En Passant

If left union leaders are serious about defending their members, themselves, and their position then the general strike in 1969 to free Clarrie O’Shea and smash the penal powers shows a real way to win the right to strike. Union members could begin to organise in their unions now to run any campaign to smash the modern day equivalent of the penal powers.

We can force the government and Fair Work on to the back foot today if one of the few unions that really fights for its members were to lead strikes against the bosses’ attempts to destroy workers through its Budget and through Fair Work action against workers who have gone on strike. A call to strike to bust the budget and defend striking unionists could inspire workers across Australia. Light the fire. Stop work to stop the bosses’ Budget. Stop work to defeat the attacks on building workers.

Unions have the strike power today to turn the penal powers in Labor’s Workchoices Lite into a dead letter. Why don’t they?

40 years ago workers across Australia struck and smashed the penal powers. We can do the same today to smash Labor’s penal powers.

15 May is the fortieth anniversary of the day John Kerr jailed union leader Clarrie O’Shea for contempt of court over fines for industrial action. Rolling general strikes involving millions of workers across Australia saw a mysterious benefactor pay the fine and six days later O’Shea emerged victorious from jail. The Penal Powers became a […]