Union delegate sacked
MELBOURNE — Australian Manufacturing Workers Union members at the McConnell Dowell concrete silo construction site in Fisherman's Bend walked off the job on February 27 after their new shop steward, Jose Zuniga, was sacked.
According to the workers, the previous shop steward was a stooge for the boss. The workers organised an election and voting in Zuniga, who was sacked that day.
Supporters can visit the picket on Hall Street, off Lorimer Street, Fisherman's Bend. Contact the AMWU on 9230 5700 for information.
'West Papua will be free'
ADELAIDE — Fifty people attended a public meeting called by the newly formed Australia West Papua Association here on February 22. West Papuan independence activist Dr Jacob Rumbiak, who was jailed in Indonesia for 10 years for his activism, spoke.
Rumbiak described the repression in West Papua under the Suharto regime and the 40-year history of the West Papuan freedom struggle. He noted the parallels with the struggles in Aceh, East Timor and the struggle for democracy in Indonesia. Rumbiak said he believed most West Papuans wanted independence. With support from the international solidarity movement, West Papua would eventually be free.
Support for Yallourn workers
GEELONG — Twenty people gathered at Geelong Trades Hall on March 2 to hear Luke van Muelen, Victorian district secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union Mining and Energy Division speak about the Yallourn power workers' dispute.
In fighting this dispute, the workers' were not fighting only for themselves but to protect the community and the rights of all workers. The vital need for a political alternative to the Labor and Liberal parties came through clearly in the discussion.
Nurses maintain work bans
ADELAIDE — Members of the Australian Nurses Federation voted on February 22 to place bans on elective surgery and revenue-raising activity, and to adhere to a ratio of one nurse to four patients. They earlier rejected a state government pay offer of 12.5% to 17% increases over three years, as it did not include enrolled nurses and did not address staff shortages.
ANF members met again on February 26 to consider a revised offer by the government, but overwhelmingly rejected it and voted to maintain the bans until the government agreed to recruit enough nurses to achieve the one to four staffing ratio. Nurses are often caring for 10 to 12 patients on a shift.
On March 2, the government met with the ANF leadership and made another offer. ANF organiser Rob Bonner told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that, while there had been progress on some issues, staffing levels had still not been satisfactorily resolved. Bans will remain in place until a mass meeting on March 6.
Coalminers take on BHP
BRISBANE — Around 1500 coalminers at five central Queensland mines owned by BHP walked off the job on February 27 for a seven-day strike in support of improved pay and other claims.
The company has applied to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to end the bargaining period, exposing the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union to the threat of legal damages for future industrial action. CFMEU Queensland district president Andrew Vickers said on February 28 that BHP's legal action meant that the union would have to re-think its rolling stoppages after the strike.
Vickers cited superannuation, pay, redundancy provisions and union rights as the sticking points in negotiations.
The company has made a pay offer of 18.9% over three years, as well as a $20 superannuation boost in the second and third years. The miners have agreed to accept the pay rise on condition that the super increase be paid immediately, that leave entitlements be made portable, and that workers made redundant be guaranteed transfer to another mine.