On the news that a violent gang of anti-vaxxer thugs attacked the CFMEU trade union office in Australia.
Construction to shut down in Victoria after violent protests at CFMEU office
‘It was orchestrated by rightwing extremists and that is something that we’ve seen – the targeting of other blue-collar unions over the last few months,’ ACTU president Michele O’Neil says
Behind the attack on the CFMEU office
it “didn’t get violent until a few hours in and it continued to escalate when anti-lockdown ‘celebs’ showed up”.
After trying, but failing, to talk to the protesters about their concerns, the CFMEU officers were forced to take cover as the mob threw crates and other objects.
Vaccination against Covid-19 is a health and safety in the workplace issue. To protect our fellow workmates, and vulnerable members of society, as union members and especially leaders we need to be pro-active.
We can’t leave it up to the bosses and government.
Trade Unionists need to take a lead around the vaccine roll-out.
We can’t leave it up to the bosses to mandate what we do.
That will just disempower and divide us.
We need to take our destiny back into our own hands.
As unionists we believe in democracy. To put an end to division, to sort this issue out, we need to put it to the members for a vote.
The same way we decide to go on strike. The majority decide by voting. If one individual decides that he isn’t bound by the majority decision and decides to work during a strike.
They are a scab.
We will not be dictated to by a violent minority of thugs.
Every union in New Zealand needs to put this issue to their members for a binding vote.
The Motion:
This union [insert union name] by a majority democratic vote of the members, decide that for the health and safety in the workplace of all working people that we all agree to abide by this collective decision, (barring legitimate health reasons), that we will all be vaccinated as a condition of our union membership and support.
For
Against.
Abstentions
Carried/Lost
To beat covid-19 the medical experts tell us we need to reach a vaccination rate of over 90% of the population
If we want to protect each other, If we want to stamp this contagion out. We have to be united, as a nation and as trade unionists.
Unions have always been at the forefront in the support of progressive social movements, this is one of those times.
If you have ever stood on a picket line shoulder to shoulder with your fellow workmates against an unfair employer.
If you have ever given a Koha to a worthy cause, or volunteered your time for free.
If you have ever donated blood, or helped out a stranger.
Get the Jab.
Pat O’Dea is a unionist and human rights activist.
My son is a construction worker in Melbourne and I am so glad the union is holding fast against the anti vaxxers. Many of those protestors were not from the rat a crowd brigade and have never done a hards days work in their lives.. The unions have made the work place much safer than in my day back in the 70’s and as I say it is good that they are carrying on doing this by encouraging vaccination.
Well said Trevor.
Hear, hear.
Good on them for making the work place safer, we NEED quality uniions.
However, when REAL histoy and science has occured, this will have been the wrong event to fight it’s members over and ‘die in a ditch for’.
No Jab No Job. Myself in construction too and First Union member. Go hard CFMEU. Anti Vaxxers will cause themselves many problems and put unnecessary risk in the community.
If only there was an effective and safe vaccination. We’re all sitting ducks. It is what it is.
Hear hear.
But we’re NOT sitting ducks, it looks like there is about a 50%’ish natural/developed immunity from the Delta variant and most probably from all the future mutations; which invariably become less severe BUT more contagious, as they mutate.
Your BEST defence is be healthy.
Studies show, those with less than two/three comorbidities are almost immune.
Thank you 🙂 “forever considering”
Aussie has better and stronger unions than we do but many of those protesters look like labourers. I wonder how many were actually tradesmen. Builders make good money in Australia much more than here hence why so many Kiwis builders left NZ when John was our PM. Many went to Sydney to build the Olympic stadium/village and never came back.
https://twitter.com/lhilakari/status/1440163312897957888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1440163312897957888%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthestandard.org.nz%2Fopen-mike-22-09-2021%2F
More sycophants. Any and all medical treatments must be voluntary. So says the Nuremberg Laws.
Thank you everyone for your posts. I’m sure everyone may be considering existentialism / potential death, as am I. Personally, I’m afraid to get a two week death sentence. I’m afraid to go against my trusted kin’s advice to not get vaccinated (super Jesus freak and anti vax). I feel stuck. I’m not anti vax. I am undecided and my time is potentially running out. What to do? I will play it by the day, at this point. Fingers, toes, legs, arms and eyes are all crossed! 🙂
The sensible money says go and get vaxed- you will have a 40x lower risk of serious illness from covid.
It won’t necessarily stop you catching it or passing it on but will lessen the chances.
Mandatory vaccination is a dangerous road to go down. Indeed it is.
I am a bit tired of people being called anti vaxxers. Most of these people who are OPPOSED SPECIFICALLY TO THE COVID VACCINATIONS, have had every other vaccinations there are. I respect their individual decision to not be vaccinated. Give the time frame in which the vaccinations were developed I can understand why people say whoa hold the horses. These things usually take years and years with endless trials.
The CFMEU was too slow to act. Instead of being proactive, in consulting their members and putting it to them to decide, left it up to the government and employers to enforce mandatory vaccinations. This disempowered their members, and is the motive for the division amongst union members. This division gave entry to the Far Right, to organise the violent attack on the CFMEU office.
The lesson from Australian unions is this:
If we don’t want to see a repeat here, union leaders need get out to their members, worksite by worksite, and get them to collectively debate all the issues and then vote whether to support mandatory vaccination in their workplace or not.
There is no excuse for inaction.