DISSENTING UNIONISTS AGITATE FOR GENERAL STRIKE : Melbourne Indymedia

At the Protest against the Federal Government’s IR laws this Wednesday, dissenting unionists/workers will make themselves heard with a
General Strike Bloc Fiesta!

The General Strike Bloc will provide a platform for workers who want more than rallies and ALP electioneering (the preferred strategy of the ACTU, Victorian Trades Hall and various trades unions.)

Whilst the official programme on Wednesday has people congregating at 10am at four different march starting points in the city, the General Strike Bloc Fiesta! will commence at 9:30am at the marchs’ convergence point at the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets.

General Strikes were effective earlier this year in France in forcing the French Government to scratch laws that made it easier to sack young people. In 1969, an Australian General Strike mobilised a million workers. Sparked by the jailing of Tramways union official Clarrie O’Shea, the strike ultimately neutralised anti-union legislation.

A recent mass meeting (29th March) of Victorian Trades Hall Council Shop Stewards and Delegates passed a resolution urging:
”That all unions consult their membership on an ongoing basis and regularly about their willingness to hold a general strike against the new workplace laws.”

In blatant disregard for this resolution, Brian Boyd, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall reportedly kyboshed any discussion of a General Strike at a recent Trades Hall meeting.

The General Strike Bloc Fiesta! has been initiated by the Industrial Workers of the World (and Eureka Sedition).

General Strike Bloc Fiesta! organiser (and Australian Education Union member) Davey Heller says,

“Don't be extra's in the next ALP Federal Election campaign and take a stand not just against the IR Laws but also the ACTU/Trades Hall attempts to silence direct action as a way to fight these laws. Its obvious that it’s only going to be direct industrial action that has any impact against laws that have already started affecting thousands of workers.”

WHAT: General Strike Bloc Fiesta!
WHEN: Assembling 9:30am Wednesday June 28th
WHERE: Cnr Bourke/Swanston Sts

Bring General Strike signs/banners and your radical spirit!
Bring some music, some instruments, some drums and make some noise!