
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

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Letters to the Editor

Wild Memories of Melbourne

It was 7 o'clock on the chilly Melbourne morning of September 11. 500 unionists, students, greenies and other activists were marching along city streets from Trades Hall down towards the Yarra River.. A modest crowd, but they were determined to let onlookers know what they were up to. So as they went they sang:

"Shut Crown Casino,

We're gonna shut Crown Casino,

(same tune as 'One Tony Lockett')

And shut it down they did. Because when lots of smaller crowds get together they form a gathering that can achieve all sorts of things.

This crew of mainly Sydney and Melbourne people joined about 20 000 others who all shutdown the World Economic Forum on S11. We had the numbers and there wasn't a lot the cops could do about.

It was really encouraging to see CFMEU members mixing with other workers, students, greenies, kids, political activists and plenty of your average punter off the street. All united and defiant in opposition to the super-rich and powerful who had managed to get in to the Casino overnight (and the other few hundred getting driven around for hours while the cops worked out how to get them inside).

It was also great to see Johnny Howard have to hitch a lift to the conference on a police rubber dinghy after they gave up on the road entrances. Bouncing across the murky Yarra waters, all rugged up agianst the cold wind and spray, his face all staunch and determined like he wasn't bothered.

Of course was there with Costello, Carr and the rest of them. Getting up close and personal with the worlds biggest bosses and bankers. What were they all doing?

Discussing how to run the world along their lines. Pushing the interests of multinational companies and big banks on to the governments of the world.

With the power of modern communications and through mergers among the biggest corporations, mulinationals are amassing mega power and wealth. And they get what they want. Whether it's their workers being forced into flexibility (giving up conditions) or politicians selling off valuable public assets. No doubt Carr got asked when our power industry will be up for sale to foreign banks like it has been in the other states. And even though they are making mega-profits you can't tax them for funding services like education, training and health. No, 'cause then they'll pull their money and put it in some poor country which is crying out for investment.

It is worse in poor countries. In Indonesia Multinational companies like Nike pay workers peanuts and export into Australia without having to pay any tariffs. If any one dares to try a bit of union action, Nike leans on the local cops to stamp it out. And people get badly hurt and wind up doing time. Think about that next time you're in Rebel Sport.

Typically there was a lot of bullshit in the papers and on the radio about the protests being violent. In 3 days I didn't see any protestor swing a punch or break a window. Sure we blocked off their conference but we had to do that to make our point.

The violence came on the second day when our numbers were down. The cops picked their time and went over the top, using excessive violence against us. In a sickening and gutless frenzy they cracked heads trying to clear a few hundred mainly young people who hardly fought back. The early mail is that a lot of them will be sued for this.

So what did S11 show about how people can take on the power and influence of multinational companies? Well don't look to the mainstream politicians, we know where they stand. Don't wait for thr media to explain the issues in a fair and balanced way, they are the multinationals.

As any trade unionist knows, you have to fight to win anything - really take the opposition on. And that's what the workers and people of the world will have to do in future if people like the World Economic Forum aren't going to keep getting it all their own way.

S11 was a good start. We raised the issues, got people talking and stuck it up them too boot. Wild. Should be more of it.

Dan Murphy

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics