Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

The Federal Election..........Saturday 21 August 2010...

What's at Stake?

27th July 2010

By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
Face-Off - Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott

The federal election is in full swing. 24 hour news services report everything, even the most banal of events and offer commentary.

One thing we can agree on, it is not the same as the lead up to 2007. ‘Kevin 07’ is already becoming a distant memory. Tony Abbott now leads the conservative forces and cannot hide his ‘WorkChoices’ DNA.

Both the ALP and Liberal/NP tried to insist IR law is not an issue, yet they have had to deal with it from the start of the official campaign. Why?

Simple. Because the union movement’s highly successful campaign to see off John Howard (2005-07) has left an indelible impact on the electorate’s psyche. The undermining of rights at work by Howard’s WorkChoices laws was over the top. His hatred of workers being able to get together at work and collectively bargain dripped from his 1000 plus pages of draconian regulations. It wasn’t a de-regulation of the labour market as claimed. It was over–regulation, aimed at stopping workers having the effective right to organise.

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  • Latest News

    • SUPPORT FOR ARK TRIBE GROWS - BIG RALLY IN MELBOURNE

      By Brian Boyd
      VTHC Secretary
      Tuesday 20 July 2010

      Rallies occurred across Australia today in support of SA building worker Ark Tribe. The ABCC court case against this rank and filer restarted this morning at the Adelaide Magistrates Court (see background below).

      Thousands of Victorian building workers rallied in Melbourne outside the ABCC Headquarters at 553 St Kilda Road. They heard reports and speeches of support from John Setka CFMEU Assistant Secretary, Troy Gray ETU Assistant Secretary, Steve Dargavel Secretary AMWU, Kevin Bracken Secretary MUA and VTHC President and Brian Boyd VTHC Secretary.

      Rallies also occurred at big sites at Wonthaggi (De Sal Plant) and Mortlake (Gas Plant) also held rallies for Ark Tribe.

      The ACTU was also holding its Executive meeting in Melbourne today and passed the following resolution:

      ACTU Congress affirmed its support for any worker prosecuted for refusing compliance with coercive interviews.

      Construction worker Ark Tribe faces six months jail for attending an OHS meeting and refusing to discuss this meeting with the ABCC.

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    • March On ABCC.......

      SUPPORT ARK TRIBE
      MELBOURNE RALLY-
      Tuesday 20 July 2010       , 10.00 am

      Assemble 417 St Kilda Road (cnr Toorak Rd)        

      Rank and file S.A. building worker Ark Tribe faces 6 months jail, after being singled out by the ABCC. His trial restarts 20-22 July 2010 in Adelaide.

      Last month Adelaide Magistrate David Whittle ruled that the ABCC case against Ark Tribe would continue. This followed a 3-day legal battle that began on Tuesday 15/6 to have the charges dismissed, due to the validity of the proceedings. Brind Zichy – Woinarski QC for the federal DPP and the ABCC argued the Federal Crimes Act allowed the charges to be laid the way they were served on Ark Tribe.

      Magistrate David Whittle rejected the jurisdictional challenge from Ark Tribe’s lawyer Michael Abbott QC, opening the way for the trial to go ahead. The legal teams agreed the rest of the full trial will be heard from 20 July 2010.

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    • Ark Tribe Trial - 5 July 2010

      Support Ark Tribe
      Trial Continues - 20 - 22 July 2010

      Shortly rank and file S.A. building worker Ark Tribe faces 6 months jail, after being singled out by the ABCC.

      Last month Adelaide Magistrate David Whittle ruled that the ABCC case against Ark Tribe would continue. This followed a 3-day legal battle that began on Tuesday 15/6 to have the charges dismissed, due to the validity of the proceedings. Brind Zichy – Woinarski QC for the federal DPP and the ABCC argued the Federal Crimes Act allowed the charges to be laid the way they were served on Ark Tribe.

      Magistrate David Whittle rejected the jurisdictional challenge from Ark Tribe’s lawyer Michael Abbott QC, opening the way for the trial to go ahead.  The legal teams agreed the rest of the full trial will be heard between 20-22 July 2010.

      Magistrate Whittle found ABCC Assistant Commissioner Operations John Draffin was entitled to lay the complaint against Ark Tribe, even though Commissioner John Lloyd had not expressly authorised him to do so.

      Ark Tribe has pleaded not guilty to the charge and the trial is now expected to run another three days from the 20th July next.

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    • External Heritage Restoration Work on The Iconic Melbourne Trades Hall, Nearly Complete

      Tuesday 22nd June 2010
                     by
       Brian Boyd VTHC Secretary

      Like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the heritage listed Melbourne Trades Hall needs constant maintenance and care.

      The special coating for the outside of the building began to be applied almost nine years ago. There was also a lot of work done moulding the roof edge adornments and repairing the ramparts. The final phase of the columned front entrance began in late April this year. The THLI has been lobbying the Victorian Planning Minister (Justin Madden) and Victorian Treasurer (John Lenders) as well as Heritage Victoria, since 2008 for more support to finish the exterior work. This support was granted early in 2010. The photos show the early stage of the work starting and the finishing touches being applied.

      It is hoped in the near future more internal heritage restoration work can commence. Internal works began in earnest back in 1990 under the then Kirner ALP government. This was abruptly stopped by the Conservative Kennett government in 1993.

       

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    • Brian Boyd : Soap Box

      SECRETARY'S SOAPBOX

      Federal Election - Don't forget Workplace Laws still need improvements
      By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
      19 July 2010

      Read full article

  • Inside Trades Hall

  • Current Campaigns - What You Can Do

    • VTHC Climate Change Working Group

      VTHC Climate Change Working Group

      The VTHC Climate change working group was recently established to organise around issues of climate change and resources depletion.   Unions recognise the need for action now to minimize the potentially catastrophic affects of global warming that will occur if we do not act.   However we are committed to ensuring that working people and those less well off in our society are not disadvantaged by adaptation measures.

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    • UFUA Dispute - MFESB in Crisis

      UFUA Dispute - MFESB in Crisis

      The UFU has implemented a campaign website - www.firecrisis.com to enable members of the public to support their firefighters by contacting their local member of parliament by email and requesting that they rectify the current problems with their fire service.

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    • It’s your call: Improving Australian call centres for workers

      It’s your call: Improving Australian call centres for workers

      The ASU has launched a new campaign to improve Australia's call centres for those working in the industry, for more info: www.callcentreunion.com.au. The call centre industry is a major employer in Australia and an integral part of our nation's economy. The ASU wants to make sure all call centre workers enjoy the same, high level working conditions and that all workers are being valued and paid fairly.

    • Fix WorkCover

      Fix WorkCover

      In December 2007, the state government announced that a review of the 1985 Accident Compensation Act would be conducted by Mr Peter Hanks QC. The review is finished (June 2008) and the VTHC has launched a comprehensive campaign (including website link: http://www.fixworkcover.org/) to oppose the worst of Mr Hanks’ recommendations

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    • RTBU - Safer Stations Campaign

      RTBU - Safer Stations Campaign

      The RTBU, has launched a major public safety campaign - www.saferstations.com.au.
      The campaign is centred around calling on the State Government to enhance the safety of rail users by addressing the need for more staff on railway stations.
      A key part of the exercise is the distribution of well-crafted and highly visible giant posters. These posters and other background material can be found on the special campaigns website.

  • Union Information

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