ORGANISING & CAMPAIGN REPORT

 

 

The Organising and Campaign Committee met on Friday, 31^st August 2001 with the following organizations in attendance:

 

                   Labor Council Officers

                   Transport Workers Union

                   NSW Nurses' Association

                   ASU ( Clerical & Admin. Branch)

                   Community & Public Sector Union

                   Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees Association

                   CEPU ( T & S Division)

                   Australian Workers Union

                   Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance

                   Newcastle Trades Hall Council

                   Electrical Trades Union

 

 

1.       Rural Organising Strategy

 

It was agreed that the Labor Council would continue to assist affiliates to develop organizing strategies in rural areas.  The next project would be in the Orange area during the week of 29^th October 2001.  Local union activists were planning to hold the Big Lunch Break and a fundraising night for a local charity during that week.  Affiliates would also be highlighting industrial issues of relevance including unreasonable working hours etc.

 

For overall rural organizing plan is as follows:

 

 

STRATEGY

 

• Travel around NSW
• Visit 5 major rural centres every year
• Up to one week in each location - Union Week
• Assist local activists with campaigns
• Establish networks and links
• Hold fundraisers for local charity or community cause.

 

OBJECTIVES

 

• Create a union presence
• Raise union profile
• Establish important contacts i.e. media
• Establish networks i.e. union and community
• Locate activists
• Longer term have an organizing structure in each area.

 

 

PLAN FOR THIS YEAR - 2001

 

• Conduct union week in Orange - October 29^th to 2^nd November 2001
• Labor Council has conducted organizing/campaigning workshops in Orange
• Established an Organising Committee in Orange - number of activists
• Orange committee organizing the week which will include 3^rd annual big lunch break and community fundraiser
• Select another area - fit in with Federal election

 

 

PLAN - 2002

 

• Develop a calendar for next year
• Currently conducting a strategic mapping exercise
• Determine the most strategic areas
• Develop and/or reactivate  Trades & Labor Councils
• Assist in at least two major centres to establish active TLC
• Labor Council will conduct workshops on organizing and campaigning
• These will be conducted in each place prior to the visit
• Labor Council is developing a kit on strategic campaigning and organizing
• This will be finalised shortly
• Has been piloted with activists and delegates

 

 

2.         MEAA Journalists Campaign

 

Occupational Health and Safety

 

Labor Council & MEAA Organising Campaign Plan 2001

"Enough is Enough"

 

WHO:	NSW Journalist Committee, NSW Branch Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, and Unions NSW
MEMBER/ACTIVISTS FOCUS:	Journalists Photographers Graphic Artists Camera Crews   Activists from these groups identified OHS as a major issue to organise around.   A campaign committee has been established comprising of the above groups.
SLOGAN:	"Enough is Enough" and "Say No to Unsafe Work Practices"
OBJECTIVES:	To develop activists in these areas by organising around health and safety amongst these groups.   To improve OHS in these workplaces.
WHY:	OHS has been identified as a major issue amongst the above groups.   Changes to workers compensation laws in NSW at a time when members are struggling to work in environments of reduced resources and at times, work in unsafe and unhealthy workplaces. Both highlight the need to campaign to improve the health and safety of media members.
KEY TO CAMPAIGN:	Under the NSW Occupational Health and Safety laws, as of 1st September 2001, employers will be legally bound to identify, assess and control risks. The campaign will focus on ensuring employers meet these obligations as well as, the new consultation laws and establishing safety representatives in workplaces.

 

STRATEGY:

STEP 1: Write a campaign plan.   NSW Journalist Committee to spearhead the campaign and invite activists from all major print media and broadcast journalist workplaces to join the committee.   STEP 2: Survey all NSW media members to identify the nature and extent of health and safety and other concerns of members. Involve ACCIRT in survey.   STEP 3: Undertake research in Australia and overseas (through International Federation of Journalist) to identify research in similar workplaces and types of work. Obtain information about workplace injuries under union powers of OHS Act from employers.   STEP 4: Undertake research into existing OHS policies, ie: Codes, which would cover the industry.   STEP 5: Produce OHS Standards for key OHS issues, ie: occupational overuse. Research to lead to the development of an Industry Safety Code.   STEP 6: Work with IRGs to endorse and implement the Industry Safety Code.   STEP 7: Publish results of campaign survey - Launch.   STEP 8: Educate and train MEAA members on the requirements of a safe and health workplace (TUTA). Through this identify key activists and develop their skills.   STEP 9: Educate and train MEAA members on OHS Committees at workplaces. STEP 10: In concurrence with the campaign MEAA will conduct a number of strategic prosecutions. Undertake legal prosecutions on behalf of members against employers who do not offer members a safe and healthy work environment.

TOOLS:

Email Tree MEAA / Labor Council / IFJ web pages MEAA Web chat room Workplace posters and stickers for Pocket book - Industry Safety Code Press Published Report Published Safety Code and Practice notes

 

 

 

This is a new initiative fully supported by the Labor Council.

 

 

 

3.   Call Centres Campaign

 

Labor Council continues to assist affiliates involved in the Call Centres Campaign. 

 

Delegates reported on the Wollongong launch of the campaign and increases in both union activism and membership.

 

 

 

4.  I.T. Workers Alliance

 

Labor Council was coordinating an I.T. workers website targeted to I.T. workers at the upper end of the market.  The site would allow workers to discuss issues of common concern and allow unions to tap into possible on-going issues.

 

 

5.  Secure Employment and Federal Election Campaigns

 

Labor Council has launched its Federal Election Industrial Relations Campaign targeting entitlements, the use of AWA's and the Commission's Powers.

 

The Labor Council was also intending to develop a community campaign around its Secure Employment Test Case.

 

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