"Unite against racism" rally to challenge far-right

April 9, 2010 - for immediate release

An emergency "Unite against racism" rally has been called for 2pm this Sunday, April 11, outside Villawood Detention Centre. The rally has been organized by a coalition of anti-racism groups, in response to the far-right Australian Protectionist Party who are rallying at the same place to attack refugee rights.

"The Protectionist Party are anti-refugee, anti-immigrant and racist," rally organiser Paul Benedek said. "They letterbox leaflets that scapegoat Africans, Muslims and immigrants for crime, unemployment and other social problems. They are big fans of Pauline Hanson and the British National Party, and target 'non-white' immigration, trying to whip up racial hatred."

"Yet the major parties are also to blame. They have given a green light to racism, by also demonizing refugees & using migrants as scapegoats."

"Racism kills. While the APP cowardly taunt refugees who are locked behind razor wire, with tacit support from Liberal and Labor, refugees face deportation to their deaths. Racist attacks on international students and immigrants are increasing."

"This rally will be a peaceful show of support for refugee rights, for equality and justice. We stand with those desperate asylum seekers who have fled war and persecution – not cowardly blaming them for the problems in this country. We will let all racists know their message of hate is not welcome."

Endorsements for the anti-racism rally include: Refugee Action Coalition, Latin American Social Forum, Sudanese Australian Human Rights Association, Social Justice Group, Socialist Alliance, Solidarity, Socialist Alternative, and Resistance.

Full details for the rally are:

"Unite against racism – refugees are welcome, racism is not!"
Rally 2pm, Sunday April 11,
Outside Villawood Detention Centre, 15 Birmingham Ave, Villawood.

More details can be found on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=109582062406674

The APP's anti-refugee rally is scheduled for the same place at 3pm. To get a sense of the APP’s racist views, just take a look at their website.

For more information or interviews about the anti-racism rally, contact Paul Benedek 0410 629 088 or James Supple 0438 718 348.

Call for Sydney counter-mobilisation to far-right this Sunday

Please forward this rally to ALL people who would be concerned about the far-right taunting asylum seekers, many of whom have fled war and persecution, while they are locked behind the razor wire

UNITE AGAINST RACISM
Refugees are welcome - racism is not!

The Australian Protectionist Party have called a rally attacking refugee rights for this Sunday, April 11, at 3pm outside Villawood Detention Centre.

The APP are anti-refugee, anti-immigrant & racist. They letterbox leaflets that scapegoat Africans, Muslims & immigrants for crime, unemployment & other social problems. However, the major parties are also to blame - they have given a green light to racism, by also demonising refugees & using migrants as scapegoats.

Racism kills. Refugees are still being deported to their deaths. Attacks on international students and immigrants are increasing.

We need a peaceful show of support for refugee rights, for equality and justice - and to let all racists know that their hatred is not welcome.
Rally Sun April 11, 2pm
At Villawood Detention Centre
15 Birmingham Ave, Villawood (nr Leightonfield Stn)

Please forward this message, organise your friends, bring placards and banners in support of refugees and against racism.

Supported by: Refugee Action Coalition, Latin American Social Forum, Sudanese Human Rights Assoc, Social Justice Group, Socialist Alliance, Solidarity, Socialist Alternative, Resistance.

For information, to add your support, or if you have ideas for the rally, please phone Paul 0410 629 088 or James 0438 718 348 or email paul.benedek2@ gmail.com

Asylum seekers protest on Christmas Island

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 12:07 AM
MEDIA RELEASE

MASS TAMIL ASYLUM SEEKER PROTEST HITS CHRISTMAS ISLAND

In scenes reminiscent of the early protests that rocked Woomera, Port Hedland and Baxter, under the Howard government, a mass protest by Tamil detainees at Christmas Island began at 4.30pm Christmas Island time, on Thursday, 27 January.

The protest is supported by all the Tamils detainees but, “We are hopeful that the Kurdish, Iranians and Arabs people will join us,” a Christmas Island detainee told the Refugee Action Coalition.

At 4.30 around 60 asylum seekers began marching around the path inside the detention with placards saying, “How Long Do we have to wait’, “Oceanic Viking 6 weeks, Christmas Island 6 months”, and “Protection Not Detention.”

The protest coincides wit h the visit to the island by Senator Fielding and Opposition spokesperson on immigration, Scott Morrison.

“People are sick and tired of waiting so long for their the applications to be processed. There are scores of Tamils now who have been waiting for six months and much longer. The government has no explanation for why Tamil asylum seekers are having to wait so long. As their placard says, processing on the Oceanic Viking was done in
six weeks, ” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“They are also angry at the people being charged for last year’s so-called riot and being put into the Red Compound management units.

“Australian of the year, Professor Patrick McGorry, was right when he called detention centres ‘factories for mental illness’ Perhaps Julia Gillard and Chris Evans will face up to the fact that Christmas Island is just as much a mental illness factory as Woomera or Baxter.

“There is no adequate torture and trauma counseling available and medication of the detainees is increasing. A government with a humane policy towards asylum seekers would close Christmas Island,” said Ian Rintoul.

There will be more protests in the days ahead. The detainees said they will maintain their protest “until we get answers.”

The protest also comes after detainees were told that under a new rule, management would no longer allow detainees to have mobile phones. Detainees in mainland detention centres are allowed to have mobile phones, and Christmas Island detainees have been allowed to have phones for months.

Meanwhile, it is expected that the two Australian refugee activists detained by Indonesian immigration authorities will return to Australian on Saturday morning. Tamil community activist, Sara Nathan will arrive in Sydney (Flight QF 042) at 7.40am. She will be available for media comment/interview at the airport.

For more information contact Refugee Action Coalition Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

Feb 14 - 6th Anniversary of TJ's Murder

International justice for Tj day

On the sixth anniversary of TJ’s murder

Rally, Sunday, 14th February 2010, 10:30 a.m. 

Gather at the fence line.

Cnr George and Philips Sts Waterloo

March to The Block

SPEAKERS

A Hickey Family Member                       Aboriginal Leaders                        Raul Bassi

Open microphone for concerned Community members

Rally organized by ISJA. Supported by STICS, Socialist Alliance and Socialist Alternative

  SOVEREIGNTY TREATY SOCIAL JUSTICE

NO MORE BLACK DEATHS IN CUSTODY

Protest Feb 13 - Stop the NT Intervention

Stop the NT Intervention - Sorry means you won't do it again.

Protest: Saturday, February 13, 2010

9 am LaPerouse point, Bunnerong Rd for the walk against racism to join the Redfern rally.

1pm rally at The Block, Redfern

Speakers include:
Irene Fisher, Sunrise Health (NT)
Pastor Ray Minniecon
Mal Tulloch, CFMEU
Angeline Penrith
Jeff McMullen

Performers:
The Black Turtles
Nadeena Dixon
Michael Donovan
More tba

Supporters include:
NSW Aboriginal Land Council, NSW Reconciliation Council, ANTaR NSW, CFMEU, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning Research, Mudgin-Gal, Babana, Reconciliation for Western Sydney, Guriwal Aboriginal Corp., FBEU, MUA, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Illawarra LALC, Bahtabah LALC, Narromine LALC, La Perouse LALC

Stop the NT Intervention
End the income quarantine - stop the national expansion
Land rights, not leases
Self-determination, not assimilation
Aboriginal controlled housing, jobs and services for all communities

On February 13, 2010 there will be a national day of action against the NT Intervention and for Aboriginal rights.

This will mark the 2nd anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations, when Prime Minister Rudd committed the government to, "a future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again".

But ongoing NT Intervention policies reek of the same paternalism and commitment to assimilation that created the Stolen Generations.

The Intervention has been a $1.5 billion disaster. The government has taken control of Aboriginal lives and land - but has not yet built a single house. Shamefully, communities will not receive housing until they sign 40-year leases over their land. This policy is expanding nationally.

The income quarantine is leading to greater poverty and social dislocation. Government statistics show reports of domestic violence are up 61%, substance abuse up 77% and 13% more infants have been hospitalised for malnutrition.

Minister Macklin has said the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act has "denied dignity" to Aboriginal people. But her changes to Intervention legislation will see the RDA suspended until December 31, 2010.

Rather than do away with failing policy, new legislation will allow the compulsory welfare quarantining to be extended to "areas of disadvantage" around the country. This will start across the NT from July 2010. Draconian measures such as compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal land and extreme police powers have been rebadged "special measures" under the RDA.

Racism is not a special measure.

The demonisation of Aboriginal people at the core of the Intervention is leading to increased racism across Australia. Indigenous incarceration rates have risen 10% in the past year. Juvenile detention now stands at 30 times the national average. Aboriginal organisations everywhere face aggressive mainstreaming.

Aboriginal people have consistently demanded an end to the NT Intervention measures and resistance is growing.

Turning around the unacceptable disadvantage facing Aboriginal people requires massive increases in resourcing of community controlled organisations - not more racist laws.

No more broken promises - its time to break the intervention

Organised by Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney

Contact: Jean 0449646593 or Mon 0415410558

For the poster of the protest: please click here

For the leaflet of the protest for downloading, printing, distribution: please click here

For STICS' Fact Sheet about the new Legislation: please click here

For STICS' Fact Sheet about the Government's "Consultation" Process: please click here

National Actions in other cities on 13 Feb 2010

Adelaide: 1 pm, at the steps of Parliament House, Speakers: Donna Jackson of Larrakia/Wulna descent, local Kaurna and Ngarrendjeri people. Launch of book "This is what we said". Contact Alitja 0431112898, organized by STICSA

Alice Springs: 10 am Gathering on Church Lawns in the Mall, Speakers on Key Issues. Launch of book: "This Is What They Said", Followed by a March through the CBD, Contact Barbara 0401 291 166 or Marlene (08) 8952 5032, for further info: http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Melbourne: 2pm Maysar,184-186 Gertrude St Fitzroy, March to Parliament House, for further infohttp://www.maicollective.blogspot.com/, for the poster: please click here

Perth: 12 noon, Wesley Church (cnr. William & Hay Sts), contact Natasha 0434 303 248 or Sanna 0417 852 628

Rally: Welcome Refugees

Welcome refugees!
No to Rudd’s Indonesian Solution!
Bring the Tamils to Australia!

12.30pm Monday 9 November
Immigration Department, Lee St (Railway Square end of Central Tunnel), City

Speakers include:
Tamil Association
Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Coalition)
Trade Union speaker

Called by Refugee Action Coalition
Contact Ian on 0417 275 713

The bipartisan demonisation of asylum seekers has provoked feelings of deja vu among many people who thought we'd never again see Tampa-style dramas on the high seas. But as each day passes, it is becoming clear that Kevin Rudd's 'Indonesia Solution' is every bit as inhumane (and expensive) as John Howard's 'Pacific Solution'. Despite the refugee rights movement winning victories such as children out of detention and the end of Temporary Protection Visas, it's clear that we have a long way to go before Australia can claim it has humanitarian immigration and refugee policies.

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.]

Australia must act for democracy in Honduras!

Below is an open letter from the Socialist Alliance to Australia's foreign affairs minister, Stephen Smith, calling on the Australian government to act for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of President Manuel Zelaya, and the restoration of democracy in Honduras.

Please assist the Honduran people's struggle for justice by inserting your own contact details and signing it, then emailing or faxing it to the minister as soon as possible.

Download this letter as a PDF or Word document, or read on ...

Australia must act for democracy in Honduras

An open letter to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs

To: Stephen Smith
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6022, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7500 Fax: (02) 6273 4112
Email: Stephen.Smith.MP@aph.gov.au

Cc: Electorate office
953A Beaufort St
Inglewood WA 6932
Tel: (08) 9272 3411 Fax: (08) 9272 3477

September 24, 2009

Dear Minister Smith,

The people and nation of Honduras urgently need the support of democratic governments and peoples around the world.

The current military dictatorship in Honduras, which on June 28 overthrew the elected government of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales in a coup d’etat, has unleashed a wave of repression against tens of thousands of people who have taken to the streets demanding Zelaya’s immediate restoration as president.

Zelaya re-entered Honduras on foot on September 21 and was given asylum by the Brazilian government in its embassy in Tegucigalpa. However, on September 22, as thousands of people assembled outside the embassy to welcome Zelaya home, the coup regime headed by Roberto Micheletti cut electricity and water to the embassy and tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed and fired on the president’s supporters, seriously injuring some.

With Zelaya’s return, the incessant violations of human rights and fundamental liberties perpetrated by the dictatorship over the last 85 days have significantly increased. Hundreds more civilians have been arrested and images have emerged of large numbers of protesters being rounded up and detained in a sports stadium in Tegucigalpa. The military has now imposed a total curfew in the country – an attempt to prevent the Honduran people from expressing their wish for the restoration of democracy in their country.

Speaking to international media on September 21, Zelaya called on Honduras’ armed forces to “respect the human rights of the Honduran people … To the commander general of the armed forces ... I peacefully make a call for sanity, so that there is no violence on the streets. The people here are unarmed, shouting for joy.”

It is a fundamental human right of all peoples to determine their own government and political future and during the last three months the people of Honduras have made very clear what they want with peaceful protests, strikes and road blockades, on a daily basis. On September 15, three million people rallied in more than 20 cities and towns across Honduras demanding an end to the coup.

We join with the nine governments of Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, the Organisation of American States, the UN General Assembly and the Rio Group in their call for Zelaya to be immediately reinstated as the legitimate president of Honduras and for the democratically elected government to be able to resume its duties. We note also that the European Union and almost every government in the world have officially condemned the coup, and call on the Australian government to urgently:

• Demand that the coup leaders respect the integrity of the Brazilian embassy and immediately stop the repression against civilians;
• Actively support the reinstatement of democratically-elected President Manuel Zelaya, including supporting all calls for his reinstatement made at the 64th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly this week;
• Demand the immediate release of all political and social movement activists who have been detained by the military;
• Support President Zelaya’s and the Honduran people’s rejection of the terms of the “Arias agreement”, which would legitimise the coup leaders’ actions, and work for the reinstatement of Zelaya to the presidency without conditions of any kind, in accordance with the will of the people of Honduras.
• Not recognise the results of Honduran elections in November if those elections are carried out while the coup government remains in power, the position of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
• Support the calls of the Honduran people for the coup leaders to be arrested and tried for their crimes.
• Pressure the United States administration to end its training of the Honduran military.

We applaud the millions of courageous Hondurans who have peacefully protested for three months to defend democracy, despite severe intimidation and assault by the military, and pledge our active solidarity with them until the coup is overturned and democratic rights are assured in Honduras.
Yours in support of the democratic rights of all peoples,

Bea Bleile, Margarita Windisch, Dick Nichols

National Conveners, Socialist Alliance

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

Sydney - emergency rally for Honduras

Emergency Rally For Honduras, 5pm Thurs Sept 24, Latin American Plaza, Chalmers
St, Sydney (next to Sydney Central Station). Please notify your networks & come along!

Media Statement: For Immediate Release. September 23, 2009. Sydney.

Emergency Rally to Protest Repression in Honduras,

5pm Thursday 24^th September

Latin American Plaza, Devonshire St

Oppose the Military Coup Regime

Support Return of Legitimate President Manuel Zelaya

At 5pm on Thursday 24^th September, a peaceful public rally has been called in Sydney to oppose the violent attacks against the Honduran people and support the return of the democratically elected president Manual Zelaya.

Australian-Venezuela Solidarity Network coordinator in Sydney, John Gauci explained, “The situation in Honduras is dire with the illegitimate coup regime imposing a curfew, cutting electricity, tear-gassing and firing on Zelaya supporters assembled outside the Brazilian embassy. Democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya returned to Honduras yesterday, and sort refuge inside the Brazilian embassy. There are frightening reports of democracy protesters now being rounded into stadiums”.

“The Honduran resistance is calling for emergency protests to be held around the world in defense of human rights and democracy in Honduras,” said Gauci. “We in Australia have a responsibility to insist that democracy is peacefully restored to the people of Honduras. We call on the Rudd Government to condemn the coup and cut all political and economic ties with Honduras until democracy is restored. ”

The mass resistance to coup has continued for three months of daily protests, strikes and road blockades. With President Zelaya’s return to Honduras, a desperate coup regime has significantly increased repression. This repression and attacks have resulted in the death of an eight year child who suffocated because of the military’s use of tear gas on unarmed civilians. The Honduran people are increasingly in open rebellion.

Organised by the Latin American Social Forum, endorsed by the Australian-Venezuela Solidarity Network.

* Read the latest developments on Green Left Online www.greenleft.org.au

Honduras repression: urgent solidarity needed!

Following the recent return of ousted president Manuel Zelaya to Honduras, the coup-leaders have apparently sent squadrons of loyal police and army to besiege the Brazilian embassy, where Zelaya has been staying.

The coup forces have dispersed the pro-Zelaya crowd in front of the embassy by force (using firearms, teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets, occupied adjacent buildings, snipers have been installed on the roofs of neighbouring building, and sonic weapons have been deployed in the streets.

Electricity, water and phones were been cut to the embassy, as well as surrounding building - the only anti-coup TV station, Channel 36, is now effectively off-air after its electricity was cut - and it appears that tear gas has been fired into the Brazilian embassy. The tear gas also killed an eight-year-old boy in a nearby building - dying of asphixiation from the gas.

The electricity cut was clearly meant to intimidate Zelaya or the Brazilians - or both - into submission. It failed, and electricity was restored some time later. Zelaya remains inside the embassy, with around 70 supporters.

The curfew has also been extended - effectively turning the whole country into a giant concentration camp, and at least one protester, Oscar Adán Palacios, was shot to death on by the army while peacefully protesting against the illegitimate government.

In a move eerily reminiscent of the fascist 1973 Pinochet coup in Chile, the National Police are holding unspecified numbers protesters in the Chochy Sosa baseball stadium and football stadiums in Tegucigalpa. Adrés Pavon, president of the Human Rights Defence Committee says "there are people being tortured, disappeared, and we are confirming the death of two people." Bertha Oliva, director of the Committee of the Families of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH) called the stadium a "concentration camp".

COFADEH itself was subject to a police attack yesterday (Tuesday) morning, with tear gas launched through the windows.

The National Front Against the Coup in Honduras (FNRG) has claimed that members of the Israeli Army are training a group of the National Police in protest disruption tactics.

According to NarcoNews, at least two popular barrios in and around Tegucigalpa have defied, en masse, the curfew order and chased National Police out of their communities: El Pedregal and Colonia Kennedy. They've erected barricades and declared the coup regime and its security forces non grata. [update: see comments for a longer list of barrios that have defied the curfew and are protesting the coup]

The website of the FNRG posted a declaration at 11am calling on “all of the resistance” to participate in “a peaceful march tomorrow, September 23 at 8am in front of the Pedagogical University Francisco Morazan”.

More regular updates from: NarcoNews, HondurasCoup2009, HondurasResists, Green Left Weekly, Emergency Committee Against The Coup In Honduras, Socialist Unity blog, BoRev,

There will be an emergency protest in solidarity with the Honduran people in Sydney on Thursday September 24 at 5pm, in the Latin American Plaza (outside Central Station).

"The Real News" on the repression after Zelaya's return:

SOS - No privatisation of Sydney ferries!

Privatisation spoils a nice day on Sydney harbour

By Peter Boyle

Sydney, August 21 - It was a nice day to be out on Sydney harbour. But we were at Circular Quay not to go on a relaxing ferry ride but to protest against the planned privatisation of Sydney ferries by the NSW Labor government. The Maritime Union of Australia had organised the rally but it drew support from a range of other unions, including the Nurses Federation, whose members are in the frontline of a hospital system in severe crisis after years of cutbacks by neo-liberal Labor governments.

O'Bray Smith, a midwife representing the Nurses Federation, told the protestors that she had been taught at school that in the late nineteenth century the trade unions had formed a party to represent the interest of the working class. But today, she and other trade unionists are fighting a privatisation- mad NSW Labor government.

"I've spoken to many rank-and-file members of the Labor party and they can't believe what is going on. And many are not going to vote Labor in the next elections as a result."

This echoed the angry sentiment at another anti-privatisation rally in Sydney organised by trade unions less than a month ago, that one being against the Rees Labor government's attempts to privatise jails. And before that it was the privatisation of the power industry that workers had to mobilise against...

Pictures here

Geelong Sandwich-Gate #2: Victory!

From Green Left Weekly:

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Fight reinstates Geelong workers

Lisa Gleeson, Geelong

16 August 2009


Two Geelong council workers who were sacked on July 24 for accepting free steak sandwiches from a Geelong club owner have been reinstated. The victory followed an escalation in the two-week-old dispute, when the Australian Services Union (ASU) members walked off the job on August 10.

Mick Van Beek and Peter Anderson were sacked for filling in a pothole at the Leopold Sportsman's Club car park with material bound for the local tip in November 2008.
Eight months later a “whistleblower” alerted council to the pair's actions, which led to their sacking. The council said the pair were found guilty of theft, fraud and using council materials for personal benefit.

The alleged “personal benefit” came in the form of two steak sandwiches that the owner of the club insisted the workers take — more than a week later.

Geelong city council backed down on August 13 and agreed to reinstate the workers. The settlement negates all allegations made against them.

The sackings sparked an enormous public outcry. It made the front pages of local media most days and provided a hot topic for local talk-back radio. Commercial TV station vans became a familiar sight outside the city hall.

Supporters joked that the workers were getting more media coverage than the town's AFL team, the Geelong Cats. The campaign included street marches, union leaflets, stop work meetings, solidarity T-shirts, a satirical cartoon and even a commemorative song from the Geelong Trades Hall Choir called, “There's a hole in my car park”.

At the height of the campaign all council depots were closed and workers joined community supporters to picket city hall council meetings. Hundreds dressed in yellow T-shirts with the slogan: “Rein-steak Peter and Mick.” They noisily chanted: “Touch one, touch all.”

Geelong Trades Hall secretary Tim Gooden told Green Left Weekly: “The community had quite clearly said that enough was enough. We had people from all walks of life and all the unions coming in to lend a hand so we could build a campaign to get their jobs back.

“One of the local pubs even gave away free steak sandwiches to all council workers one lunch time. At the end of the day the unity and solidarity built by the ASU's industrial campaign, supported by the community and organised through Geelong Trades Hall, won out.”

The Geelong Sandwich-gate Affair #1

From the Geelong Trades Hall Council blogsite:

Get online to help defend sacked workers

Send an email to City of Greater Geelong CEO and Councillors against their decision to sack ASU members Mick Van Beek and Peter Anderson!

The ASU is appalled at the decision handed down by the City of Greater Geelong to sack union members Mick Van Beek and Peter Anderson.To support Mick and Peter, click on this link:

http://www.asu.asn.au/campaign/cogg2009-07/protest/protest_form.htmlhttp://www.asu.asn.au/campaign/cogg2009-07/protest/protest_form.html

to send an email protest form to the CEO and Councillors at the City of Greater Geelong. It will take less than a minute!The pair were unjustly given their marching orders after they filled in two pot holes that were hazardous to elderly patrons of the Leopold Sportsman Club last November during their lunch break, receiving two free steak sandwiches at management's insistence a week later.Assistant Secretary Igor Grattan has announced the ASU will doing everything within its power to help Van Beek and Anderson get their jobs back.

To support Mick and Peter, click here http://www.asu.asn.au/campaign/cogg2009-07/protest/protest_form.html send an email protest form to the CEO and Councillors at the City of Greater Geelong.

It will take less than a minute!More information can be found at:
http://www.asuvic.asn.au/geelong_workers_sacked.pdf
http://www.asu.asn.au/media/localgovt/20090729_steaksandwich.html

Vestas Workers Beseiged By Riot Police!

From "FACTORY UNDER OCCUPATION: Save 600 jobs at Vestas!", a blog covering the occupation of Vestas wind turbine factory in the UK:

(Updated Press Release)

Workers staging a sit-in at the soon-to-close Vestas wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight are being starved out by police.

The police, many inside the factory and dressed in riot gear, have denied food to the workers who took over the factory offices last night, to protest about the closure of their factory. The police, operating with highly questionable legal authority, have surrounded the offices, preventing supporters from joining the sit-in, and preventing food from being brought to the protestors.

Around 20 workers at the Vestas Plant in Newport, on the Isle of Wight, occupied the top floor of offices in their factory to protest against its closure which will result in over 500 job losses.

Acting without an injunction, on private property, the police have repeatedly tried to break into the office where the protesting workers have barricaded themselves, and have threatened the workers with arrest for aggravated trespass, despite the fact that no damage has been done to the property where the protest is taking place. Police have also forcibly removed people from private property, another action that is of very questionable legality in the absence of a formal injunction.

The officer involved in the latter action was number 3606. The officer who appears to be in charge is 3115. It may help to let the local police authorities know that we are unhappy with their handling of the situation – in this case the email address to bombard is professional.standards@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

This heavy handed response is the latest in a long line of over-reactions to protest by various UK police forces.

A call to protest at the ALP National Conference

Via the Socialist Alliance

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The Rudd Labor government has betrayed the expectations of millions who voted for progressive change in the last federal elections in Australia.

Workers and unionists are now working under a "Fair Work Act" that restricts basic rights and violates International Labor Organisation conventions. In the words of Dean Mighell, secretary of the Southern States' branch of the Electrical Trades Union: "'Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard were elected on the back of working people and the Your Rights at Work campaign. Now they are in parliament, they have blatantly disregarded their promises to Aussie workers." For more see http://www.etu.asn.au/newsandevents/news/fair-work-for-whom The incrementalism of Rudd's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is, in the words of Greens' senator Christine Milne, "worse than useless in the face of the climate crisis. Just as you can't be a little bit pregnant, you can't stop climate change by doing 5% of what is necessary. Or even 25%." For more see http://www.carbonequity.info The "intervention" into Northern Territory Indigenous communities is a disaster, provoking the resignation of long-standing NT Indigenous ALP minister Marion Scrymgeour. The latest news is that a group of 30 Indigenous leaders from Ampilatwaja have set up a protest camp three kilometres from their township, about 300km north-east of Alice Springs. According to their spokesperson Richard Downs: "Our people are demoralised, hurt, embarrassed, outcast on their own community. We no longer have any rights to exist as humans in our own country..." For more see http://stoptheintervention.org Then there's environment minister Peter Garrett, approver of uranium mines. He used to say: Just four powerful reasons to join the protests outside the Australian Labor Party's 2009 national conference in Sydney Darling Harbour Convention Centre, July 30 - August 1. Here are some more:

VIDEO: No Sell OFF of Public Assets Rally -- Brisbane July 3, 2009

BRISBANE: Fifteen hundred trade unionists and their supporters marched through the streets of Brisbane on July 3 to oppose the sell off of Queensland public assets. The protest had been called by the Electrical Trades Union and later was supported by the Queensland Council of Unions.Addressing the rally were speakers from the QCU, AFULE, ASU and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

Mick Carr from the Maritime Union of Australia told the rally that there was no upside for a one off fixing of the debt by selling off public assets. Peter Simpson , state secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, said that his union wont be putting one cent into the ALP coffers at the next election if this legislation is still on the books.

He said it was time to put a line in the sand.

David Matters from the Rail Tram and Bus Union told everyone that his union, with community support, had won their fight against the prisatisation of the Brisbane City Council bus service in the 1990s.To applause he said, that it was time to put Anna Bligh under the control of working people.

But the surprize from among the speakers came from ALP state president and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Secretary, Andrew Dettmar, who said that his union will not be supporting any politician at the next state election unless they make a no privatisation pledge.

The rally was followed by a march to state parliament .

• Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)
• Watch Video on YouTube

Solidarity Committee with the Iranian People - Sydney

There is a new Iranian coalition in Sydney which is organising protests while the emergency is on in their country.

Today, they issued the following statement:

Defending the Democratic Rights of the Iranian People!

The past 30 years of dictatorship in Iran, has been accompanied by executions, torture, censorship and suppression of fundamental Human Rights for Iranian citizens.

In recent weeks, we have once again witnessed the ongoing violation of these democratic rights as Iranian citizens peacefully protested again the outcome of a fraudulent presidential election.

We have witnessed people protesting on the streets of Iran against this undemocratic regime demanding their basic human rights, freedom and democracy.

But, from the first day of protests, military forces together with the Basijis and government-supported militia have suppressed the cry for freedom and have killed hundreds.

Murder along with individual and group arrests are spreading across Iranian cities especially in Tehran which is now a military barrack.

The lives of innocent people are at risk.

Additionally, there have been harsh attacks against newspaper reporters and broadcasters.

Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader and the illegal government of Ahmadinejad are continuing their attacks and have labeled the uprisings on anti-revolutionaries or agents of foreign countries.

Hour after hour, we continue to receive horrific news from eyewitnesses on the ground and through their video recordings.

The world has witnessed this injustice and human disaster.

The Solidarity Committee with the Iranian People in Sydney ask the Australian Government to declare this human disaster illegal and expect your solidarity and cooperation of all the human rights organizations and freedom-loving People of Australia with the oppressed people of Iran.

We are demanding:

1) Prevention of the violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators in Iran.
2) Ending the arbitrary arrests of opponents, students and protesters and the immediate and unconditional release of all the detainees.
3) Removing the control of military forces over hospitals and medical centres to afford the possibility for the injured to get treated.
4) Unconditional freedom for media and news agencies to inform the public.
5) Ending the military occupation of Teheran and other cities in Iran.

Peace, Freedom and a bright future are universal rights of all People but the Iranians are struggling for their freedom in fire and blood!

Victory and dignity!

Freedom and democracy for people of the world and Iran!

In solidarity with those who lost their lives and the injured!

Solidarity Committee with the Iranian People - Sydney

3/07/2009