Tas Unions hold delegates convention

BY ALEX BAINBRIDGE

HOBART – For the second year running, Unions Tasmania has organised a successful cross-union delegates’ convention. Under the banner of ``Unions – for fair workplaces and a just society’’, 290 delegates from at least 15 unions gathered on May Day (May 1) to share experiences and discuss issues affecting the union movement.

A major focus of the presentations was the continuing drive by bosses to increase the intensity of work. This is reflected in different industries by increasing numbers working long hours (while unemployment and underemployment have also grown), unpaid overtime, inadequate staffing levels and increased pressure to work harder.

Presentations were given by Kathryn Heiler of Sydney Uni (``The eight hour day – fact or fiction’’), Adelaide Uni’s Barbara Pocock (``Driving change in the workplace’’) and ACTU president Sharan Burrow (``An agenda for working people and a better world’’).

There were several references to the ongoing decline in union numbers since the beginning of the 1980s although Unions Tasmania secretary Lynne Fitzgerald pointed out that the number of Tasmanian unionists had increased by 1100 in the past year. There were plenty of references from speakers to the things that need to be done (including reversing the casualisation trend, increasing low base rates of pay as a prelude to tackling ``overtime dependence’’, and defending Medicare and the ``social wage’’), although less talk about (and certainly no plans for) the militancy that will be required to win these.

The victory by the Australian Nursing Federation that was won the same day was cheered by delegates and funds were collected for the Blue Ribbon meatworkers who are currently in dispute.

There was no May Day demonstration in Tasmania despite the suggestion last December by the M1 Alliance that the unions schedule an extended lunch break to enable delegates to participate in such an action. May Day concluded with a night of working class songs at the Republic Bar.

[An abridged version of this article appeared in Green Left Weekly #536 (7 May 2003). Check out the Green Left Weekly website at www.greenleft.org.au]