CMG answers strike with lock-out
ROCKHAMPTON — Workers at Consolidated Meat Group's Lakes Creek plant have been on strike since June 3. The workers are attempting to win back wages and conditions stripped from them after the arbitration commission ruled that they return to work under the federal meat award. The workers returned to work on April 27 after a five-month lock-out
Attempts to get CMG management back to the negotiation table have so far been unsuccessful. On June 10, John Hughes, CMG joint chief executive officer, ordered that the workers be locked in retaliation for the seven-day strike.
Royal commission protest
SYDNEY — The June 3 opening of the royal commission into the construction industry was greeted by more than 150 construction union delegates and a 8-metre-high rat named "el ladron" (the thief).
The rally, outside the Family Court buildings, was addressed by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union's (CFMEU) national secretary John Sutton, CFMEU NSW construction secretary Andrew Ferguson and NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson. The unionists then packed the commission's public galleries.
Jews for a Just Peace
MELBOURNE — More than 100 people congregated outside the Victorian State Library on June 9 to protest against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The meeting was called by the recently formed group, Jews for a Just Peace.
Solidarity protest planned
FREMANTLE — Activists met on June 11 to begin planning a community protest in solidarity with asylum seekers imprisoned in the Australian government's refugee detention centres. The actions in the Fremantle area will kick off on July 13 with a send-off for activists travelling to protest at the Port Hedland detention centre. Phone the Fremantle Refugee Action Network on 9438 1908 for information.
'Another world is possible'
FREMANTLE — On June 2, nearly 70 people filled the Fremantle Education Centre for the "Another world is possible" teach-in. Organised by Resistance and the Democratic Socialist Party, participants heard reports detailing recent developments in the anti-corporate globalisation movement, the anti-war movement, the Palestinian people's struggle for national rights and the refugees' rights campaign in Australia.
Dr Samina Yasmeen blamed the conflict in the Middle East on the world's major imperial powers. Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs gave a presentation on the situation that Aboriginal people face 10 years after the Mabo decision. Maritime Union activist and Socialist Alliance member Chris Cain spoke about the legacy of the 1998 Patrick dispute.
Port Phillip declared 'Refugee welcome zone'
The City of Port Phillip on June 20 — World Refugee Day — declared its municipality a "Refugee welcome zone". The initiative is being promoted by the Refugee Council of Australia.
So far, the councils of Melbourne, Darebin, Hume, Monash, Brimbank, Boroondara, Port Phillip, Port Adelaide-Enfield, Fremantle and Brisbane have committed themselves "to welcoming refugees to their community, upholding the human rights of refugees, demonstrating compassion to refugees and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in our community".
Government 'bullies' Pacific islands
CANBERRA — Asylum seekers on Manus Island are denied access to local priests, Father Jim Carty, a Marist priest who recently returned from Papua New Guinea and Nauru, told a 140-strong public meeting on June 13. The meeting was organised by the Canberra Refugee Action Committee.
Carty reported that wherever he went on Nauru and Manus, local people described the Australian government as a "bully". Australia is capitalising on Nauru's and PNG's poverty, he said.
The Manus Island camp breached PNG's constitution and bill of rights, Carty said. It also breaks PNG's criminal law, which states a suspect cannot be detained for longer than six months without charge.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, June 19, 2002.
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