Wage: Ensuring that the components of Australia’s social wage keep pace with the evolving needs of the needs of the community;

 Corporate Tax: A corporate tax system that promotes productive investment, infrastructure development and employment, and ensures that taxes fall most heavily on sectors and companies extracting economic rents.

This is critical for Australian unionists as Abbott and Liberal Premiers take their anti-unionism from the US Republicans.
Solidarity with US unions and workers are demonstrated here with rousing applause.

I assume their speeches will be up on YouTube soon.

The Occupy movement has been an extremely exciting development. Unprecedented, in fact. There’s never been anything like it that I can think of. If the bonds and associations it has established can be sustained through a long, dark period ahead — because victory won’t come quickly — it could prove a significant moment in American history.

The fact that the Occupy movement is unprecedented is quite appropriate. After all, it’s an unprecedented era and has been so since the 1970s, which marked a major turning point in American history. For centuries, since the country began, it had been a developing society, and not always in very pretty ways. That’s another story, but the general progress was toward wealth, industrialization, development, and hope. There was a pretty constant expectation that it was going to go on like this. That was true even in very dark times.
Read the article here

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/08-1

“You can get depressed hearing all the stories of low-wage and immigrant workers,” Ahmad said. But at Labor Notes, “the energy is amazing.” Vision sharpens, and all of a sudden the movement that can stand up against the odds comes into view.

http://labornotes.org/2012/05/troublemakers-union-gathers-stronger-ever

“From Cairo to Madison, 2011 was the year people stood up—or sat in—putting democracy back on the agenda,” Brenner said. “The game changer for most of us was Occupy Wall Street. 99 to 1—I like those odds!”

“Nothing is without sacrifice,” Shalaby said, recounting the strike wave that has swept Egypt since last year, and the revolution that claimed many lives.

Shalaby said his union federation is reaching out to the whole Arab world because Egypt is the door to that world. “We all live under one sky,” he said. “In Egypt we have a saying: workers of the world, unite.”
Union members from coast to coast are making it clear they’re hungry for a fighter in their corner. From the new leadership at the New York State Nurses to the second generation of reformers in AFSCME Local 3299 on California campuses, attendees at the conference brought plenty of reasons to be confident that rank and file workers see what so many union leaders don’t: that the power is still in our hands.

Fellow Verizon worker and CWA Local 1101 organizer Ken Spatta spoke Sunday on the long road of reform inside his union, which culminated in a takeover of the local in the wake of last summer’s Verizon strike.

The strike showed who the local’s real leadership was. With no warning, Spatta said, the local’s reform caucus put picketers on the street just a half hour after the national union called the strike. Reformers stepped up to captain picket lines and take extra shifts protesting at wireless stores.

The strike stalled, but Spatta said his local and the other fighters inside CWA and the IBEW are still working to mobilize against a company whose CEO makes $55,000 a day—including weekends. …

“Up, up with the union, down, down with the Hyatt,” shouted hundreds of demonstrators at a rally that filled a city block.

Read the report here
http://labornotes.org/2012/05/troublemakers-union-gathers-stronger-ever

With veteran whafie and NT political leader Brian Manning, I with 40 others attended Darwin’s public meeting on the US military machine in Australia.

I applaud the Basewatch group for an informative meeting over 2 hours on this question of War or Peace.

Basewatch aims to be a part of bringing Darwin into the forefront of planning for this major change in social infrastructure, that has so far been declared but not defined for mutual deliberation with the people of Darwin – local voices keen to set boundaries and criteria for any American military presence in our town.

I intervened at the end when Major General Krause – who is implementing the USA Base or as he says it is not a Base but a ‘joint-facility’ – was asked political questions about why?

I said the Major General does not make these political decisions.

The answer is war with China and an incremental build-up with US vessels, aircraft and marines in Darwin combat ready.

The “new forward-staging base” is a clear signal to China that “the US has quick-response capability in Beijing’s backyard”
(Wall Street Journal 27/1/12). The USS Halsey was here for Anzac Day – check out its impressive capability.

Australia’s Defence White Paper (2009) identifies China as a potential enemy and talks about South East Asia being “a conduit for the projection of military power against us by others.”

But China, our leading trading partner, believes “Australia should beware lest it be perceived as a lackey of Washington” (The Australian 22 Mar 2012).

Indonesia, our near neighbour, has warned that an expanded military presence generates a “vicious circle of tension and mistrust” (SMH 17Nov 2011).

War with China? We don’t want this US build up to war with China.

Rather an Independent Australian policy.

Of course Defence Minister Smith denies this

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/chinese-power-cant-be-contained-smith-20120427-1xpw6.html

Fraser accuse Smith of reliving the cold war

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/fraser-accuses-smith-of-reliving-the-cold-war-20120426-1xmoh.html

and China will take us as a prize

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/china-will-take-us-as-a-prize-fraser/story-fn59niix-1226334814698

Darwin citizens ought to be asked whether we want to be a target – like in the Bombing of Darwin when the Japanese invaded Dili Timor Leste.

Chomsky’s moral imperative is to work to overthrow the power that makes war.

I cited the Sydney group ‘Lets Keep War from Our Front Door’.

But the Major General does not answer these questions, not his to answer, so I asked the speaker the Rev Lee Levitt Olsen who had cited in his moving address that in Adelaide the anti-war movement organised and over 100,000 marched, along with millions in worldwide rallies against the war in Iraq. Slow organising at the community and state level and broad alliances was the key. But Howard went to war under the US. No democracy here. How do we build to overcome this issue?

Lee Levitt Olsen from the Uniting Church has wide international networks, an impressive history of action and a gifted orator and his contribution ought to be listened to.

WA Senator Scott Ludlam argued presented the Greens concerns on the impact of military bases – see also the most reasonable pamphlet.

He carefully worked through important clarifications on what the Australian government is doing and what is happening with this steady build-up.

No ALP politician was present.

Basewatch participants politely questioned Major General Krause on the details on what is happening and he answered them and this exchange is important to continue.

Major General Krause is a straight talker, gave a polished performance and we all found it essential to get his position
on training,not a permanent base and the social and economic impact. I leave it to him and others to go over what we know until now of the US forces in NT.

Live from Okinawa on the large screen Professor Aubay and her supporters gave a detailed explanation of the disaster for the people with the US base. Her contribution means there are many issues to be worked through in the NT, with the government determined to move carefully addressing concerns.

On april 28th Rick Wallace in the Australian wrote “the deal struck to send US marines to Darwin appears to have helped solve a deadlock between Japan and the US over moving US troops away from Okinawa.

Tokyo and Washington reached a deal yesterday to transfer about half of the 18,000 US marines based in the southern island of Okinawa to Guam, Hawaii and Australia.”

June Mills gave the indigenous welcome and talked of her mother Kath Mills and her opposition to war and Kath Mills’ experience in Katherine being bombed by the Japanese. She sang Arafura Pearl.

We are at the beginning of education and debate by the Australian public on the arguments.

This national question of war is on the agenda and opposition growing and can be slowly organised in civil society, in institutions, and with political lobbying. Hundreds of community activities can be organised.

I advocate ‘talking truth to authority’ and encourage challenging the 1%.

But as Chomsky says with US marines there is no point
(see review article in Australian Options 68 on this blog).

What does work in whatever way is to be part of international and local political actions ‘we the people’ as equal citizens collectively in a democracy acting against war and for peace.

I add the following sent to me from a Sydney group

LET’S KEEP WAR FROM OUR DOOR
For discussion
We wish to share a safe home in a region built on friendship, trust and
the peaceful resolution of disputes and differences. However, US troops
are now permanently stationed in Darwin – the “new forward-staging
base”, a clear signal to China that “the US has quick-response capability
in Beijing’s backyard” ( Wall Street Journal 27/1/12).

Australia’s Defence White Paper (2009) identifies China as a potential
enemy and talks about South East Asia being “a conduit for the projection
of military power against us by others.” But China, our leading trading partner, believes “Australia should beware lest it be perceived as a lackey
of Washington” (The Australian 22 Mar 2012). Indonesia, our near
neighbour, has warned that an expanded military presence would generate
a “vicious circle of tension and mistrust” (SMH 17Nov 2011).

Meanwhile, a military solution to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions has also serious implications for Australia while it hosts US combat troops.
In a recent BBC report, Iran’s former lead nuclear negotiator, Dr Seyed Hossein Mousavian, warned Iran would be “confronting Israel directly
and punishing all those countries which advocated war against Iran … I cannot imagine US infrastructure, diplomats or personnel would be safe anywhere in the world.”

Such developments should ring alarm bells for Australia.

Australia has a long history of involvement in global peace efforts. We helped draft the United Nations Charter, which makes it illegal to wage aggressive warfare, and were one of just eight countries to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have been involved in numerous peace-keeping exercises around the globe.

This is the proud record we should be continuing to expand, not our
military capabilities.

Therefore, We:

• oppose the continuing military build-up in our home region, which threatens to bring war to our doorstep.

• call on Indo-Pacific nations of the to reduce their force levels and military spending.

• call on governments to build regional mechanisms to resolve disputes under the auspices of the United Nations, to stop our differences turning
into flashpoints or pretexts for war.

• call on the Australian government to base the US-Australian relationship on our non military ties.

The increasingly militaristic posture of the US-Australian alliance undermines our national sovereignty and our standing in the region.

Let’s replace confrontation with co-operation. Let’s replace fear with friendship.

Let’s Keep War From Our Door.
___________________________________
c/- KWFD, 499 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Please distribute this message on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVU5-PRWQyo&feature=email

Concern with economic inequality is making a modest political comeback. Barrack Obama has made it a recurrent feature in his speeches, while Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has copped flak for saying he is more concerned with the broad middle class than the very rich or very poor.

Fuelling these concerns is a mass of evidence about growing economic inequality in the last couple of decades. One should not be surprised that disparities between rich and poor have widened. Capitalism reproduces and intensifies inequalities, as those with wealth pursue further capital accumulation while those at the other extreme often remain trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Historically, what has kept these relentlessly unequalising tendencies in check has been the roles played by trade unions and redistributive governments.

But unions now cover only a small minority of workers, while governments coming under the influence of neo-liberalism have reduced, if not completely abandoned, their attempts to close the gap through income redistribution.

So the share of national income captured by the owners of capital has increased while workers’ share has fallen. And welfare state provisions face recurrent threats from the implementation of neo-liberal policies.

A progressive tax system has been a particular casualty. In the United States, for example, much publicity has been given to the statement by multi-billionaire warren Buffett that he currently pays a lower rate of tax than does his secretary. This evident tax injustice is easily explicable.

The tax on income from capital gains is usually less than on income from labour, while the wealthy make greater use of tax minimisation schemes. But Buffett’s statement has had political impact because of his popular image as an ethically concerned wealthy citizen. It signals a sound, popular basis for Barrack Obama’s rhetoric and for his proposal that millionaires should always pay at least an overall average tax rate.

Winner-take-all politics, by Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson (Simon and Schuster, New York, 2010), explores how the failings of the political system created the problems in the US case. The authors are political scientists from highly prestigious universities, Yale and UC Berkeley.

They review ‘the transformation of American governance over the last generation’, showing how both Republican and Democratic administrations have presided over arrangements that have facilitated growing inequalities.

They use the term ‘winner-take-all politics’ to show how the political pull of America’s super-rich has swamped any residual concerns with equity, social cohesion and progressive redistribution.

They call it a ‘thirty-year war’ and show the daunting nature of the challenge with which Obama – or any committed successor – would have to grapple if any practical effect is to be given to more egalitarian principles.

First and foremost, the book shows the fabulous gains that the super-rich have made in recent decades.Read the full book review here

http://evatt.org.au/news/winner-take-all-politics.html

US labor against war

http://www.truth-out.org/republic-windows-workers-consider-employee-owned-co-op/1330711182

http://www.globalzero.org/en/about-campaign