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  Issue No 100 Official Organ of LaborNet 29 June 2001  

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Letters to the Editor

Picket at Parliament: Police Respond


 
 

Unions thank their Negotiators

Unlike most trade unions, policing in Australia, and certainly in New South Wales enjoy almost total membership of their trade unions. Where the general workforce is experiencing declining trade union membership, policing is not in such a situation. This creates a dilemma for police officers, as was clearly demonstrated on Tuesday, 19 June 2001.

Their dilemma is not helped by a Premier and government that seeks to use them to defeat whatever the Labor Council of New South Wales activities of that day are described as, either picket or blockade.

The workers compensation legislation adversely affects police officers and yet, despite legitimate protest activity, police officers are required, under their oath of office, to do their duty according to lawful direction. As a police officer of some years, I was extremely proud of the way those officers on duty at Parliament on that day conducted themselves.

When they did their duty, some unthinking, faceless cowards, using the anonymity of a large crowd called them all the usual names. Can anyone imagine the affect that being called scabs and all the other adjectives had on those officers, especially when they realize the effect that the proposed legislation has on them as workers.

It is very difficult for a police officer to be a unionist, especially in view of their oath of office. It is even more difficult when you have a sense of duty that actually seeks to force the individual to perform acts that are contrary to both their ideology and welfare. Notwithstanding that, police have to sometimes do so, and particularly in times of industrial disputation.

It was extremely sad to see those officers at Parliament so abused and maligned by both sides on Tuesday. Police have, over the years, developed protocols for dealing with industrial disputes. Those protocols involve police being intermediaries, in order that affected persons can express their democratic right, whilst at the same time, others can go about their lawful business. Part of that process has been the evolution of non-violent protest and removal.

Arrangements had been made for the implementation of those protocols on Tuesday last. It had been agreed that members of parliament and their Staff would access the premises by the Government Road entrance. This message was conveyed to appropriate persons. A number of strategies were outlined to the appropriate government member in terms of their accessing the Parliament however, for whatever reason, those members chose to walk up Macquarie Street and enter the parliament by crossing the picket line.

This curiously seems to be completely at odds with their (and my) parties' ideology, however that is another issue. Clearly this action created an unnecessary confrontation. The operation commander 'confirmed that he made the decision, following discussion with those involved.'

The Premier of New South Wales sneaked into Parliament during the day along with at least one other Minister. The Minister for Industrial Relations apparently stayed overnight in the Motel Macquarie. To read that the Premier viewed his sneaking into the Parliament as some form of leading his government is lost on me however, unlike the Premier, I am just a poor simple policeman.

The police officers in Macquarie Street were then confronted with the ultimate dilemma. Should they provide a safe passage for the parliamentarians in accordance with their duty or should they as workers, decide the risk was unacceptable and walk away. With some pride, along with the rest of the community of New South Wales, I saw those officers do their duty magnificently.

That dangerous situation was exacerbated when an imperious Premier appeared on the Parliament House veranda to wave and blow kisses to these workers. These unthinking and careless actions by the Premier did no more than to incite and inflame thus creating more danger for those police officers.

Since that time, we have heard and read all sorts of spin on the situation. I am advised, by members of Parliament, that they are being advised that I am being untruthful about the strategies available for their security, that I am just saying that as part of the Labor Council strategy.

Unlike members of Parliament, I am a serving police officer and thus subject to the provisions of the Police Service Act. Untruthfulness carries significant penalties for me, unlike the politicians of this state.

Unfortunately for all those police officers on duty, the Premier and his government paid scant respect to them on Tuesday last. The moral dilemma of being a cop or a unionist will always haunt police officers. Sadly it is doubtful that the actions of the premier and his government will haunt them the same way.

Jeff Kennett thought the same way about cops being unionists.

Ian Ball, President

Police Association of NSW


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*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 100 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Baptism of Fire
It�s been a rugged few weeks for Labor Council�s new honcho. But John Robertson accepts it comes with the territory.
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*  Politics: Seven Days that Shook Our World
Chris Christolodulou surveys the wreckage from a week when the political and industrial wings of the labour movement collided.
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*  History: History Sometimes Repeat
This is not the first Labor government to attack workers compensation entitlements. Some believe the Unsworth Government�s 1987 reforms were the beginning of the end for that administration.
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*  Technology: Unions Online: Where To Now?
Social Change Online's Mark McGrath goes looking for what's on the virtual horizon for the union movement.
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*  Media: The Printed Word Revisited
Rowan Cahill looks at the resurgence of the workers press and the lessons for unions in better communicating with their members.
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*  Unions: Time For Second Gear
The trends are in the right direction but unions are still drinking small beer in the IT world and need to allocate more resources to communications generally, argues Noel Hester.
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*  Satire: Texan Governor Faces Execution
The governor of Texas has been sentenced to death row after a jury found him guilty of killing hundreds of people.
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*  Review: The Insider
Neale Towart looks at a literary anti-hero who brings the factional machinations and double-deals of the ALP machine out of the back rooms and into the light.
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News
»  Picket MPs Face More WorkCover Heat
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»  Della Tries a Henry VIII
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»  Privatisation Opens New WorkCover Front
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»  The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Virtual Democracy
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»  Bank Staff Forced to Flog Insurance
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»  Email Surveillance Report Gathers Dust
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»  Fifty Years On, Women Still Short-Changed
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»  Firefighters Withdraw Strike Threat
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»  Telstra�s Sells Off Skills Base
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»  BHP - Billiton Faces $1.8 Billion OHS Claim
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»  Activist Notebook
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»  STOP PRESS: Quite Frankly, Reith Goes!
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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»  The Locker Room
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Tool Shed
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Letters to the editor
»  Picket at Parliament: Police Respond
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»  Time to Break
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»  Well Done for the Ton
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»  The Life and Soul of the Party
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»  A Tuckpointer Is ...
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