Stick Together

A long interview with feminist, socialist and teacher of more than 30 years Mary Merkenich discussing the recent YES vote on a new Victorian Government Schools Agreement. The YES vote carried 61% of delegate votes held over the past 3 weeks - but deep concerns remain about the efficacy of this agreement, with Victorian Teachers remaining the lowest paid in the country. So - what can unionists do next?

Last week was International Working Women's Day. First up a little from Jess Hill, investigative reporter and author, who was speaking at a University of Technology Sydney IWD event, then an up close and personal experience of sexual harassment and fight back at a workplace with the Not Your Honey Campaign, a word from Sally McManus Secretary of the ACTU – the Australian Council of Trade Unions finishing with a story of a person who pushed for equality from the past.

Host James Brennan continues his series on the Australian education system inerviewing the authors of a new book titled Waiting for Gonski: How Australia failed its schools.

Two High Court decisions in early February around the definition of who is an employee and who is a contractor sent shockwaves across the Australian industrial landscape. We discuss the issues with Professor Anthony Forsyth, Department Head of Law at the RMIT Graduate School of Business and Law.Inquiry into Victorian On-Demand Workforce hereProfessor Forsyth's  Book:                                   THE FUTURE OF UNIONSAND WORKER REPRESENTATIONHart Publishing

Today on Stick Together we hear from a midwife who has left her profession of more than a decade, no longer willing to work in Covid ravaged hospitals. Plus we cover the RTBU actions in Sydney, Health Workers on strike and the Senate Select Committee on Job Security.

Today we hear from a successful worker lead campaign to maintain conditions and wages at CSR and follow with an insiders view of what is happening for nurses during the covid crisis.

On this week's episode we continue the series on the Australian education system with James Brennan speaking with retired teacher Gerry Beaton. Looking at the changes from the diminished power of the union to the shifting of Government funding from state schools into the private school system.

Today we look at the moves by Patricks Stevedoring Company to wipe out the enterprise agreement on their sites across Australia. This is following a corporate trend coming from Svitzer and Qantas. We follow with a look at Australia's deadliest industry - trucking.

What do rank and file Health Workers think about new policy settings as Omicron runs roughshod over the eastern seaboard, SA and NT? Are health unions, and those of other essential workers, considering more dramatic action as pressure on workers increases? We speak to industrial relations reporter and health care organiser Sarah Hathway.

Is the Federal Government's 'plan' fit for purpose with the omicron variant of covid spreading like wild fire across Australia? We hear from the ACTU, the Aged Care Sector and the Earlier Educators.