Over the last few months, we have watched the disgraceful actions of the MHR for Dobell, Craig Thomson, unfold before us.
Before Thomson was an MHR, he was the national secretary of the Health Services Union. This union represents health care workers in some states, most of them earning on average about $20 per hour. Thomson, as the national secretary, was paid an annual salary of $157,000, around four times what his average member earned.
The $157,000 wasn’t enough for Mr Thomson. Like a poor imitation of Gordon Gecko, he threw union funds around with gay abandon. There was no such thing as the global financial crisis for Mr Thomson, and there were certainly no worries about getting up in the middle of the night to work as many of his members did.
Thomas was in his element as a big-noting union official. Lavish lunches and dinners. Only the best of wines.
As far as we are concerned at “Appeal to Reason”, it’s a pity he didn’t choke on them! The organised working class would not have mourned his departure.
The Russian revolutionary leader Lenin summed up the likes of Thomson when he described a section of social-democratic trade-union leaders as being inveterate traitors to the working class, and in fact the social mainstay of the capitalist system.
Prime minister Gillard’s defence of Thomson has been based on legal technicalities – and the fact that, should Gillard cast Thomson adrift, in all likelihood an election will need to be called.
What Gillard may not realise is that the likes of Thomson will make Labor utterly unelectable. For many on the sidelines of the union movement, Thomson’s antics confirm every doubt they have about joining a union or voting Labor.
The “Appeal to Reason” calls on the ACTU leadership to condemn the actions of Thomson from a fundamental position of moral leadership. Unionism and its leadership has nothing if it does not have moral authority.
Being a union leader is not about stumbling half-pissed out of the Hilton. It is about fearlessly defending the rights of those in society who have less.
The graph below shows the collapse of union density in Australia. Only about five of every hundred new jobs in the economy is being unionised.
We can argue about the new economy. We can argue about anti-union laws. We can argue about the effects of the age of consumerism on why union density has collapsed and unions in many areas have become non-existent or marginalised.
What there should be no argument about is that rank and file workers deserve much better from the leadership of many unions than what they are receiving.
Until the ACTU Executive and its affiliates heed this call, unionism will continue to decline.
Bob Carnegie/
Steve Barnes
September 20, 2011
ITS LIKE HIST0RY WITH LABOUR ONE BLOODY THING AFTER ANOTHER THE DAY I WOKE UP TO FIND OUT THAT GILLARD WAS A NEW PRIME MINISTER REGARDLESS WHAT RUDD DID OR DID NOT DO I THOUGH OF CESEAR I HEARD PEOPLE THAT I KNOWN ALL MY LIFE SAY THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR LABOUR THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THE BULL S—T I AGREE BOB THEY ARE RUDDERLESS AND I DONT THINK UNLESS WE HAVE THE PROVERBIAL MIRACLE LABOUR WILL BE DESTROYED NOT ONLY IN THIS ELECTION BUT FOR MANY YEARS BEYOND THAT, MEDIA AT THE MOMENT IS BEYOND BELIEF IN THE LIBERAL SIDE OF IT THE LIBERALS ARE ON TV MORE THAN THE RULING PARTY. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE COME FROM REMOVING A PRIME MINISTER FROM HIS ELECTED SEAT (HOWARD) TO THIS ONGOING PUBLIC FLOGGING.
Mike Barber
September 25, 2011
Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky all condemned Social Democracy for its ability to diminish real workers power, and continue to be subservient to Capital and its interests. Ever since then when Labour parties at least had some semblance of a socialist agenda and platform, that again was cast out by Bill Hayden. His reward? The Governor General of Australia, subservient to Crown and Capital.
The Greens have more policies akin to working class principles and ideals. and while they remain progressive ideals they don’t represent a rejection of Capitalism even if more socially acceptable within it. The ALP while gaining power on the back of the workers campaigns for the rejection of Work Choices as the Conservative’s continuing attack upon workers established conditions, has not strengthened workers positions no more than Tony Blair did to dismantle Thatcher’s social and labour policies.
It is about time workers worked hard at re-establishing a real party of the working class based on the best traditional understanding of Marx/Engels, Lenin and Trotsky.
Lets get it on…
Mike Barber