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Workers' Liberty'the emancipation of the working class must be the act of the working class'Workers' Liberty Australia |
Saturday, November 11
Old Arts Building Melbourne University
9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Organised by Earthworker
This is an invitation to the broad progressive movement: unionists and environmentalists, Church and social reformers; lefties and libertarians, the women's and Indigenous movements. The last few years have seen an increased openness towards working together. This day will be an opportunity to examine the alliances we have and the ones we want to build. It has been called in a spirit of goodwill and collaboration; it is a day to examine commonality and identify differences.
We plan a series of workshops featuring a panel of four speakers providing an overview, followed by discussion.
The conference will
have the following major themes:
Alliances ÷ the last few years have seen the rise of broad-based movements centred
on alliances between autonomous groups (Seattle, Washington DC, Prague, in Asia
and elsewhere).
What are the experiences internationally, and their relevance for Australia
today?
Workshops will provide updates on regroupments that are developing around the
world: the Workers Party in Brazil; the London Socialist Alliance; Jubilee 2000;
the mass organisations against the MAI, WTO, IMF and World Bank; campaigns that
involve trade unionists and environmental and social activists.
There will be space for discussions on current and future activities.
Trade Unions and the ALP - A range of discussions around this key question will
be offered, including the role of Bracks in S11, and the historical drift to
the right from Whitlam to the accord period.
Trade Unions and S11 - what are the lessons fromthe S11 experience? This workshop
will provide the opportunity to discuss the significance of recent mass mobilisations
"Seattle to Prague via Melbourne". Trade Unions and Green politics
÷ a discussion on differences, diversity and decision-making ÷ are they problems
or opportunities?
Exploring and understanding the cultural differences between the movements.
Globalisation - Global capital, its flight and implications; international agreements
and their impact upon the environment, workers and human rights.
Putting Social Justice on the Agenda ÷ A cross-section of issues confronting
a globalised world. Anti-militarism and defence policy; Aboriginal issues; the
churches and social change; Third-world debt andfeminised poverty.
The conference will open with a plenary session, with briefcontributions from a range of organisations expressing their views on the above. The day will conclude with a discussion of some observations drawn from the day's workshops and leave time to discuss the future of any shared perspectives.
Proposals for workshops are invited by 1 November. Proposals for future action and outcomes from the conference are welcome.
Please send these to Earthworker by 9 November; they will be debated on the day.
All progressive groups are welcome to set up information stalls.
This is a growing project and is currently supported by the AMWU, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF),Dave Cushion Maritime Union of Australia, Michelle OāNeill Sec TCFUA, Jane Calvert CFMEU (Timber Div) and President Trades Hall Council, Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Earthworker trade union ö green alliance, Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Freedom Socialist Party, Friends of the Earth (FoE), Geelong Community Forum, Global Sisterhood Network, The Greens (Victoria), International Socialist Organisation (ISO), Progressive Labour Party (PLP), Socialist Party, Western Region Environment Centre, the Wilderness Society (TWS), Wombat Forest Society, representatives from CFMEU, and the Koori Communities, We welcome your involvement.
Contact Earthworker to endorse the conference.
Cost: $5/ $10. Please
send cheques payable to Earthworker N11 to
Jane Zed at
Earthworker
PO Box 285
Carlton South
Victoria 3053
Phone 03 96397688
Fax 03 9659 3570
e-mail jane@earthworker.org.au