Stick Together

We look at the ACTU Inquiry into Price Gouging and Unfair Pricing Practices to be headed by Professor Allan Fels, former Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.  Then we speak to an ASU delegate from Brotherhood of St Laurence where workers have taken strike action for wages that keep abreast of inflation.

Stick Together host James Brennan speaks with Oli a delegate from the western branch of the Renters and Housing union about how the union formed, current campaigns and how to get involved in the union.

The TWU, Drivers & Industry members formed convoys across the country to highlight the need for reform in the transport industry as legislation is introduced into Federal Parliament. We hear from Michael Kaine, (TWU) and a driver about why reform is needed.

We are going down outside the Convention Centre, Melbourne to a rally of Unions called by the MUA, the Maritime Union of Australia, who were targeting Orsted, the Danish company, the world’s biggest offshore wind power developer, whose CEO Mads Nipper was due to speak at Australia Wind Energy 2023 inside. Orsted has a record of trashing union jobs in America where they reneged on a deal with the ILA, the International Longshoremen's Association, in New Hampshire. As we hear from the speakers at the rally it was the ILA members who supported Australian wharfies in such major disputes as the Patricks 1987 dispute and more recently the protracted dispute with QUBE in Freemantle. Now it is Australia’s turn to stand up for their American comrades and secure local jobs.

Three reports today. Firstly, we go to Victoria University where the National Tertiary Education Union, the NTEU has been hit with the announcement of 300 full time job losses, in the second restructure at VU in 3 years, all during the latest EA negotiations. We hear from the Australian Writers Guild, the AWG, on how the massive strike of writers and now actors in the US affects creative workers in Australia. Finally, we talk with some young internees learning all about Unions and organising workers.

On this week’s show we are going to hear an excerpt from Clifton D’Rozario who is an elected leader of the Communist party Marxist Leninist Liberation in India. He is involved in workers and union struggles in India, in this talk he speaks about fight to save democracy in India and the creeping fascism of Modi.

On 22 June United Workers Union (UWU) members at Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) in Dandenong Melbourne went on strike. After long hours and wage increases sacrificed during covid they want a $2.25 increase per hour and an agreement that would prevent agency casual workers from getting paid significantly less than the permanent workforce of around 190 workers. We go to the family day put on at the beginning of their third week on the grass.

We hear from Arthur Rorris about the Port Kembla's view of being a parking spot for nuclear subs. News items:Hussey workers winCPSU want moreABC restructure means more job lossesEmployers responsible for mining deaths.

Host James Brennan speaks with Sue and Jacob from socialist alliance about the Eco Socialism conference, talking about some of the local topics being covered such as housing and unions as well as looking at south east Asia, climate struggle and global militarism and the positioning of Australian foreign policy around perceived threats from China.

On this episode we remember Daniel Ellsberg who passed away and his contribution to the anti-war movement and we go into more detial about the Australian strategic review on defense policy with Jacob Grech.