Friday 10 March 2017

International Womens Day Sydney 11 March 2017: The Hens hit the streets with vim, spit and pink knitted hats



This were another grand turn out bursting' with colour and fresh ideas, for all ages and a cross section of unions, community groups an' cultures. If you ever needed to hear the message-this was the place to be. The speakers reflected over and over-that is women bearing the costs of austerity, that the funding cuts for 'inessential services' cut the marrow out of the groups set up to help and support those most disadvantaged. What was particularly galling was the message of MediBank making profits from domestic violence-the twisted ways the neo libs give a paltry amount and lip service to something well busily taking real funding away. This rally demonstrated women at the forefront of many grass root organisations making positive change. Not getting the resources or recognition deserved for rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it. Overall, a fight back rally showing optimism that the spirit of what makes people decent has not been ground down. We are not beaten! Not silent or ready to be silenced. Small gripe, it would have been good to see the construction workers who were at the Thursday rally come and support this one...as for the politicians...we miss the likes of Tom Uren!

The pictures speak for themself:

Many conversations... 
MUA women here to stay
Trumble? Surely Socialist Alliance don't mean Bumble, our prime miser?
This woman came off the street to join the rally because she was overjoyed to see so many women on the march

Eee oop lad! Girl power is a mighty and good thing

They're all in it together if you ask me...
A policeman on a bicycle stopping us from going onto bridge. Right or left? MUA went left! Typical bloody union!
Pay them what they are worth! They are educating the future
MUA walk the walk of strong unions need women
I remember the Star Trek episode with the gold thingey in it


More conversations

Justice still waiting for the first people
More conversation, more chat than on Thursday's rally with the building blokes
Dont mess with the pink bonnets Trump Trumble


This is what generations of feminists look like
Notice how well everyone was getting along


Take heed Mr Tranbrill and Mr Rubble you can't keep robbing the poor-we fight back













So SBS did a reasonable bit of coverage but elsewhere this march seems to have been ignored. Because it was so full of positive women? Because many of the issues raised were to do with helping make a more decent society. Because if we had the public discussion about how thread bare are our priorities. Fund domestic violence education and refuges vs Snowy River dam or a sports stadium or Bangaroo...This were strong women on the march. Mostly unionists and that is encouraging as they were also young and representing new migrants, the most poorly paid and likely to be exploited. Penalty rates? The discussion we should be having is paying a living wage-not creating yet more opportunities for redundancy and the darling of flexible work arrangements-zero hours contracts by stealth. I think if Michaela Cash had stumbled out into this crowd they might of knitted her into a pink tea cosy and given she is Minister for Women-where was she? Probably at home knitting her pink bonnet?

And:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/11/pussy-riot-revolution-donald-trump-vladimir-putin

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Protect our Jobs Fight Back Sydney 9 March 2017

There is power in a union
Other than Farrer Place were packed and the sound system so poor you could not hear the speakers, it were a good turn out and particularly from the construction workers, supported by a fair sprinkling of other unions including, of course, MUA who are joining together with CFMEU. But it were good for the heart to see a broad range of union flags being ratcheted about in the strong breeze.

That it were mainly to protest the first day on the job of the new building commissioner should give the Nat Libs some pause to think mabe the unions aren't as easy to crush under foot with their neo lib propaganda and legislative tinkering as they thought. Aye lookin' aboot me there were a fair sprinkling of oldies but heartening to see how many young, fired up unionists there were packed into a small space. An' there were plenty of crack going on as different unions combined and swopped industrial war stories and common ground. It was also a reminder that unionism was not about ripping off the workers-the beloved storyline of the Tele and such like or breaking industrial laws with disdain because unions just won't be told to stop protecting workers rights and workplace conditions. More and more those of us on the left have to practice civil disobedience as a means to get a message to government and those in the community at large who still think this is the lucky, egalitarian country. And that was also a disappointment, being penned in unable to march although this rally was announced weeks ago. I heard some did march and no doubt that will be used to add more grizzle to the talk back alt right champions.

And the weasel words of the new building and construction commissioner below...workers received a text telling them they needed to attend  the building commissar and explain their absence from their work place. And no doubt to explain their being in Farrer Place just when wee Johnny Howard was scurrying through leading Trumble to spit the dummy at how rude, crude and unaustralian building workers are (well I did spot two kiwi flags) for daring to boo Lord Howard of Workchoice. Days of rage to come if this is the new approach to managing industrial relations. And workers united will never be defeated...
Please report to Sir's office for six of the best...


Predictably the media only focussed on the 'thuggish' behaviour of our interaction with Mr John Howard. Being jostled, called a scab and a grub for the man whose career included much union bashing is more an acknowledgement of the damage this man caused. And being labelled thugs for this by a man whose recent tantrum outbursts in Parliament at Shorten is rich. Look in the mirror Tranbull. Anything to take the pressure of the real reason behind this rally-your ongoing attacks on the union movement for daring to give a voice to workers, the same folk you are busy removing work place conditions from (penalty rates, work site safety). The same folk you are attacking by removing benefit safety nets, services (such as the legal services and the womens services raised by one speaker at this rally). As for the media, hang your head in shame-none of you have reported the injustice of workers and their unions being targeted by the new Building Commissar for daring to exercise civil disobedience. So begins the great silence that gives comfort to the Nat Libs and their constituency.

Enjoy yon images...





Imagine wee Johnny Howard walking out into this...excuse me chaps, might I pass?

The Tele will say five men and a dog caused trooble in yon town







Bloody Kiwis-raising their flags 
Young Samoan happy to hold the flag