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Issue No. 126 | 01 March 2002 |
I Don�t Like Sprouts
Interview: Clean Hands Corporate: Out of Asia Unions: Tears, Real And Crocodile, At The Ansett Wake Economics: Labour�s Capital: Individual Or Collective? History: Mardi Gras: The Biggest Labour Festival? International: Driving A Hard Bargain Review: In Bed With a Sub-Machine Gun Satire: Whitlam Forgives Kerr: "At Least He Didn't Dismiss A Rape Victim" Poetry: Dear Mother
Some Light Reflects Off Ansett Net Porn Highlights Privacy Lag Mad Monk To Float Down Oxford Street Govt Breaches Its Own Guidelines Sartor Policies Irk Council Workers Service Fee Push Hots Up in Qld Casino Workers Show Their Hands Hotel Bosses Have Full House But Cry Poor Airport Screeners Win Training Rights CFMEU Korean Activist Honoured Support For Fijian Union Battle
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review
Well Done, Splitter Repeating History
Labor Council of NSW |
History Mardi Gras: The Biggest Labour Festival?By Neale Towart
Unions have been involved in action on rights for gay and lesbian workers since the mid 1970s (in positive and negative ways), and unionists have been a part of the great celebration that is Mardi Gras from its inception. Shane Ostenfeld argued a few years ago that unions have proved responsive to the needs of gay and lesbian workers, largely through the efforts of white-collar and left-wing unions. This is despite the best efforts of some union officials to ignore or discourage discussion and activism on gay and lesbian issues. However research still shows very high levels of discrimination and harassment of openly gay, lesbian and transgender people in their workplaces. The study, The Pink Ceiling Is Too Low, was conducted by the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby Group (GLRL) and the Australian Centre for Lesbian and Gay research. Jennie George, then President of the ACTU, Launched the report and GLRL announced at the time a commitment to working with unions on the issues raised. Mardi Gras is the public celebration of sexuality in Sydney, and also a strong statement of the rights of gay, homosexual, transgender and queer identified people to live free of discrimination, harassment and victimisation based on sexuality. As the statement from the First World Conference of Lesbian and Gay Trade Unionists, held in Amsterdam in 1998 put it, quoting the Vienna Declaration and program of Action "human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings". Claiming those rights has not been easy, and battling union prejudices has been a double burden for many. Karen Askew notes, in a Lesbian perspective on Mardi Gras and unions, that lesbians are in all workplaces, but "the culture of the closet still exists." Lesbian membership of unions was hidden, but the "philosophy and ideals of unions offered the only possible protection" from discrimination against lesbians at work. Shane Ostenfeld notes that union policy of gay and lesbian issues first developed in social worker and teacher unions, who were affiliated to the ACTU and the Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations (ACSAPA) who later merged with the ACTU. A third national federation, the Council of Australian Government Employees Organisations (CAGEO) (who also later merged with the ACTU) also developed polices. A 1975 grant of $40,000 made to ACSPA to set up a working women's centre was the initial impetus. This led to the development of the first Working Women's Charter. This directly addressed discrimination issues. Askew says that it "was no historical accident that many of the initial meetings and discussions of the first Mardi Gras parades revolved around venues such as the Trade union Club, Stella Maressa's Sussex Hotel which was around the corner from Sydney's trades Hall, and the offices of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) which shared floor space with the former Theatrical Employees' Union". Ostenfeld charts the rocky history of the relationship between gay and lesbian activists, but as he and Askew point out, it was an ongoing relationship despite fierce hostility from some unions and union officials. Nevertheless, "the first Mardi Gras created an uncomfortable wedge between unions and the lesbian and gay community by drawing attention to unionism's neglect of lesbian and gay issues. The arrested paraders who lost employment requested their unions' involvement. They were disappointed by their unions' inaction, but not surprised." Parades for many years after this had no official union sanction, although many participants were loyal and active unionists and carried banners proclaiming this. The workers parade, May Day, in 1980, had a section organised by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which was not received well by some in the union hierarchy. The advent of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the lesbian and gay community brought a new approach to discrimination issues, particularly after 1982 amendments to NSW discrimination legislation. Issues began to be heard in Equal Opportunity Tribunals, rather than Industrial courts, and new approaches to discrimination issues flowed into workplaces. Unions had to take a more active stance, although of course general attitudes in unions reflected pretty much society wide attitudes. Union (as opposed to union member) participation in Mardi Gras had begun as the Australian Clerical Officers Association (ACOA) float, in 1994 after activists in that union got issues around work and family, and superannuation for lesbians and gays taken up by state secretary Vicki Telfer. Peter Sams, then secretary of the Labor Council of NSW supported the union float. By then it had become the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). This was a difficult position for Telfer and Sams, as the society wide prejudice came out in hate mail and phone calls, and campaigns against their leadership. Superannuation rights of gay partners is an ongoing concern of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby see their website at http://www.glrl.org.au/html/frameset.htm for this and other campaign information. Despite this, support for the union participation grew and by 1997 a cross-union committee was formed to organise union involvement in the parade. Union participation has developed since then. Gail Gregory, then a senior industrial officer at Labor Council, was a major organiser and marshall for the entire parade one year. The 2000 parade saw a wonderful big puppet of Jennie George as the centre of the union float, surrounded by conniving Peter Reiths. There are no restrictions on who can participate in and on the union float. Robin Fortescue asks if this sort of action helps break down homophobia in trade unions? She answers in the affirmative. Request for funding on Mardi Gras generate discussion of issues concerning gay and lesbian workers. It may cause internal friction but attitudes do shift. "Mardi Gras is not just about what happens on the night of the parade. Its impact derives from the organization, debates, and material support that must go on beforehand in order for this participation to occur. Let's make Mardi Gras the biggest labour festival of the year." Workers Out, the second World Conference of Lesbian and Gay Trade Unionists is being held in Sydney from the 31st October to 2nd November, to coincide with the Gay Games. So while Mardi Gras may be the biggest ongoing Labour Festival, lets hope the conference is also a great occasion for celebration and discussion. For more information on the conference go to http://www.workersout.com Further information in and at: Shane Ostenfeld. Identity Politics and Trade Unions: the case of sexual minorities in Australia. http://www.mngt.waikato.ac.nz/depts/sml/airaanz/conferce/wgtn1998/PDF/ostenfeld.pdf Robin Fortescue. Mardi Gras: the Biggest Labour Festival of the Year. (HECATE; vol. 26, no. 2, 2000) Kate Askew. Trade Union Involvement in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras: a Lesbian Perspective. (HECATE; vol. 26, no. 2, 2000) Jude Irwin. The Pink Ceiling is Too Low: Workplace Experiences of Lesbians, Gay Men and Transgender People. (Sydney: NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and Australian Centre for Lesbian and Gay Research) 1998 Conference on Trade Unions, Homosexuality and Work Closing document. http://www.workersout.com/history.htm
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