Stick Together

This week we hear from Debbie Uren from Union Assist about her work supporting injured workers in regional Victoria. We talk about the process of making a claim and how difficult the system is to navigate.

In this epsiode of Stick Together host James Brennan interviews Sam Wallman about his comic 'Our members be unlimited' a comic that explores the union movement in Australia from the past to current struggles with beautiful drawings.

There is a perception that with the onslaught of the digital economy, precapious work and suppressed wages that young workers know little about fighting for a better working future through collective action. In today's program we put pay to this belief. We hear from Mayse an organiser for the newest Union on the block the Games Workers Union, from Lucas an organiser for RAFFWU the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union, and Ben and Bailey from the Art Workers Collective.

I speak with Dave Fox from Bendigo Trades Hall about why he is organising a local rally and vigil for Julian Assange on October 8th and why it is so important to our democracy. And of course some union news.

KEEP BLACK SPARK ALIGHT!Black Spark is an independent, volunteer-run bookshop, gallery, music and community space in Northcote, Naarm, dedicated to creativity, learning and liberation.In the isolation and despair of Naarm's first lockdown, an idea sparked between friends to transform disconnection into creativity. What began as a simple idea for a bookstore has now evolved into a project that rekindles solidarity, contemplation and the creative urge in absurd and uncertain times.Black Spark is a welcoming and supportive space for the entire community - free of charge! Our art, music and literary events are funded by a pay-as-you-feel system, so no one is turned away.As a collective of volunteers, we are dedicated to bringing people and ideas together. For the last year, we have self-funded Black Spark, and welcomed countless grassroots community organisations, creatives and collaborators through our doors.In this weeks epsiode host James Brennan interviews Sienna and Mercedes from Black Spark about the campaign to keep the arts and political space going.

We go to the Melbourne Big Steps Rally where Early Childhood Educators call for better pay, more respect and a restructure of their industry. Readings Bookshop workers are fighting for a living wage and we go to their most recent rally outside Readings Carlton Melbourne store.

Today we catch up with Mich-elle Myers, currently the Campaigns Director and Elected National Divisional Womens Representative of the Maritime Union of Australia Division of the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union about the upcoming Women In Male Dominated Industries WIMDOI Conference. We follow with a look at the ABCC the Australian Building and Construction Commission. We finish with a Song for Christopher - his death at work underlined by Dave Noonan why Unions are so necessary on Construction Sites.

This week we hear the voices of apprentices as the Young Workers Centre gears up for its campaign for better outcomes for apprentices and we catch with Wil Stracke, assistant secretary at Victorian Trades Hall, as she joined other Union women on the streets of Melbourne to talk about the pay gap for women on Unequal Pay Day on Monday 29th August.Pay Gap Calculator here

This week we find out about the win for Downer employees at the Newport facility and go to the most recent solidarity rally outside Readings Carlton Store in Melbourne in support of fair pay for Readings workers.

Exerts taken from a live panel, this episode features speakers from a fundraiser for Stick Together that took place in July 2022.The speakers Zelda Grimshaw speaks about blockade Australia and Anthony Kelly speaks about the Melbourne activist legal service. As well as general discussion around building a left wing movement on climate action.