The Howard government suppressed the freedom of workers to associate by severely limiting the means workers have to collectively bargain, in particular prohibiting the withdrawing of their labour power. ‘Law and order’ was the political ‘spin’ used against unions, with zero tolerance allowed for so-called ‘unlawful’ strikes. In a collective bargaining system, the strike is [...]
Howard outlaws the right to strike 2005
I published this in 2005 against WorkChoices. Depressingly, PM Rudd is doing much the same! ‘The right of workers to leave their jobs is a test of freedom. Hitler suppressed strikes. Stalin suppressed strikes. But each also suppressed freedom. There are some things worse than strikes, much worse than strikes – one of them is [...]
A FRAMEWORK OF FLESH by Humphrey McQueen
Humphrey McQueen, freelance labour historian’s new publication: A FRAMEWORK OF FLESH Builders’ labourers battle for health and safety The hope of the world Foreword “A red armband view†What follows http://home.alphalink.com.au/~loge27/sborder/blf_framework_of_flesh.htm This is soon to be published with a limited print run. Building unions and the ACTU health and safety unit should really pre=purchase many [...]
The Right to Politically Protest 2006
I wrote this in July 2006. One would have thought that protection for workers withdrawing their labour to attend ACTU community assemblies protesting against WorkChoices was a basic democratic freedom. But under a Rudd government, like Howard’s WorkChoices, it may remain unlawful. On Wednesday 28th June 2006, hundreds of thousands of people attended protest rallies, [...]
Workers’ Rights?
Repeal the Building Industry Act and WorkChoices Sydney August 16 2008 I support the campaign of the ACTU and the Construction Forest Mining and Energy Union and Noel Washington. I deal with: Right to strike for industry bargaining and right to strike to save the environment. Australian workers’ legal rights remain amongst the worst in [...]
Right to strike for industry bargaining attacked by Gillard (January 5th 2008)
It is important that workers have the right to strike for industry bargaining. January 2008. One week’s new year holiday on the NSW south coast beach, listening to the tests with PM Kevin Rudd commentating and reading Mungo’s election campaign book. As a campaigner for Your Rights at Work Worth Fighting For and ALP member, [...]
No right to strike in individual bargaining?
Under the 1996 Workplace Relations Act there was a right to strike for an AWA, but with WorkChoices these protected individual bargaining rights were removed. They have not been restored by DPM Gillard in her politically successful phasing out of AWAs. And powerful corporate interests are rolling these individual contracts into non-union collective bargaining. I [...]
AT LAST A HOME! The Need For Public Housing:2004
PM Rudd and Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek have at last placed tackling homelessness on the political agenda and much is being done. But with a greater housing crisis than thought possible with economic uncertainty and a looming recession, urgent emergency funding to the States for public housing over the next two years is necessary. [...]
Concerns for the right to strike: Kevin Rudd ‘Facing the Future’ 17/4/2007
I responded to Kevin Rudd’s statements against the right to srike he raised during the election. I have attacked PM Howard for removing the right to strike, almost to the point of suppression. I was surprised to hear Kevin Rudd 17/4/2007 targeting strikes as a problem. And on an individual’s basic human right to withdraw [...]
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