Stick Together

The death of two construction workers within a week of each other recently highlights the tension that has been created by giving more power to the employers than the workers when it comes to OH&S. We speak to Dr Gerry Ayres from the CFMEU Victorian Construction Division specifically about the death early morning on Monday Feb 15th in Carlton and more generally about issues to do with safety. We follow this up with a chat with David McElrea from United Voice about his unions view of the Labor Party stance before the next Federal election.

Duncan Hart and the AMIEU have had their first day in court in an effort to overturn the SDA brokered Coles deal that means some workers will see a $15,000 a year decrease in wages. The Fair Work Commission is looking to see if the new agreement passes the fairness test. We also hear from Matt Osbourne who gave evidence at last weeks Victorian inquiry into the Labour Hire Industry and Insecure Work.

The Victorian Inquiry into the Hire Industry & Insecure Work is the first in the country. The Victorian Trades Hall Council celebrated the beiginning of public hearings by bringing together Labour Party representatives, union officials and workers to mark the start of public recognition of the scourge of insecure work on Australian society.

While the Federal Government begins its first sitting for 2016 the sacked MV Portland Crew and supporters have set up across the road in Canberra. The first order of business for Parliament is anti Union legislation while across the road the sacked workers want to know about the destruction of local jobs; Nico a back packer wants to know how exploitation of work visa workers is allowed to continue; as we celebrate Medicare's 32 birthday the Turnbull Government is nibbling on its toes.

The Turnbull Government wants to go to an election on a new Basics Card. It will be called the Healthy Welfare Etpos card and will quarantine welfare money from all people receiving any form of welfare payment. 80% of money will be withheld and the rest will be available in money. Stick Together talks to people who are affected by such moves. We follow up with a dramatic piece from 3CR's live coverage of the Survival Day ceremonies in Melbourne.

The waterfronts of Australia are a stir with industrial unrest as big business flexes its muscles. Not since the 1990's Patrick dispute has there been such a concerted effort by business and government to fillet the rights of workers – Marinetime workers in Australia and around the world. We look at the MV Portland dispute and forcible removal by private security by US company Alcoa with support from Federal Liberal Government; we also look at the National tugboat stoppages over the employer desire to put Engineers, deckhands & skippers under one award.

At the 2015 SALT conference Ian Jameson recalls his days as an union organiser in the remote West Coast of Tasmania mining area.

Today's young workers are likely to be the first generation in modern history to be worse off than their parents generation. Only around 8% of Australian workers under 25 are union members. How then do these young workers feel about this outlook for the future? Why are they not union members? How do they see the future improving? Tune in to hear voices from a generation which has yet to truly taste the power of an organised working class.

Two senior officials of the Victorian CFMEU have been charged with criminal offences taking industrial relations back to the 19th century. UFU are angry that the Daniel Andrews Government refuses to sign off on their EBA after 950 days over safety provisions.

To celebrate the International Day of People with Disability we talk to Dr Nikki Henningham who has researched Australian women Disability Activists for the Australian online encyclopedia of Women & Leadership.