Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

SLAM RALLY - Dont Kill Live Music

24 February 2010

The Victorian Trades Hall Council supported the “Save Live Australian Music’ (SLAM) Rally held on Tuesday, 23 February 2010.   Thousands of musicians and fans gathered in Melbourne CBD to protest against the State Government’s liquor licensing laws.   The Rally recreated AC/DC’s It’s a Long Way to the Top (if you Wanna Rock’n’Roll) film clip shot in Swanston Street 34 years ago today, travelled from the State Library to Parliament House, filling the streets with musicians and their supporters.

ASU Campaign to Abolish the Local Government Inspectorate

Launch of the Campaign, 10am Wednesday March 3, Melbourne Town Hall,  Swanston Street.

Workplace Bullying - VWA's 'Respect at Work' campaign needs to make up lost ground

By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
17 February 2010

The Victorian Trades Hall Council has welcomed the recent successful prosecution for bullying and said the establishment of WorkSafe’s “Respect at Work” campaign needs to hit the ground running.   

For many years in many WorkSafe forums unions have been raising concerns about the inadequacy of WorkSafe’s response to workplace bullying.  The VTHC is pleased that this campaign is up and running but workers in Victoria deserve a stronger response from WorkSafe on this issue.

For some workers bullying is a life and death issue for others bullying is an all too common occurrence.

The move to prosecute bullies, and the employers who allow it to happen, is welcome.  Sadly, there are many more workers who continue to suffer bullying in the workplace and their stories also need to be told.

The VTHC also says that federal moves to uniform health and safety laws around Australia, if allowed to happen based on current drafts, will result in reduced Victorian OHS standards.   

Tony Abbott, "The Mad Monk" and the union movement

By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
18 January 2010
It is right for the union movement to warn workers about the return of the right - wing rump now in charge of the federal Liberal / NP opposition.

The turmoil inside the Liberal Party at the end of 2009 over a proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has only exposed to the wider Australian public the existence of the ultra conservative, born to rule group of politicians in Canberra, that the union movement has been well aware of for years.

We should be wary of their antics, their prograndising, pro- employer, wage cutting, work place destabilisation rhetoric. There is no way ordinary working people want these politicians running the country again.

Their arrogance knows no bounds. When their latest leader Tony Abbott said he’s going to resurrect the insulting concept of "Howard’s Battlers" and rename them "Abbott’s Army", it was pathetic.

They can try to reinvent themselves as much as they like, but unions know that the contempt they hold for ordinary people will never go away.

There is no way Mr Abbott is going to turn back time and play similar games. Yet he fancies himself.

SECRETARY'S SOAPBOX

9 March 2010
Rights at Work and Civil Rights – same thing
By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary

VTHC OHS Unit

The VTHC OHS Unit provides health and safety reps with information and advice on how to address and resolve workplace issues. www.ohsrep.org.au

VTHC Return To Work Unit

Challenging the barriers that stop injured workers returning to full and meaningful employment.

VTHC Union Assist Unit

Union Assist provides WorkCover conciliation support for union members.

VTHC Women's Officer

Contact Jennifer O'Donnell-Pirisi the VTHC Women's Officer.

Young Unionist Network

The YUN aims to inform and provide access to reliable information about young people’s rights at work and the role of unions in society. www.yun.org.au