Stick Together

Two reports this week. Protected action at ports around Australia as workers from all three Unions operating towage services at Svitzer push back against the company’s move to slash their wages and conditions. While on the streets outside Readings independent booksellers, workers represented by RAFFWU are calling for wage rise and no more union busting tactics.

We hear stories from Penny Fitzgerald, a worker from the male dominated automotive industry, about her experiences in the 1970s and 80s selling cars in country Victoria.

The question we are looking at is who decides what our lived environments, our cities, should be like and do working people have a choice about them or is it all about big money, developers, and the expression of power through government policy.

Early this month workers at Better Read Than Dead, a bookshop in Newtown Sydney had their first EBA ratified at the Fair Work Commission. This ground-breaking agreement has ramifications for other retail workers in Australia. We hear about their struggle.  We follow up with a speech by Dave Noonan, National Secretary of the CFMMEU Construction Division, in support of Julian Assange on July 3rd, Julian Assange’s 51st birthday.

Kamala Emanuel is an abortion rights activist and doctor who has been fighting and delivering for women across the country in this interview she speaks with James Brennan about the overturning of Row v Wade and waht impact that might have in Australia.

We hear analysis from economist Alison Penngton about how the pandemic has impacted women's participation in the workforce and what we could do to change it. Plus union news focusing on women in the workforce.

Climate Activists from direct action colllective Blockade Australia were targeted by new anti-protest laws in NSW, with activists spied on and arrested for planning event sin Sydney at the end of June 2022. These critical unpaid workers are facing significant threats from state and fderal governments, with new laws featring huge fines and prison sentences being legislated in Tasmania and Victoria as well as NSW. Also on the program, we look at thw world's largest trial of the 30-hour working week, run by the not-for-profit organisation 4 Day Week Global. Who is organising this pish for shorter working weeks and what does it mean for workers.

Positive outcomes for injured workers is always put against the premiums payed by employers. We go to Injured Workers Day event at Victorian Trades Hall and hear from injured workers and some of the actions by unions to move toward a better future.

Wage suppression has been going on for 40 years. The issue of wages and standard of living has reached a critical point as workers demand that profits are being gained at the expense of a fair deal.

On this week's epsidoe of Stick Together host James Brennan interviews long time socialist and climate activist Alex Bainbridge about what the Labor Government climate policy looks like and how we can push for further change.