DBL: Local law 8 and the ban on public drinking in Yarra

Done By Law, October 27, 2009

This week on Done By Law we take a look at the recent decision by Yarra Council to place a ban on public drinking. Local Law 8, was passed at a heated Council meeting last week and will give police the power to pour out opened drinks and issue on the spot fines of $100. We’re joined by Councillor Steve Jolly, the only member of Council to oppose the ban, and Belinda Lo from Fitzroy Legal Service.

LOCAl law 8 and the ban on public drinking in yarra: | Download

Afghanistan: unions support ‘troops out’ rallies

Pip Hinman, Sydney
Green Left Weekly, 26 September 2009

“The country is weary of the war. What I’m trying to do at this point is to make sure that ... we have got a coherent strategy that can work”, United States President Barack Obama told David Letterman’s Late Show on September 21.

For anti-war activist Christine Keavney, Obama’s latest bid to convince an increasingly oppositional US population that a troop surge combined with a so-called counter-insurgency strategy will bring good results sounds very desperate.

“Obama was elected by a war-weary public”, she told Green Left Weekly, “though he campaigned for more war in Afghanistan. That was less than a year ago, and now the polls show the American public disagrees.

“True, many are still worried about calling for the troops to leave, but many more are reaching the conclusion that the bigger the US-NATO presence the worse the war will get.

“These polls reveal a political shift. They don’t translate automatically into a force for change, but they show there’s an opportunity to have that discussion with a lot more people now.”

Keavney is a member of the Sydney Stop the War Coalition (StWC) and the Socialist Alliance. She is helping to organise a protest on the eighth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan on October 8. She said she was pleased with the support for the rally so far.

“Already a couple of unions have signed on — the Fire Brigade Employees Union and the Maritime Union of Australia (NSW branch) — and we are in discussions with others.

“We set out to engage with unions and other community groups that were active in the anti-Iraq war movement. Not everyone is supportive, but at least our approaches are prompting some broader discussion, especially among unions, about Australia being at war for eight years, and why pulling the troops out will assist the people of Afghanistan.”

The Victorian branch of the Maritime Union of Australia is supporting a similar rally in Melbourne on October 10. Other endorsees include: Victorian Trades Hall Council; the Electrical Trades Union (Victorian branch); community Radio 3CR; Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament; the Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth; the Victorian Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (mining and energy division); the National Tertiary Education Union (Victorian branch); the Socialist Alliance, Resistance and other socialist groups.

While the Victorian Greens decided not to support the rally, the NSW Greens will, and NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon will speak. The NSW Greens have also signed on to a statement issued by StWC called “Ten reasons to get out of Afghanistan”.

Keavney said that an important part of organising these protests was the contribution to public discussion about the war.

“We have to try to convince people to do more than simply disagree privately. These rallies are just the beginning of a more systematic campaign to pressure the Rudd government to bring the troops home”, she said.

[For more information, visit troopsoutofafghanistan.blogspot.com and www.stopwarcoalition.org.]

Melbourne - Solidarity Action with Honduras

Solidarity Action with Honduras

In the early hours of Sep 21 the legitimate President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya returned to the capital Tegucigalpa after nearly 3 months in political exile. He is within the grounds of the Brazilian Embassy whilst tens of thousands of supporters have gathered outside to welcome his return. The defacto regime of Roberto Micheletti has imposed a curfew and sent in the military to repress the population. It is estimated that thousands have been arrested and or injured in violent confrontations. Show your support for the people of Honduras and attend the protest.

We call on the Australian government to immediately condemn the defacto regime of Roberto Micheletti and help in the International campaign to reinstate Manuel Zelaya as the legitimate President of Honduras

We call on the Australian government to immediately condemn the defacto government of Roberto Micheletti and work closely with other countries to ensure the restoration of the legitimate President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya.

"The coup regime is defying the world...The international community wants a negotiated peaceful settlement but the answer has been violence and repression against the people." Manuel Zelaya

SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS

11-12 noon Sat Sep 26
Bourke Street Mall (cnr Elizabeth St)
For more information please contact Roberto 0425 182 994

Sponsored by: Centre for latin America Solidarity & Studies, Peace and Justice for Colombia, Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, FMLN (Melbourne), Chilean Communist Party (Melbourne), Guatemalan Human Rights Committee, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Socialist Alliance, Communist Party of Australia, Resistance

Latin America Solidarity Conference 2009

People´s Power is Changing the World
Latin America Solidarity Conference 2009

August 28-29, 2009 - Victorian Trades Hall

info@solidarityconference2009.org www.solidarityconference2009.org

Major cracks are appearing in the global capitalist system – cracks that are being forced open by the tide of rebellions and revolutions across Latin America.

From Cuba to Venezuela and Bolivia to El Salvador, people’s power is toppling neo-liberal governments, challenging multinational corporations, and constructing social and economic alternatives to the plunder, war and injustices of the old system. For 50 years, the Cuban revolution has inspired millions of people around the world struggling for independence, human rights and genuine democracy. Now, the Venezuelan revolution, with its vision of “socialism of the 21st century”, is continuing to provide examples of what a socialist government can achieve.

Imperialism is confronting an unprecedented challenge to its brutal rule. The Latin America Solidarity Conference will provide an open forum for all people wanting to learn about, learn from and build solidarity in Australia with the people’s power movements in Latin America.

This conference is being organised and sponsored by: Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (Australia), Centre for Latin America Solidarity & Studies, Peace and Justice & Colombia, Communist Party of Chile (Australia), Guatemalan Human Rights Committee, Australian Solidarity with Latin America, Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URGN), Communist Party of Australia, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Socialist Alliance, Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (Adelaide, Sydney)

Contact: info@solidarityconference2009.org

REGISTRATION AND CONTACT:
Friday*: Conc $5/ regular $10/ Solidarity $15 (* When registering for Saturday, Friday is free)
Saturday: Conc $15/ regular $40/ Solidarity $50

To register please fill in the online form on the website or send a registration forms to c/ PO Box 5421 CC Melbourne VIC 3001
For more information, please email info@solidarityconference2009.org or phone
Roberto 0425 182 994, Sean 0415 122 135, Oscar 0415 232 057, Paul 0413 072 137 or Lisa 0413 031 108
Payments can be made by Money order or Cheque payable to Solidarity Conference.
If you wish to endorse or help to promote this conference, please contact us to distribute leaflets or posters.

AGENDA: FRIDAY 7 pm • People’s power is changing the world: revolution and reconstruction in Latin America 50 years since the victory of the Cuban revolution and 10 years since the coming to power of the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela has shown that the continent is unwilling to bow to international capital. Over the last few years further victories have been added including Evo Morales in Bolivia and the FMLN in El Salvador. What does all this mean for a new socialism of the 21st century?

SATURDAY 9:30 am • Obama´s foreign policy for Latin America: militarisation, blockade& trade agreements The Bush administration supported death squads and mass killings in Colombia, an attempted coup in Venezuela, continued the blockade against Cuba, organised assassination attempts against Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales and reinforced trade agreements in favour of its multinationals. Will the empire be any different under the Democrat regime of Obama?

Simultaneous Workshops on various topics
2 pm • Latin America as alternative: new models of economic, social and political power After more than two decades of orthodox neoliberal doctrine and anti-democratic regimes, the tide has decisively turned across Latin America. Spearheaded by the Venezuelan revolution’s practical experiments in participatory economic and democratic models, the movement is impacting struggle from Bolivia to El Salvador and Ecuador. The “end of history” has itself ended; a new discussion and practice for human survival and justice is being pursued apace.

Simultaneous major Workshops: 1) The Venezuelan Revolution 2) Central America 3)Workers´ struggle in Latin America

5:30 pm • Their struggle is our struggle: Strengthening solidarity Campaigns, brigades and projects have been part of the process of globalising resistance to exploitation and inequality and building solidarity between Australia and Latin America.
Followed by a Latin Fiesta, featuring The Conch plus many Latin American Cultural performances. Food and drinks available.

GUEST SPEAKERS:
VENEZUELA

• Heryck Rangel Hernandez: National coordinator of the Venezuelan Eco-Citizens movement, student leader, radio broadcaster and activist with the PSUV Youth.
• Daniel Sanchez: Leader in Venezuela´s “people´s power” movement through the Rebirth of the South Commune, local councillor for South Valencia and activist in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)
• Nélson Dávila: Founding member of Hugo Chavez’s Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement and currently head of Venezuela’s diplomatic mission in Australia.

CHILE

• Jaime Gajardo: General Secretary of the United Workers Federation of Chile CUT, member of the Communist Party and a long time activist with the Teachers movement, also the head of this union. One of the most outstanding leaders of the teachers´ struggle in the last decade in Chile.

GUATEMALA

• Walter Rolando Félix: long time activist for human rights and better living conditions in Guatemala. Current parliamentarian for the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) and representative for the Commission for Peace and against field mines.

COLOMBIA

• Jesús González: Founding member of the United Workers Federation of Colombia, forced to leave his country as a result of his work as political leader, organiser and for his work documenting the assassination of trade union leaders in Colombia.

http://www.solidarityconference2009.org

June 20: Aboriginal rights, the NT Intervention and DIC

This Saturday, June 20, there will be national protests to mark the second anniversary of the racist Northern Territory Intervention, introduced under the Howard government but continued under Rudd.

Coincidentally or not, a number of developments have emerged this week that heighten the political and social importance of forcing real action on Aboriginal issues. (It seems to be a repeating motif, both under Howard and Rudd, that official announcements concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters occur in clusters around days, anniversaries or events affecting the same populations. Under Howard, it could possibly be put down to a malicious attempt to counterpoint celebrations of indigenous survival with right-wing attacks against them. Under Rudd the correlations are harder to define, yet appear to exist none the less).

Marion Scrymgour - the highest ranking Aboriginal member of any government in Australia - quit the Northern Territory Labor Party over its Aboriginal policy on June 4. As an independent, she now holds the balance of power.

On Monday, the ABC's Four Corner's program carried the heart-wrenching and infuriating story of Mr Ward, an Aboriginal elder in Western Australia who died in the back of a police van while being transported through the desert in extraordinary heat. Details can be found here.

Then, on Tuesday, the Queensland Court of Appeal ordered a new inquest, with a new coroner, to re-examine the death in custody of Palm Island man Mulrunji Doomadgee in 2004, with four broken ribs, a burst spleen and a liver torn in two. As the SMH article points out:

"In 2006, deputy state coroner Christine Clements found Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley was responsible for Mr Doomadgee's death in custody after he was arrested for public nuisance."

While Hurley was charged on Invasion Day (the symbolism reeking of political spin), he was acquitted of the charges of manslaughter and assault. Then:

"At the conclusion of a review of the matter in Townsville late last year District Court Judge Bob Pack overturned Ms Clement's ruling and ordered the inquest be reopened.

Last month Mr Doomadgee's family and the Palm Island Aboriginal Council fought to have Judge Pack's decision ruled invalid in the Court of Appeal."

The Court of Appeal decision found Judge Pack's reasoning to have been "flawed", but still ruled Judge Pack was still correct in ordering the inquest be reopened, essentially trying to exonerate Hurley of any responsibility.

As Aboriginal activist and Socialist Alliance spokesperson Sam Watson said outside the court, yet another example of "police trying to rewrite history". The struggle against systemic racism continues, and needs your help.

The details for this Saturday's rallies are:

Sydney: 10:30am Belmore Park, (opposite Central station). Protest, march and concert - marking two years since the announcement of the NT Intervention. March to the Block in Redfern for family and culture day concert. More information can be found here.

Darwin: 11 am, Raintree Park: Speakout by people from communities and Town Camps throughout the Northern Territory and short speeches from invited guests. 8 pm: Rock Against Racism, Brown's Mart. For more information or to help with transport, go here.

Brisbane: 11 am Queens Park, corner George and Elizabeth Streets, City. Organised by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition - Brisbane.

Perth: 12-2pm, Forrest Chase. Public protest rally: "Never Again! Nor More Deaths In Custody!" More information can be found here.

Melbourne: 12 noon: Rally against the intervention at the GPO; 3 pm: public meeting at Trades Hall with George Newhouse, lawyer for the NT group against the Intervention. Organised by Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective.

• Click here to read or download the Socialist Alliance leaflet for June 20

Radical history conference: A century of struggle

Laborism and the radical alternative - Lessons for today

Saturday 30 May 9.30am (registration) - 5.00pm AMWU offices, 251 Queensberry St, Carlton

Speakers include:
Verity Burgmann, author of many books on labour movement history
Jamie Doughney, economist, National Tertiary Education Union state president
Dave Kerin, CFMEU mining and energy organiser, Latrobe Valley
Chris Spindler, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser

Socialist Alliance is organising a one-day conference on the struggle to build a radical alternative to the deadening hand of the ALP and the lessons we can draw for today. The seminar will draw on the experiences of the communist and trade union movements in Australia over the last century. This will be an important seminar given the global economic meltdown, the crisis of climate change and the dampening impact that the federal ALP government has had on the trade union movement.

Agenda:
10am:
The formation of the ALP. Was it ever a workers' party?
The record of the ALP. High hopes and big disappointments

11.30am:
The Wobblies. Achievements and limitations
The vehicle of socialism? The NSW Socialisation Units in the 1930s

2pm:
Communism in Australia. Some of the issues
Left alternatives in the trade unions

3.45pm
Fighting under Labor governments today
Looking to the future

Registration from 9.30am: $15/$5 concession.
Organised by Socialist Alliance - Sponsored by Green Left Weekly.
For more information phone 9639-8622.

2009 GLW Comedy Debate with Rod Quantock

also featuring Mohammed El-Leissy, Courteney Hocking, Shiralee Hood, Matthew Kenneally, Wendy Little & Darren Parker

Saturday, May 9, 2009
7:30pm - 10:30pm
Brunswick Town Hall (cnr Sydney Road & Dawson Street, Brunswick)

Phone: 0396398622
Email: melbourne@greenleft.org.au

Come along to the annual Green Left Weekly Comedy Debate - the 'debate to end all debates', adjudicated by Melbourne's own Rod Quantock. Join Rod and his almighty team of comedians in the ultimate political comedy battle...
From corporate bail-outs to golden handshakes and fat-cat welfare to massive CEO salaries: "That this is the Global Financial Crisis we HAD to have."

$35 solidarity / $25 waged / $12 concession
Bar and food available
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL - LAST YEAR'S DEBATE SOLD OUT!

Fundraiser for Green Left Weekly, Australia's leading radical newspaper. In these days of growing media concentration, Green Left Weekly is a proudly independent voice committed to human and civil rights, global peace and environmental sustainability, democracy and equality.
http://www.greenleft.org.au

Protest Pacific Brands Job Cuts!

Melbourne
* Thursday 5 March - 12pm, outside Myers, Bourke St Mall, City. For more info, contact the TCFUA on 9639 2955.

Sydney
* Friday 6 March - 12pm, outside Pacific Brands Factory, 190 Dunmore Street, Wentworthville;
* Tuesday 10 March - 3:30pm, outside Pacific Brands Factory, 253 Nolan Street, Unanderra, and;
* Friday 13 March - 12pm, outside Pacific Brands Bonds Factory, Short Street, Cessnock.

Some background:

Pacific Brands cuts 1850 jobs

Graham Matthews

Green Left Weekly, 28 February 2009

Pacific Brands — manufacturer of Bonds, Yakka, King Gee and other clothing brands — has decided to close a number of smaller brands and restructure its business, with the slashing of 1850 jobs over the next 18 months across Australia.

“This is a devastating blow to these workers, their families, this industry and Australia”, Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) national secretary Michele O’Neil said on February 25.

“We are not talking just the 1850 jobs losses announced today, the likely spin off effect on suppliers and other companies in the industry could well see thousands more jobs lost”, O’Neil said.

Pacific Brands cried poor after posting a half-yearly loss of almost $150 million. The loss, however, comes on the back of almost $330 million of profits over the last three years.

In addition, the company has received handouts from the Australian government, amounting to $17.6 million. “This includes $9 million in ’07-’08 and $8.6 million in ’05-’06 of taxpayers’ money”, O’Neil said.

Pacific Brands’s senior management also awarded themselves a significant pay rise in 2008, increasing their combined salaries from $7 million to $15 million. CEO Sue Morphet’s pay increased from less than $700,000 by almost $1 million a year.

The TCFUA has rejected the right of the company to arbitrarily close sites with massive job losses. “The union does not accept that the complete closure of these sites is necessary. A number of the brands and divisions of this business continue to be profitable whilst manufacturing in Australia”, O’Neil said.

“I have today spoken to the industry minister Kim Carr and he has agreed to participate in urgent discussions with the company aimed at saving jobs”, O’Neil said. “I call on Pacific Brands to genuinely participate in such a discussion”.

“The majority of the workers employed by this company are migrant women who have long years of service, their prospects of finding alternative work in the current economic crisis are grim”, O’Neil continued.

She called on the federal government to implement an industry assistance package for the industry as a whole.

Momentum for a campaign to save the Pacific Brands workers’ jobs is growing. Transport Workers Union national secretary, Tony Sheldon, has said that the union would place a ban on the removal of machinery from Pacific Brands sites. The Maritime Union of Australia has stated its refusal to remove Pacific Brands equipment should it reach the docks, according to the February 27 Sydney Morning Herald.

In the wake of public outrage, a February 28 AAP report revealed that the company would "reconsider" a federal government request to rethink sackings, according to industry minister Kim Carr.

Of the 1850 jobs to be lost, 281 will go in Wollongong. Illawarra Socialist Alliance convenor Chris Williams condemned Pacific Brands’ actions. “This decision is heartless and shameful”, he told Green Left Weekly.

“If the politicians seriously care about the workers they will take immediate action: not just express disappointment, but ensure these workers aren’t forced onto the dole queues”, Williams said.

“Given the $17 million in taxpayer assistance, the government is effectively a part-owner of this company”, Williams continued. “It should demand the factories stay open and that the books be opened to workers and the community. If the company refuses it should be placed in public hands and the jobs of workers guaranteed.

“This is another case of working people paying for a crisis they didn’t create. It’s the consequences of a system that puts the needs of profits ahead of jobs and people’s lives”, Williams said.

“But enough is enough. Governments have bailed out banks and multinational corporations; now it’s time to step up and support those who actually deserve it — the workers who are the victims of the crisis”, Williams concluded.

From: Australian News, Green Left Weekly issue #785 4 March 2009.

SHAC emergency rally 12 pm tommorrow (Jan 7)

From SHAC:

The university won their case against SHAC in the supreme court meaning they can now order the police to evict us when they choose. The university has given us a new deadline to get out 12 pm tomorrow (wednesday) .

We are not leaving and are calling on all our supporters to come to SHAC and help us resist eviction.

We do not know if the police will actually be coming on wednesday afternoon but we are going to hold a mass emergency rally out the front. We are anticipating that a lot of media will be attending.

Please pass this message on to your networks.

If you want to help defend SHAC against eviction you are welcome to sleepover at SHAC, please byo bedding.

Contact Us

shachouse@gmail.com

Visit us!

272 - 8 Faraday Street,
Carlton, VIC
Australia

http://www.shacmelbourne.blogspot.com/

Unions rally, pledge not to co-operate with ABCC

Nick Hamilton, Melbourne

Green Left Weekly, 9 December 2008

Over 5000 workers attended a protest rally outside the headquarters of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in Melbourne on December 2.

The rally was initially called to defend Noel Washington, a Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) official who faced the possibility of a six-month jail sentence for refusing to attend a compulsory interview with the ABCC.

He was due to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates court on December 2. The federal Labor government has committed to keeping the anti-worker building industry watchdog until 2010. The ABCC has wide-ranging powers that breach Australia’s human rights obligations as set by the International Labour Organisation. The legislation that set up the ABCC takes away construction worker’s right to silence, their right to choose their own lawyer, and their collective bargaining and free association rights.

Mysteriously, on November 20, perhaps fearing an all out shutdown of Melbourne’s major construction sites along with national protests, the Department of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges against Washington on a “technicality”.

The December 2 rally focused on the fact that the dropping of charges was a victory for Noel Washington and all unionists but also called for the abolition of the ABCC immediately.

Noel Washington’s lawyer, Marcus Clayton, told the rally that the ABCC was “a complete outrage. It’s one law for building workers and another for everyone else”. He also cautioned that as long as the ABCC existed it could continue to issue further notices against other unionists.

Electrical Trade Union Victorian secretary Dean Mighell, who himself had been subjected to a vicious smear campaign by the mainstream press and the ALP, gave a rousing speech and mentioned that the Greens have tabled a bill in the Senate to abolish the ABCC. He invoked the Eureka stockade as a fine example of rebelliousness and the need to fight bad laws.

Dave Noonan, National Secretary of the CFMEU Construction Division told the rally: “Dropping these charges is the first step forward. There is a will for more and more people to confront these unjust and undemocratic laws. While we do not have equality we will not respect these laws. No more co-operation with the ABCC!”

Assistant National Secretary of the CFMEU Construction Division, Martin Kingham, pointed out that the ABCC has endangered the lives of construction workers. He said: “It’s absolutely criminal! Workplace deaths have been going down in every industry except one — construction. There has been 34 construction deaths from July last to June this year. If we can’t get on the job [site] to enforce and improve workplace health and safety more people will get killed.”

The biggest cheer was given for Noel Washington, whose principled stand in defying the ABCC has highlighted its draconian powers and encouraged many to take up the fight. “These laws that were introduced are bad laws, they have to be defied and defeated - and they will be. What happens at a union meeting is nobody else’s business! These laws must be smashed”, he told the crowd.

The rally was also addressed by officials from the Maritime Union of Australia, the Australian Workers Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Victorian Trades Hall Council.

The mood of the protest was very defiant and the theme of non-cooperation struck a big chord with workers.

Many workers and some union officials, however, also raised concerns that the protest was downgraded and the venue changed once the charges against Washington were dropped. As one worker told Green Left Weekly, “We should have stuck with the initial plan and mobilised everybody. Noel’s charges have been dropped but the ABCC is still here making our lives hell”.

From: Australian News, Green Left Weekly issue #777 3 December 2008.

Melbourne: Rally for Alexandros Grigoropoulos Dec 13

More on Greece: Greece's main unions have called for a general strike. Teachers at universities in Greece have also gone on a 3 day strike in response to the murder of student Alexandros Grigoropoulos on Sunday night (Melbourne time).

A rally (see below) has been called in Melbourne in response to a global call-out for solidarity with Greece and Alexandros' family. Students, teachers, and unionists unite in solidarity!

*********************************************************************************
Media Release
Solidarity with Greece: Rally for Alexandros Grigoropoulos

KEYWORDS: , Greece, protest, Police violence, students, youth, current affairs

On Saturday 6th of December at around 10pm, two Greek policemen were in patrol in a central street by Exarchia square, in the center of Athens. They had a verbal argument with some young people who were there. During the argument, one of the cops pulled his gun and shot a 16-year-old minor twice. The victim was moved to Evangelismos Hospital to be pronounced dead. According to eye-witnesses, the cop had been swearing against the young boy, and showing his genitals, before shooting him.

In a spontaneous response, thousands of people gathered in the centers of most Greek cities over the past three days in riots. In Athens, people gathered outside Evangelismos Hospital, in order to prevent the cops from entering the building. A little later the riot police attacked in a street in Exarchia resulting in one person being arrested. The evening in Athens evolved with a spontaneous assembly in the Polytechnic University, many rioted in the center of Athens, including attacks against police departments and banks, until the early hours of the next morning. Meanwhile, a spontaneous demonstration took place, but it was confronted by the riot police with tear gas. Rallies, demonstrations, direct actions and riots took place all around the country.

Solidarity actions have already been held around Greece, in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, and Vienna.

There is a planned rally/vigil for Alexandros Grigoropoulos in Melbourne – the city with the biggest Greek population outside of Greece:

Saturday, 13th December, 2008
1:00PM outside the Greek Consulate
37-29 Albert Road, South Melbourne (take St Kilda Rd trams)

For more information: contact David Vakalis on 0404 722 687
*********************************************************************************

More resources on events in Greece:
http://www.antiimperialista.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5895&Itemid=55
http://www.theage.com.au/world/anarchys-child-20081209-6uvb.html?page=-1
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=16684
http://athens.indymedia.org/?lang=en
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7772645.stm#map
http://www.theage.com.au/world/worst-in-decades-fourth-day-of-greek-violence-20081210-6v4q.html?page=-1
http://www.theage.com.au/world/unrest-in-greece-rages-for-fourth-day-20081209-6uxj.html?page=-1

University refuses to evict homeless students

(2nd September 2008)

Last night the University of Melbourne Council acknowledged the lack of affordable student housing and formally requested that the Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis examine co-operative housing as a solution.

The University Council was informed of the activities and plans of the Student Housing Action Co-operative (SHAC). Students from the SHAC Co-operative have been living in vacant terraces owned by the University for the past two weeks. The terraces on Faraday street have been abandoned since 2005 and the University have no current plans for their use.

According to the President of University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association (UMPA), Tammi Jonas, who was present at the council meeting, "The University will undertake an investigation of co-operative student housing to address homelessness amongst students."

SHAC member Liz Turner said, "The SHAC co-operative is taking direct action to address the real need for low cost student housing. We are acting for ourselves and for our fellow students who are in stressful housing situations.

"The students living at Faraday street have been putting the co-operative model into practice for the last two weeks. Students will continue to make Faraday street their home. Most people support what we are doing because they are aware of the lack of affordable accommodation."

The Faraday street terraces have now been transformed into safe, secure, clean and warm living environments. The students have made improvements to the premises and have implemented health and safety procedures with the support of unions. SHAC has also provided free breakfasts and dinners for students and others in the local area.

For comment contact:

Tammi Jonas, President UMPA, 0422 429 362

Liz Turner, SHAC, 0402 657 392

**************************************************

Rally in support of SHAC - 28 November, 2008

Melbourne Community Rally and Union Solidarity Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30am Mon
Dec 8
Jesuit Social Services
371 Church Street Richmond

Luke McMahon, winner of the Australian Services Union (ASU) Occupational Health and Safety Rep of the year award for 2008, has been stood down from his position as a youth worker with the Brosnan Centre, an affiliate of Jesuit Social Services (JSS), after he informed management that they had failed to comply with OH&S legislation.

During his time at Brosnan, Luke transformed his workplace from having almost no union membership to almost 100% coverage. He also made sure that occupational health and safety reps were elected in JSS workplaces which previously did not have delegates.

It’s time for the community sector to understand that community fairness starts at home. Social justice is worker justice.

more info: justice4luke.wordpress.com/

Justice for Luke!
Stop the victimisation of union activists!