
Issue No 71		15 September 2000

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Alliances The Legacy of S11 Say Protestors

While violent scenes dominated the media coverage of the World Economic Forum union participants say the involvement of large numbers of young people and the forging of new alliances will be the enduring legacy of s.11

The CFMEU's Rick Fowler says he was impressed by the coalition of unions, greens, students, NGOs, church groups and others from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne involved in the variety of activities.

'I was excited by the sheer number of protesters, the vast spread of age groups and cultural diversity and the total commitment to peaceful protesting by the overwhelming majority of people gathered,' he said.

Rick Fowler says it is these alliances which have led to success in the current Rio Tinto campaign and in the recent past the MUA dispute.

'These alliances must be the basis of future campaigns that will be waged against companies and Governments that do not respect workers rights and human rights,' he says.

He says within these alliances there are differences but also common points of view.

'We hear and see, via the media, of enormous protests world wide against all the injustices that the free trade agenda is bringing to workers and communities around the world. I believe that our message is, ever so slowly, being heard in these types of forums and at Government level.'

Fowler says a low point of the protests was the use of force by police on Tuesday.

'The police overwhelming outnumbered the protesters at that time of the morning and could have used other traditional methods of clearing away protesters.'

Victorian Trades Hall Secretary Leigh Hubbard also voiced his concerns about the policing of the conference.

'While we organised our own protest and have a different way of expressing concern about the negative consequences of globalisation, trade unions support the right of all Victorians to protest without fear of violence," Mr Hubbard said.

'We would not tolerate this kind of police behaviour on a picket line and we don't condone it during this controversial event.'

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Issue 71 contents

Interview: Surviving The Firestorm
After several years as the focus of some brutal politics Carmen Lawrence is back on the ALP front bench. She talks to Workers Online about her new portfolio, unions and the ALP and mud slinging in politics.

History: Unions, Sport and Community
Remember when sport was a fun way to relax after arduous labour? The fight for the eight-hour work day was based around a slogan that said, in part, eight hours work, eight hours play. The play was unpaid and unsung, but enjoyable.

Politics: Global Failures
Sharan Burrow told the World Economic Forum this week that the union movement acknowledges the benefits of globalisation but it's time to address the failures.

International: Mobile Workers
A global IT labour shortage is throwing up challenges for both the developed and developing world. Gerd Rohde, from the Geneva-based Union Network International, is working to strike a balance.

Unions: Stuffed or Stoned?
In a recent dispute at the South Blackwater Coal Mine in Central Queensland CFMEU members resisted the introduction of random drug testing in the absence of a better strategy to test impairment and not just lifestyle.

Review: A Perfect Circle- Mer de Noms
Peter Zangari believes the music world has moved on from the simplistic chords of Nirvana and Soundgarden and the grunge scene has been obliterated. But like most other things, especially music, it re-invents itself.

Satire: Silly 2000
Editors demand something happen: �We�ve got 300 Olympic pages to fill and everyone is training�.

» Protesting Posties Blast Bosses in Swank Hotel

» Mario Carries Torch For Workers

» Union Flag Flies High At Olympic Park

» International Passport for IT Workers

» Homecarers Strike Another Blow Against Outsourcing

» Alliances The Legacy of S11 Say Protestors

» Violence Rife Against Union Activists

» Call Centre Workers Compo Call Answered

» Better Pay, Big Screens and Ice Cream for Bus 2000 Drivers

» 'Appalling' Detention Centres Behind Riots

» Election of Burmese Official A Slap In The Face