Mr. David Ball, Geelong Trades Hall's President giving the Centenary Christmas speechWe acknowledge that we are meeting on the land of which the original custodians and landowners were the Wutharong people. We remember their ancestors and descendants with respect and commit to reconciliation and justice.
I would like to acknowledge past Presidents and past and present members of the Executive Committee.
Politicians [named]
Union Officials [named]
Delegates of Geelong Trades Hall, activists, comrades and friends.
On behalf of the Executive I would like to Welcome you to Geelong Trades Hall Centennial Presidents night. The building we are standing in is 80 years old. Thanks to the persistence and determination of Tim Gooden we received funding some of which came from the Federal Govt. with assistance from Richard Marles to begin essential renovations that will ensure we will still be meeting here in 80 years to come. The completion of the new roof was a significant step towards the restoration of the building. Tim wanted me to shout at this point …THE ROOF IS ON!
The Year that was…
This year has seen a general growth in the use of trades hall. Rarely a day goes past when a union or community group is not utilizing this building. Training takes place on a regular basis with nearly all affiliates now using it. New furniture has been acquired, thanks to the people at CBUS. One of groups that use the building on a regular basis is the Sleepy Hollow Blues Club. Wendy and Rick from the Blues Club decorated the hall for tonight’s celebration. They also made the cake for the centennial celebration. A big thank you to Wendy and Rick.
The school education programme has developed and will continue to grow next year with more schools involved. It is through programmes such as this that the next generation of Unionists and activists will emerge. (From my personal experience as a workplace delegate, educating future members or for that matter the general public is an area where the Union movement needs to focus )
Union Air, on 94.7 the Pulse has just finished it’s forth year with the cast and crew continuously raising the bar doing a fantastic job. .Pending funding it will continue next year on Saturdays between 12 and 1pm.
The Geelong Trades Hall Choir has performed whenever they have been requested. Thanks to the talents of Jeannette Johanson their repertoire has included everything from the problems associated with eating a steak sandwich to the Governments IR laws. Many of the members played a role in the production of DUST, touring with the show receiving excellent reviews whenever they performed.
The production DUST came to Geelong as part of a Geelong Trades Halls campaign regarding asbestos. This is an ongoing campaign that will continue which includes exposing and prosecuting the people responsible for the dump in Moolap and any business that exposes their workers, the public and the environment to asbestos, while supporting anyone who has been affected by asbestos.
The Women’s Union Network continued to grow in strength this year with three major functions which included fundraising for the Cancer Council. They also organized several successful programmes including The ‘Sing Out Strong’ Programme and the Women in Trades Programme. Chris Cousins our AA vice president and Anne Morison our office manager and Colleen Gibbs the assistant secretary with the assistance of many other people played major roles and deserve a round of applause for their efforts.
We hosted the international artist and grassroots political protest singer David Rovic. A great night was enjoyed by all who attended.
Allan Sargent has slaved all year researching all the minutes from council meetings and articles from the Geel Advertiser since 1909 as he works towards completing 100 years of history of Geelong trades Hall. In the new year the Executive will propose that we make a commitment to finalising that work and ensuring it gets published.
During the year there was several times that the picket line equipment was lent out and utilized. If on some occasions we didn’t achieve the outcome we desired it wasn’t thru a lack of organization or effort on our behalf. Tim would only have to get a sniff of a dispute before bacon and egg sandwiches were being enjoyed around open fires in front of businesses that underestimated the strength of the union movement in Geelong. These disputes are always attended by a hard core group of officials and activists from all different industries. A sensational display of solidarity that has become common place in the Geelong region.
The dispute at 7 11 resulted in the prosecution of bosses and the return of basic rights for the workers, often international students, that had been threatened and intimidated by their management. It sent a clear message to the bosses around town that they needed to treat workers and their conditions with respect.
Clearly the dispute that received the most publicity this year, rightly or wrongly, became known as Steak Gate. Again, the bosses, in this case middle management at the City of Geelong, quickly found out that workers that deserve and demand a fair go and who have the support of the Union movement will always come out on top.
Trades Hall Geelong mobilized several times around the notorious ABCC. Construction workers and the union movement have been protesting for years that the powers given to this body are unjust and are a blight on basic civil rights. Serious questions must be asked of the Government as it not only continues to persecute construction workers, it has now emerged that the new Fairwork Ombudsman is imposing similar powers in other industries as ASU workers who attended protests in relation to steakgate are now finding out. Fair Work Australia replaced Workchoices in name, but in reality the protection and rights of workers remain a primary concern for Unions.
Many workers of Geelong and many workers Australia wide have not got through the year unscathed. The so called economic crisis has resulted in layoffs, with only last week Alcoa announcing another 90 jobs to go before Christmas. Unions have experienced a lack of confidence by their members which has resulted in a loss of membership. The HSU may have worked out how to stem the flow by walking out last week achieving their desired outcome, and sending a clear message to their management. Workers have agreed to zero pay increases, and reductions in hours and conditions. We now have the highest rate of casualisation in the Western world. OH & S laws and conditions are under threat as big business continues to pressure the rights of workers whilst removing the onus of responsibility away from them. These are still major challenges for us.
Next year there could be at least three elections that will affect the working class in Geelong and we need to contribute in the interests of workers. The climate debate will not go away. It will have a huge impact on workers and we need to play a role. The only way we will have an impact, the only way we have ever had an impact is through solidarity. Solidarity promoted through the ACTU Congress through the collaboration of Trade Labour Councils, and through ‘Unions Australia’.
By July we aim to have all the monies spent and the building finished which will include a rewire, the floors repaired, the walls painted and all safety upgrades completed. This will be a huge achievement that should not be underestimated. Of course the building is important but the people in it is really what its all about. On behalf of the Executive Id like to thank Ryan Carlisle and Thomas and the other tenants, for their continued support and for putting up with the renovations. And of course a big thank you to the staff of Geelong Trades Hall Ann Morrison and Bill and Brenda.
Maybe the most significant election next year may take place right here. It will be the 5th year for the Secretary as the main executive elections are next July. I know Tim has the full support of the executive and on behalf of the workers of Geelong I’d like to thank Tim for the passion and conviction in which he tackles each task. (Round of applause for the Secretary). Tim’s commitment to expanding his knowledge and experience led him and his partner Sue to make a life defining trip to Venezuela and Cuba during the year. Their dogs who are like children to them are named Havana and Fidel so you can imagine how much this trip meant to them. Viva la revolution
Finally on behalf of the Executive Id like to thank all the activists that turn up week in week out to Counsel and to protests, to rallies and picket lines. It is the collective that makes the strength. The centenary badge has the Geelong Trades Hall logo on it that was adopted 100 years ago and is still as pertinent today as it was back then.” LABOR OMNIA VINCIT” – “TOGETHER WORKERS WILL CONQUOUR”. Thank You.
