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Summer 2006

HACSU 2006 Delegates Conference

HACSU delegates from around Tasmania gathered at Grindlewald for the annual delegates conference on Thursday 16 November and Friday 17 November 2006.

Thursday started with all delegates making their way to Grindlewald.

Julie Tolputt HACSU Lead Organiser welcomed and opened the conference.

Chris Brown HACSU Secretary gave the opening address in which he talked about the YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK (YRAW) campaign and what we have achieved since last years conference.

Chris also talked about the Howard Government's introduction of anti worker Industrial Relations laws and the need to take the fight right up to the next election because this is the only way left to get rid of these anti worker laws.

Special guest speakers included Kevin Harkins, Assistant Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and Labor candidate for the seat of Franklin and David O'Byrne, Secretary of the LHMU.

Kevin Harkins addressed the conference about what he was prepared to do to win the seat of Franklin and to help Kim Beazley tear up the Howard Government's IR laws should he get elected. This received a resounding cheer of approval from conference delegates.

The afternoon session commenced with Senior Industrial Officer Tom Kleyn outlining the Labor movement's alternative industrial relations policy. The policy was well received and provided delegates with an opportunity to promote what the industrial relations laws should look like when discussing John Howard's anti worker law.

The Australian Council of Trade Union (ACTU) sponsored Community Campaign Coordinators then provided an overview of their activities since taking up their positions. Jill Batt (for the electorate of Braddon), Cindy O'Connor (for the electorate of Bass) and Susan Wallace (Unions Tasmania
Coordinator for Franklin and YRAW) informed the conference of the union movement's political strategy to win the seats of Braddon, Bass, and Franklin at the next federal election.

Delegates were advised of many campaign activities happening around the State and there was lively debate about further activities.

David O'Byrne, Secretary LHMU presented an overview of the campaign run by the LHMU during the last State election to get LHMU endorsed candidates elected. A key point of David's address was the need to ensure the union maintained control and ownership over political activities during the election campaign.

The second day started early with a women's breakfast, which was addressed by Jodie Campbell Deputy Mayor of Launceston and was well attended by female delegates.

Tom Kleyn started the second day's sessions with a discussion about the need to campaign to get members enrolled to vote. The recent changes to the Electoral Act by the Howard Government now means we need to ensure members are on the Electoral roll now rather than wait until an election is called.

Chris Brown then gave a brief overview on what we need to do between now and the election to get rid of these harsh IR Laws.

Delegates then broke into workshops based on which electorates they live in to discuss the campaign leading up to the next election. The first workshop focused on campaigning for your rights at work and the second workshop concentrated on the political campaign to remove the Howard Government at the next election.

The workshops were very productive and delegates committed themselves to a range of activities in support of the campaign. Some ideas which came out of the workshops include:

• Turn out numbers for the Nov 30 YRAW Rally in their area.

• Identify how best to use the YRAW Stickers and where we could place YRAW Banners in their areas;

• Identify the best places to place advertising material;

• Research cost and availability of space;

• Write letters to the Editor of the major newspapers in Tasmania;

• YRAW coasters to be printed and placed in all hotels and clubs;

• Letter box leaflets;

• YRAW stickers on garbage/ recycling bins, lunch boxes, tool boxes and cars; and

• YRAW signage in their gardens

The consensus view of delegates was that the Conference was a great success and that work could now continue in our effort to have John Howard's extreme and unfair industrial relations laws confined to the dustbin of history.