Politically emasculated

The new industrial relations laws have been passed through parliament and have now taken effect. These laws cut the power of unions in favour of individual workplace contracts. They scrap the national award system, and are opposed by 6 State Premiers and the "Leader" of the Opposition, who claim it to be a repeal of the Australian "fair go".

Half a million people marched the streets in capital cities against the erosion of their social rights. Peter Hendy the chief exec of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry aptly pointed out, "They haven't even got a majority of the union movement membership to turn up, let alone anything more than a fraction of the Australian work force,".

Whether you for or against these changes, you cannot deny that the people affected by the changes have not done enough to stop them. The working class in Australia are allowing themselves to become an impertinent factor in policy making. With Trade Unions all but dead there appears to be no group or organisation effectively lobbying for workers rights. The Australian working class has allowed itself to be politically emasculated by the Howard government.

The shit kickers as they refer to themselves as, are the people who need to instigate change in the country if only to serve themselves.

What can they do? Of course the impending court battle is the front line of the issue but real change begins at the grass roots.

Gandhi said "Be the change you want to see in the world." and I agree, they must stand up and be heard as citizens, not palmed off as vacuous football fans or vapid pub frequenters. If you have been, nice to meet you.

Perhaps the answer is that they just don't know how to protest. A group of 10,000 orderly protesters in town square shouting and chanting over a megaphone just doesn't seem to get heard. Worldwide millions walked against the Iraq war but to no avail. This form of protest seems futile in todays world.

I suggest they follow the French example. The French youth, who are currently protesting against laws similar to those planned by our own government are striking, blocking train stations, bus terminals and causing havoc in the streets. The whole world is looking, and now the government will be listening. Public nuisance works for them and they have been doing it since the last French revolution in 1789.

Steve