The following are excerpts from greetings given to the Socialist Alliance third national conference, May 8-9.
Craig Johnston, former Victorian secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.
The ALP isn't much different to the Liberals. Here in Victoria, we had the worst fascist government for years with [Jeff] Kennett. We kicked them out, got [Labor Premier Steve] Bracks in and now he wants to bring laws in to stop workers having a decent go, to do us in. The Labor government in Victoria is right up there in trying to attack workers.
For the Socialist Alliance, of which I am a member, the challenge is to convince workers that there is an alternative to the Labor Party. There was a mate of mine at work, telling me that "you mob are too left for me", then he spent 10 minutes telling me how rotten the Labor Party is.
I hope you come up with new ideas and policies to implement to convince workers to come to SA and socialism more broadly.
Thanks to the Socialist Alliance — one political party unwavering in its support for the construction workers, the Skilled Six and fights on the job. The ALP is sometimes there, sometimes not, and people can see it. We have to make SA far more relevant, and get working people to embrace it. Dare to struggle! Dare to win!
Ian Bray, assistant secretary, WA Maritime Union of Australia.
We've come out of an era, and I guess history will probably record it as the era of neglect for the maritime union. When we got in [in June 2003] we were basically faced with the fabric of the union being eroded and the first task was to turn that around.
Once we gave the ownership back to the members they started to realise again, after being completely bashed by media and bosses about militancy being borderline outlawish, that in a disciplined way there is a very, very serious role for militant unionism in this country.
The reason why there is a resurgence in union militancy is because people have genuinely had enough. They are now seeing the trade union movement, and in particular the militant section of the trade union movement, as having a very justifiable role to play in defending workers' safety conditions and basic rights. The more they attack it, and the more they try to erode it, the more determination you'll see from the people, particularly the rank and file of militant trade unions. We are not going away.
Dean Mighell, Victorian secretary, Electrical Trades Union.
It's great to see socialist political parties getting strong again — it gives us all hope.
Those of us around and fighting now didn't learn what to do through the Labor Party. Without active left parties to nurture people's long-term development, the union movement will suffer. Our union is very active and militant — we don't apologise for that. We have been successful because we have had a strategic militant orientation.
When we look at the union movement now, we would be kidding ourselves if we said it is not in massive decline. The union leaders now will say, 'We have to get [Mark] Latham elected, Latham will save us. Labor will save us.' If they think anything other than strategic militant unionism will save them, then they're not looking at the [examples of the] CFMEU and the ETU.
Building unionism is not rocket science — it's about having disciplined, militant, strong unions. When unions are strong, no-one is going to break them and you don't have to rely on governments to save you. Take the nurses union, for example. They waged a militant campaign and were able to take on an ALP government to win a better deal.
The Greens have been easily able to walk into the policy void left by the ALP. They articulate social justice perspectives when Labor's abandoned it. In terms of the mainstream parties, they are taking that space. There is a struggle in the Greens between the green-greens and the red-greens. The red-greens are trying to educate the environmentalists.
Let's progress and support organisations like the Socialist Alliance. [Unionists can] have your dabble in the ALP .... but go and do your stuff elsewhere.
What's most impressive about the Socialist Alliance is the unity that you have created. You have been able to create a real voice.
Jim Reid, Victorian regional secretary, AMWU Printing Division
Please accept and convey my apology to conference delegates for not being able to attend the conference.
I would however like to take the opportunity of wishing you well and I'm sure that the conference will be a rewarding and positive experience for all participants.
The issues to be debated are of enormous significance to working people and we should all be thankful that there are committed and dedicated people prepared to express and advance an alternative and progressive opinion.
Michele O'Neil, Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union Victorian secretary
Congratulations to the Socialist Alliance 3rd national conference. The TCFU really appreciates the support that the Socialist Alliance has given to the TCFU in our struggles, the most recent one being the Geelong Wool Combing dispute. We really need an organisation like Socialist Alliance.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, May 19, 2004.
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