By Peter Boyle
Trades and Labor Councils in WA, SA, NSW South Coast and the ACT have adopted resolutions of support for the August 28 student walkout against racism, organised by the socialist youth organisation Resistance. The SA United Trades and Labor Council has gone further, calling all unionists in that state to strike for two hours in support of the walkout.
Stephen Spence, UTLC president, said: "Racism is not in the interests of workers. Racism is used to divide workers. We think it is important to get behind this action initiated by high school students."
While the ACTU has not yet formally endorsed the protest, its national executive has urged ACTU affiliates to "take immediate steps to act in solidarity with any member who experiences acts of discrimination or racism", and to "continue your co-operation with other community organisations and churches in campaigning against One Nation and its candidates".
"Young people are once again acting as the conscience of Australia — this time against the rise of racism — and the union movement is beginning to respond", said Marina Carman, a spokesperson for Resistance. She thanked the union movement for its support, especially the SA UTLC, and urged all unionists to support the protest.
"Resistance is calling upon young workers to walk off the job, whether or not an official strike is called", she added.
"The last national walkout, on July 24 (July 28 in Queensland), brought out 14,000 students around the country, but August 28 will be bigger", said Carman. "Students from many more schools, and many more cities and towns, are participating. Even in Gympie, in the heartland of One Nation, students are planning to walk out of school in protest."
South African-born Carman, 24, is heading the Democratic Socialists' NSW Senate ticket in the next federal election and recently debated One Nation's David Oldfield on Network Nine's A Current Affair.
In Darwin, a motion put by TLC executive member Didge MacDonald calling for TLC endorsement and/or a two-hour stoppage in support of the national walkout against racism was defeated on August 19. Efforts are now underway to enlist the support of individual trade unions in the NT.