Stick Together

In today's program we go to a demonstration outside the Park Hotel in Melbourne in support of refugees being held there. We ask, has the political capital of successive Federal Government’s in Australia reaped from cruel refugee policies been spent? Have the fears  working people have  afraid for their jobs, and safety been calmed by cruelly treating refugees and paying big business billions to ru...

We hear more excerpts from the stories of four comrades who were members of the Communist Party of Australia. Noel Counihan, Kath Williams, Brian Manning and Joyce Stevens. Get your copy of Comrades! at the New International Bookshop

Today we have an interview with Don Sutherland, former Chief Industrial Officer for the AMWU, and a founding member of LIFE Living Incomes for Everyone about the cuts to Jobseeker and why it has knock-on effects for every working Australian in the LNP's game plan for a future Australia.

We speak with Kristin from the AUWU, Loukas from RAFFWU and Giles from CUPUW about the year that was and the challenges for precarious workers across society in one of the most challenging and bizarre years in recent memory.

This week we give an update on the sacred trees on Djab Wurrung country and then hear about the launch of Hospo Voice's new app called mobilise. 

We speak with Alison Pennington, Economist from the Centre for the Future of Work, about the Industrial Relations Legislation introduced into Parliament during the last week of Parliament before Christmas. What it will mean for Australian workers if the legislation is passed. Here is a link to Alison's most recent article for Jacobin on the IR legislation.

This week we'll hear Bernard Collaery's speech upon receiving this year's Spirit of Eureka award. The speech was made at the 166th Eureka Rebellion Commemoration. We also hear about why the Morning Star flag was raised at Trades Halls in Melbourne and Ballarat on December 1st.

On today's program we have a look at one man's experience of the cashless welfare card and follow with a word with Mich-Elle Meyers National Women's Liaison Officer at the Marine time Union of Australia the MUA about their commitment to stop gendered violence in the work place.

We cover the true cost of precarity as is relates to the recent South Australian COVID-19 scare, and speakwith Anastasia from CUPUW (Casualised, Unemployed and Precarious University Workers), about how casual university workers are fighting to save their industry. Get in touch with CUPUW (and RSVP to the picnic(!)) here: https://sites.google.com/view/cupuw/home

Hear from the Bendigo Lactalis picket line and what the Renters and Housing Union think about Victoria's social housing announcement.

Australian Post workers don't get Cartier watches and international seafarers collateral damage during covid depend on the ITF.

I speak to Sam the possum who was present at the Djabwurrung Heritage Protection Embassy when the directions tree was cut down. Take action now to support traditional owners protect remaining sacred trees on their country. We also hear inspiring stories from the newly launched book Comrades! Lives of Australian Communists.

As the lockdown in so-called Melbourne was declared over the Andrews government destroys sacred Djab Wurrung women's country to save a couple of minutes on the freeway. Later we talk to Ash from the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union about their workers' caucuses and the struggle for queer rights in the workplace. To donate to Skid Row Radio and keep them on the air please follow this link: https:...

 The Morrison Government followed its usual tactic of using commercial advertising spin to push a new slogan jobmaker targeting youth unemployment. Today we hear some reactions to the jobmaker announcements following a look at why TAFE which missed out on budget night is critical for Australia's jobs future.

This week I spoke with Chris Spindler an AMWU organizer to follow up on the workers at the Alstom rail workshop in Ballarat and the hundreds of Yarra Trams maintenance workers who have been affected by payroll discrepancies since July. We’ll also hear from Colin Long, the Just Transitions organizer with the Victorian Trades Hall Council about the challenges involved in transitioning away from foss...

When the PM calls a normal eba negotiation between the MUA and Patrick's at Botany a national emergency and doesn't rule out calling the army you know politics is the main game with the LNP's industrial relations agenda at the forefront with workers being sacrificed. We talk to Paul Garrett from the Sydney Branch of the MUA about the Botany dispute without the political spin. It is the 5oth annive...

We hear from RAFFWU secretary Josh Cullinan about the situation for retail workers as the Morrison government makes drastic cuts to unemployment payments and wage guarantees, leaving at least 1.5 million workers in poverty.

We hear from RMIT university workers after this week's announcement of further job cuts, and casual workers tell their stories of exploitation and discrimination in the hospitality industry.

We catch up with what is happening for temporary visa holders during covid and finish with a word on a move to increase knowledge of worker owned cooperatives from Earthworker Education.

Lots of news and opportunities to take action. We aslo hear the story of the Red Ribbon Rebellion, the beginning of the anti-licence movement and the diggers solidarity on the central goldfields of Victoria.

August 28th was Equal Pay Day or rather the day that brings into focus that there is still a 14% gap between women’s pay for comparative work of men’s and that there is a systemic bias in favour of men that leaves women carrying the weigh of social cohesion but in poverty in old age. Today’s program follows part of the panel discussion hosted by Victorian Trades Hall Council and will be facilitate...

This week we hear from Adam, an organiser with the Housing Defence Coalition in Warrang (so-called Sydney) about a sucessful eviction defense campaign. Later we have someone from the brand new Psych Patients' Union, learning about issues with psychiatry and how patient's are organising to defend themselves. Get in touch with the Psych Patient's union on discord (https://discord.gg/jCrrTZv) or Twit...

Patricks have given wharfies a non-negotiable offering which will set the clock back for their conditions. We revisit the 1998 dispute and the move to protected action on our Ports. We ask the question why do employers attack conditions despite the importance of Port workers during covid? 

This week we've got plenty of news to update you on some of what's been happening for workers during the pandemic. We also hear from Brett Edgington, Secretary of the Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council about ACM's announcement that it will close their printing factory in Wendouree with over 130 jobs lost. We continue the discussion Annie started last week about the huge impact COVID-19 is...

Country newspapers & cuts to the ABC - what’s at stake and the MEAA s Our Communities campaign. From the media to HALT a suicide prevention initiative aimed specifically at Tradies.