En Passant

It would be good to see the Labor Party, the ACTU and the Greens unite to defend these workers and to mobilise their members to do just that.

How then can we show solidarity to these brave unionists? Other unionists could ban supplies to Fairfax.

If there are picket lines, join them. If there are protests, attend. Send messages of support and money to the MEAA if they ask for it. If there are any striking Fairfax workers who want to publish their story, email me at en.passant@bigpond.com I will print your stories (with you remaining anonymous if you want) on my blog to get the truth out there about the sackings.

In not defending jobs at the ABC, the leadership of the two main unions, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and the Community and Public Sector Union, have so far shown all the fighting spirit of wet lettuce leaves. Only staff organising independently of the leadership of the unions to strike until the government withdraws its cuts can win.

Free speech is free speech for the billionaires. It is they who control the means of communication. That free speech for them is built on the denial of free speech for the rest of us.

If MEAA members went out indefinitely at Fairfax the revenue loss would in all likelihood quickly drag management back to the negotiating table.

Many years ago the BLF had a slogan – if you don’t fight you lose. It is as true today as it was then.

Close Fairfax down until it withdraws its job cuts.

This is just in from the MEAA, the journalists’ union.  The Australian Building and Construction Commission has turned its coercive powers onto journalists, issuing subpoenas to two publications in an attempt to force journalists to give up notes for their stories on the Westgate Bridge demarcation dispute. See ABCC stoops to bullying tactics against journalists.