‘The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles’
— Marx and Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party
by Dave Eden
I would like to thank comrades for inviting me to speak at this meeting and the comradely attitude it displays.… Go to Article
BOOK LAUNCH
WE BUILT THIS COUNTRY
BUILDERS’ LABOURERS AND THEIR UNIONS
1787 TO THE FUTURE
by Humphrey McQueen
The book should be compulsory reading for new and old union officers and organisers; it will certainly challenge them to decide whether they are workers’ representatives or ‘workplace relations practitioners’.… Go to Article
Exercise Our Right to Strike
Organise to block WorkChoices and rewrite the FairWork Act
Under current industrial laws these activities are illegal.… Go to Article
There is a prevailing belief in the ALP that they can spin their way out of any situation. This sometimes works with people without ideology or class consciousness.… Go to Article
In the 1970s, workers were denied democratic rights in the workplace and on the streets. Back then, electoral gerrymander prevented parliamentary opposition.… Go to Article
a meeting has been organised to discuss this proposal on 15th March at 5.30pm at Freedom House 69 Thomas St West End 4101
The accumulation of capital is Australia remains much stronger than that in much of the world – especially the global North.… Go to Article
“In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all’s equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled”
In horse racing, when you pick two winners in any order it is called a ‘quinella’.… Go to Article
In light of the current alarm about dredging and dumping in the Reef, it is worth recalling how it was saved by union action which is now illegal under Fair Work Australia.… Go to Article
By Humphrey McQueen
Canberra 1911-16
Canberra Historical Journal, New Series, 67, December 2011, pp. 17-24.
For the Federal Area to become a Federal Capital on the ground as well as in law, hundreds of navvies had to construct before tradesmen and other labourers could build.… Go to Article
by Humphrey McQueen
“I cannot understand this language. I cannot make it out. This language, which is half slang, I cannot understand at all.”… Go to Article
This picture is from a collection held by the John Oxley Library / State Library of Queensland (W. Davies collection).
The 1912 Brisbane General Strike began when members of the Australian Tramway Employees Association were dismissed when they wore union badges to work on 18 January 1912.… Go to Article
Review: We Built this Country
We Built This Country – Builders’ Labourers and their Unions,
by Humphrey McQueen, Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, 2011, 364pp, $30.00
Review by Howard Guille
This is the second book of Humphrey McQueen’s research into builders’ labourers and their unions.… Go to Article
Grace Collier claims in a Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) article that Fair Work is fostering a cash-in mentality.
The article states variously that ‘14,897 people put in conventional unfair dismissal applications’ then just a few paragraphs on that ‘37,262 people lodged individual cases, mainly consisting of unfair dismissal and general protection matters’.… Go to Article
Sympathisers of
Freeport Indonesia Workers Struggle
Around the World
Dear comrades,
On behalf of Freeport Indonesia workers, especially those who still fighting for our rights and better welfare who to date there are 7 thousand of them request you to assist us in continuing this struggle.… Go to Article
Friends of Ahimsa House Press Release
At 10am on the morning of Wednesday 14th December, a Friend of AHIMSA House, Bernie Neville, will climb onto the roof of the building at 26 Horan Street, West End and hang a banner in opposition to the impending sale of this community space, slated to be finalised this Thursday the 15th December 2011.… Go to Article
Tembagapura, 25 February 2012 .
West Papua – Grasberg mine Freeport operational again disturbed, was not a result of his finished cases of post-strike.… Go to Article
The next meeting of the 17 Group will be the rather festive break-up meeting for the year 2011 and will be held on Wednesday the 7th of December at 7pm.… Go to Article
Hi all,
The rally for refugees at the national Labor Party conference is now just over a week away. We are pleased to be able to announce that Ged Kearney, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions has now confirmed to speak.… Go to Article
| MONDAY DEC 5th. *from 8.30 a.m. *Solidarity Vigil for Julian Assange, High Court, The Strand, London
An anti-war solidarity vigil will be held outside the High Court, The Strand, London on Monday Dec 5th against the extradition of Julian Assange. |
the 45th anniversary of the wave hill walk-off and 9 year strike, the longest in australia i believe.
back in 1966 we were into the 17th year of the menzies (pig iron bob) federal government and there was no government sympathy for aborigines and land claims nor workers on strike.… Go to Article
by Gerry Georgatos
It is indeed now common knowledge that Australian adult prisons are incarcerating children as young as 13. The human rights struggle to free these children from our adult prisons has been an arduous one, with the major obstacle the Australian government and the horrific prejudices and stereotypes they have shoved down throats so as to perceptually modify views.… Go to Article
The international celebration of UN Human Rights Day, observed annually on 10th December to mark the anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.… Go to Article
We call on people who support community organisation to help defend AHIMSA house at 26 Horan Street West End from unconscionable sale by Challenger Bank, now owned by National Australia bank by signing the petition below.… Go to Article
‘Poultry’ pay not OK: Baiada workers on why they’re striking
By Sue Bolton
From Green Left Weekly, Saturday, November 19, 2011
The main slogan on the Baiada workers’ picket line in Melbourne’s western suburbs is “No more $10!… Go to Article
Blackfella, whitefella
Yellafella, any fella
It doesn’t matter what your colour
As long as you are true fella
Are you the one who’s gonna stand up and be counted?… Go to Article
“It is not enough that some succeed, others must fail”— Gore Vidal
The article in the newspaper clipping shows the crisis in capitalism hits in towns big and small, in places that city papers rarely mention, towns that lie hidden, where government money is not spent .… Go to Article
For every worker who’s sentenced,
Ten thousand won’t forget,
Where they gaol a workers for striking,
It’s the rich buggers country yet
—Helen Palmer, ‘the Ballad of 1891’ .… Go to Article
by Humphrey McQueen
Fifty-one years ago, a grouping of communists and ex-communists in Canberra set up a Society for the Study of Labour History and prepared a journal, Labour History.… Go to Article
Press Releases, Statements
Palestinian civil society welcomes Agrexco liquidation, calls for celebration of this BDS victory
Posted on September 12, 2011 by Palestinian BDS National Committee
For Immediate Release – September 12, 2011
– Supporters of Palestinian rights claim victory as target Agrexco ordered into liquidation
– Court papers warn that company is Israeli symbol whose downfall will have ‘wider implications’
– Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions National Committee (BNC) calls on the movement internationally to celebrate this victory and to intensify BDS campaigns
Campaigners for Palestinian rights are celebrating after the primary Israeli agricultural produce export company Agrexco, which has been a key target of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement in support of Palestinian rights, has been ordered into liquidation after being unable to pay its creditors.… Go to Article
Better Services Campaign Rally – ABC News – YouTube.
Uploaded by MaritimeUnion on 8 Sep 2011
Unions have vowed to hit the streets again after more than 45,000 NSW public-sector workers demonstrated against what they say is an attack on their jobs and wages.
