BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS
MELBOURNE — More than 10,000 people took to the streets of Melbourne on May Day, protesting against attacks on workers' and refugees' rights and in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The protests' success was a step forward for the struggle for global justice, as unionists and social-justice activists worked together to oppose oppression in all its forms.
The day's protests were organised by the M1 Collective and the Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC).
The protest day began at 7am when around 500 activists converged on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) at Cassleden Place in central Melbourne. Opposing the federal government's mandatory detention of refugees, protesters erected a wire fence around the perimeter of the building to "detain the detainers" and symbolise a "wall of opposition to war and racism". The fence was decorated with flowers, banners and messages to refugees throughout the morning.
The offices had been closed by centre management. The blockade was organised by the M1 Collective.
Belinda Morrison from the Australian Nurses Federation pledged that union's solidarity with refugees from the platform. Pamela Curr from the Australian Greens laid a wreath at the building to commemorate the 360 people who have died as a direct result of the federal government's racist discrimination against refugees.
Protesters stood in absolute silence as a taped message from an escaped refugee hiding in Melbourne was played from the platform. The unnamed man is a member of the oppressed Hazara ethnic group. "I think I am in a very good country because my life is not in danger", he said, adding, "We came here for protection, not for detention".
"The Australian government is killing us every day and every night. They are killing our minds. The government says that refugees are criminals. I say that the government is the real criminal.
"We came here for peace", the man concluded. "In this May Day refugees in detention centres want your help and need your help."
Resistance activist Matt Rich, who along with two other activists has been charged with trespass following an action at Maribyrnong detention centre in February, told the crowd: "We will continue to resist. We will continue to defy the government's laws until the refugees are freed. We will not be intimidated."
Other speakers at the morning session included Vietnamese comedian (and former refugee) Hung Lee, who satirised the mainstream view of refugees, Damien Lawson from the Western Suburbs Legal Service, who urged the crowd to lobby the ALP to oppose proposed anti-terror laws, and Bill Deller from Friends of Palestine.
A solidarity message was also heard from Irene Xavier, a touring Malaysian labour rights activist.
From 10am on the day, thousands of workers, largely members of construction unions, began massing at Trades Hall in Carlton and at the Arts Centre on St Kilda Road. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Craig Johnston told the workers assembled at Trades Hall: "May Day is more than a celebration. It's about the struggle for workers' rights. But it's more than workers' rights. It's a day for working with community groups."
"We'll be marching past the M1 blockade today", he continued. "They are campaigning for refugees. I know many members don't agree with that issue, so I'll just say that we should listen to them respectfully, and give them their chance. They're supporting our struggle. Another issue is Palestine. The Palestinians are getting the shit bombed out of them. We should support the Palestinian struggle, and their right to their land."
Just before 11am, more than 6000 workers, led by a procession of cranes driven by unionists, marched from Trades Hall to the DIMIA building behind a banner which read "We can build a better world".
As the rally and blockade converged into the unity rally, Annette Xibberas offered an indigenous welcome to the land and Judy McVey from the Refugee Action Collective spoke briefly.
The protesters then marched to the Nike super-store in Swanston Street, joining a further 3000 workers who had marched from the Victorian Arts Centre.
At Nike, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia state secretary Michelle O'Neil told the rally: "Some of our members, in order to walk-out today, got threatened by the sack." She then explained protest action had forced Nike to return work that it had withdrawn from a newly unionised Mexican factory.
"May Day is an important day for standing up for workers rights, for justice and fairness", O'Neil continued. "We as workers have to stand up for all workers in this country no matter what their skin colour. If we let [Prime Minister] John Howard divide us on the basis of the colour of our skin, or of where we come from, then they'll divide us in the royal commission and divide us in the factories. We have to stand together." O'Neil concluded by reminding those present that "international solidarity doesn't end with the letter or email."
The unity rally continued to the Collins Street building hosting sittings of the royal commission into the building industry. "All of the officials that have appeared so far in this dodgy political attack on unions share one vision — defending our membership in the construction industry and defending the rights of all workers", Dean Mighell, state secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, told the rally outside the commission.
John Cummins, president of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union recounted the history of May Day, and the fact that "120 years ago, they shot workers down in the street because they were fighting for the eight-hour day. Although times have changed, the concept is the same — at the moment they go through the farce of having a royal commission."
"I'm a proud Palestinian and a proud unionist", Taimor Hazou told the rally. "The Palestinian people have been fighting for our freedom for the last 50 years. That freedom was stolen from us in 1948."
"We're here today because [the Israeli occupation is] about anti-globalisation, it's about multinational corporations manufacturing goods in illegal Israeli settlements", Hazou continued.
"People are facing persecution in the Third World, in Indonesia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, because they organise as workers", Felicity Martin, speaking for the M1 Collective told the rally. "I want to remind you that an injury to one is an injury to all. And the injury that is happening, to the refugees at Woomera, Port Hedland and in Melbourne, is an injury that we should all suffer and all acknowledge."
"Long live May Day, long live international solidarity", said VTHC secretary Leigh Hubbard. "Workers and community organisations are increasingly out on the street, as we realise that if we don't work together, then the bosses of global capital will be all over us.
"We do support May Day, and we want workers to come out on May Day events like this, and I support a public holiday. [Former Premier] Jeff Kennett left us one public holiday short — and I reckon May Day is a pretty good replacement", he continued. "As global capital globalises, then so must workers — unions linking up with indigenous, and environmental and community organisations to beat big capital."
At the conclusion of the rally 150 people proceeded to Maribyrnong detention centre where the outer fence was breached to allow protesters passage. In a scuffle with police, one protester was arrested but later released. Protesters remained within the exterior fence for around 40 minutes communicating with the refugees detained within. They then left as a group with no further arrests.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, May 8, 2002.
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