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

Pertinent and timely comments by Kim Beazley - 21 September 2007


by Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary

Yesterday (20 September 2007) in his address to the Federal Parliament, former ALP Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, made some important comments about the trade union movement.  I report them below as I believe they are a worthy contribution to the current IR debate this side of the upcoming federal election.  However, they will also be of great use on the other side of the federal election whatever the result!
 

“I also want to thank the trade union movement.  I originally started off in politics, getting a place on the state executive of the Labor Party, by digging graves.  That entitled me to a card membership of the Municipal Workers Union, and I then represented them on the state executive of the Labor Party.  On this basis, I am classified by the Liberal Party these days as a trade unionist.  I am not sure the average trade unionist would necessarily accept that this was a sufficient indication of a qualification on my part to indicate a long-term commitment to the industrial movement but, nevertheless, so be it.  Many others on our front bench have experienced that from time to time too.

“We were a party that was an outgrowth of the trade union movement, a determination on its part that they would participate effectively in democratic politics.  It is no accident that the union movement is now being abused up hill and down dale by employers in the advertising you see on your television every night and that it is being abused up hill and down dale by our political opponents in this place.  Understand this: when you wish to assault democracy, first you attack the unions; when you wish to restore democracy, first you start with the unions.  It is no accident that the opposition in Zimbabwe now is led by the unions.  It is no accident that they are the heart and soul of what gives force and power to the democratic movement in Zimbabwe…”
"....If you undermine unions, if you undermine democracy in the workplace, then you will undermine democracy in the nation overall. First destroy unions; then you destroy democracy."


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