Category: Workers Political Organisations

Unions, Rank and File & Workers Political Groups

Pre-revolutionary Greece in July 2012?

Sat 11 August: meeting to report on the discussions and assessments of the Greek left in pre-revolutionary crisis

“The ‘lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way; and the ‘upper
classes’ cannot carry on in the old way…”

Martin Thomas visited Thessaloniki and Athens in July to talk with many
of the groups and factions of the Greek left and to learn about their
assessments, policies, and debates.… Go to Article

Hey Gen. Cosgrove! When they say ‘Repent’, Repent!

“Give me back the Berlin wall
Give me Stalin and St Paul
Give me Christ
or give me Hiroshima
Destroy another fetus now
We don’t like children anyhow
I’ve seen the future, baby:
it is murder
Things are going to slide … When they said REPENT REPENT …”
— Leonard Cohen, “The Future”

BRISBANE – Catholic Workers Confront Gen.… Go to Article

Back to the Future – The Shape of Things to Come – The Queensland Labour Movement Under Conservative Governments – Then and Now!

BLHA Symposium: Call for Papers and Participants

BLHA is planning an October symposium which will deal with the Queensland labour movement’s activism, challenges and selected disputes under conservative governments.… Go to Article

Queensland job cuts — edge of darkness?

Everybody knows that Queensland Labor had a Party 
Everybody knows the fight was fixed  so
the poor stay poor, and  the rich stay rich
That’s how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the Bligh’s boat was leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father was a scab or their mother just died.… Go to Article

The Long War — Turnstyle hosts WikiLeakes

‘Those masters plan wars in tall towers
But do they think of the children and the flowers?
They conscript women to kill
But care not a damn
Young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
Now buried in the sand
Back in Afghanistan’
— Last Train to Mirabad
by Ian Curr

Slideshow/Report/Update – Ecuadorian Embassy London *Short Report Briz Gig for Julian Assange

New blog post here with an update on Julian Assange’s situation and ongoing solidarity outside the Ecuadorian Embassy: http://wp.me/p1rtyw-GT.… Go to Article

‘Bahrain is Burning’: nurses union calls for support

“In the month of March / in the year of the uprising / earth told us her blood secrets / In the month of March five girls at the door /of the primary school /Came past the violet / came past the rifle  / burst into flame / With the roses and thyme /they opened /the song of the soil / and entered the earth  / the ultimate embrace / March comes to the land / out of earth’s depth /out of the girls’ dance /The violets leaned over a little / so that the girls’ voices /could cross over / the birds /pointed their beaks /at that song and at my heart.… Go to Article

Brisbane Barrio: ’17 together on a picket line’

Brisbane Barrio
by Lachlan Hurse and Sue Monk

Juan woke up
held Ana in his arms
and whispered to her
“cover my body with kisses
so I may face the day”

The children were still sleeping
when he closed the door
and made his way again
to the production line
assembling steel doors all day
on a concrete floor
he dreamed
he dreamed
surprised to be after
all these years
still so far from home

Hard words rang
across the factory floor
Juan heard the sound of hate
bitter words to injure
a shout that sent the signal
for the war to come
a trigger for intimidation
cruel and hard
a sorry tale of segregation
push and shove
when steel cut flesh
the union man said
“never in my life
have I seen a person
stoop so low”

On the tenth day of November
Nineteen ninety four
seventeen said “no”
to divide and rule
and later stood together
on a picket line
discovering how hard
it can be
to belong

And its flesh and steel
and storm and calm
its simple truth and complex lies
intransigence and fluid lines
unyielding strength
and compromise

Ready now
steady now
ready for a little fight

Rules are made and rules are broken
(oh yes they are)
things are said
other things stay unspoken
(my lips are shut)
the consequences are not
too hard to see
(you don’t need big glasses
or a telescope)
these days a worker
just has to be
ready now
steady now
ready for a little fight

copyright © Lachlan Hurse and Sue Monk 1998… Go to Article

Senator calls for international action to free UN worker

THE SENATE CHAMBER
Australian Parliament, Canberra
As reported in Hansard
Friday, 22 June 2012

Senator Claire Moore (Queensland):

“Two weeks ago in my office I was visited by Khalil Hamdan, an Australian citizen and a good friend of our community over many years.… Go to Article

Refugee ‘Info Line’ for family and friends

Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) have set up a phone line for family and friends to seek information about survivors from the boat tragedy

The number is  1300 724 010

They collect information from callers but cannot give information

They say that if they locate a survivor, they will “encourage” survivors to contact their family or friends  to let them know that they have survived.… Go to Article

Petition to free Ridha!

To the Honourable the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bob Carr and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Australia

The petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia I (leave a comment) draws to the attention of the House to act urgently to prevent a grave injustice to the family of an Australian Citizen.… Go to Article

URGENT: Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy supporters needed at Musgrave Park

Brisbane City Council to try to forcibly remove Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy supporters urgently needed at Musgrave Park

14 May 2012

Brisbane City Council has turned its back on negotiations with the Brisbane Sovereign Embassy over its right to exist in Musgrave Park, South Brisbane.… Go to Article