Socialist Party Australia - UNITE: Armchair critics attack UNITE

Greg Bradshaw answers criticisms of UNITE that were posted on the Melbourne IndyMedia web site.

The original UNITE post on the Melbourne Indymedia site plus the replies can be read at:

Greg's Reply:
OFFICIAL UNITE REPLY TO INDYMEDIA.ORG POSTS
23/12/03

The UNITE campaign has established itself as a fighting organisation on the streets, doing the hard preparatory groundwork needed to tackle the ever growing trend of casualisation. Not surprisingly, the campaign has won great support from casual workers along Brunswick St., and also huge support and sympathy from ex-workers in the area and the community at large. Through the efforts of all those helping in the campaign UNITE has received major media attention with the goal of politicising the issue - the first step in the struggle against casualisation.

Unfortunately, it seems some find it easier to criticise the efforts of others from behind their computer monitors, then it is to actually struggle for the rights of casual workers.

UNITE agrees entirely that the fight not only against the exploitation of casuals, but against casualisation as a whole, can only be won through workers’ unity and workplace organisation. However, due to the very nature of casualisation, and exacerbated by ‘cash in hand’ work, unionisation of casual workers (particularly in small businesses) will be a long and tough fight. UNITE has proven through its efforts so far that it is a campaigning organisation for casual workers, not one of armchair activism, and in the years ahead it will be the role of UNITE and the trade union movement in organising casuals to win this struggle.

The ‘Name and Shame’ campaign initiated by UNITE is merely the beginning. There are indeed no ‘good’ bosses. But there are particularly bad ones, namely those that are not even meeting the minimum legal requirements. Unlike comments to the contrary, legal rights won through past struggle must always be defended and form the cornerstone of future struggle.

Which worker would dismiss his/her legal entitlements opting instead to act “collectively and creatively in actual [d]efiance of the law”? (camille, 18/12/03). Firstly and foremostly, all workers want their minimum entitlements. Imagine a trade union that said to its members: “don’t worry about your entitlements, they’re only a sham of the evil capitalist system”. It is no wonder then that Camille finds the grass roots organising of casual workers so baffling.

By giving positive stickers to those bosses that prove they are acknowledging their minimum requirements, it lets workers get a foot in the door to begin organising. It gives an extra right to workers in those workplaces with a sticker to organise, lest much attention be drawn to the fact that the boss is losing the sticker for breaking those requirements. In an area or industry where unionism is near non-existent, it allows unionism to grow at its strongest points, and then later to be able to lend support to those places where it is weak.

Boycotting businesses will not defeat casualisation, but it can be used as a lever for further struggle. UNITE has raised the awareness of the issue in both the workplaces and the community. Such a large amount of positive media coverage has not been seen in the workers’ movement for a very long time. It is indicative of the first steps in a fight back against the horrors of casualisation.

This awareness has led to huge community support to let casual workers know that there is social discontent about the conditions they are facing, and most importantly, that they are not alone in their situation. This support will give casual workers the much-needed courage to take the first steps in fighting casualisation: that of organising with other casuals to demand their minimum legal entitlements. From that victory will come the impetus to keep fighting, to maintain their rights, and to fight for more.

The often short-term, unskilled nature of casual work leads to constant job and industry changes. Combined with the near comatose state of some unions, and the fear of taking on casual members in others, this has left gaps in between the industry-specific trade unions through which casual workers are slipping.

It is here that organisations such as UNITE and the Young Unionist Network (YUN) will play key roles. We must organise ourselves, as well as encourage active union participation in the relevant unions (such as our advice to all hospitality workers on Brunswick St. to become active inside the LHMU). But this will not come overnight, and like other strong fighting unions, it will be built only on long hard work. It is all of our hopes to see strong unionism organise casual workers, crush the exploitation of casuals, and fight the very existence of casual conditions.

One of the most cancerous aspects of casualised work is that of ‘cash in hand’ work. In those areas where workers are unionised and organised, this cancer is stomped out as a first priority (take for example the construction division of the CFMEU). No working conditions or entitlements can be won, maintained or even properly implemented without the open acknowledgment that someone is even employed at a particular workplace! No rights can proudly be declared won, while quietly being implemented under the counter or in black books.

No union organiser of even one day’s experience would dare insinuate that cash in hand work is anything but detrimental to workers. The very fact that bosses illegally implement it should be enough of a signal to realise that it is done in their interests, not in the juxtaposed interests of their workers.

Unfortunately, the conditions of casual workers in the current period is so bad that many are stuck in bosses’ traps - traps such as cash in hand. Most casual workers probably have, at some time, worked cash in hand. Many students are forced to accept cash in hand, so that they can survive while doing their studies. Students accept this not because it is in their interests, but because of the inability of social securities, of Youth Allowance etc., to provide a livable income.

It is for this reason that UNITE is not campaigning against cash in hand at this time, as we recognise that this would not be immediately beneficial to many casuals, but in fact would be detrimental.

UNITE has never claimed to be campaigning on that issue, and anyone who claims otherwise is very mistaken. Those making slanderous allegations against progressive community campaigns should learn about the campaign before making publicly abusive statements.

Along Brunswick St. we have made it clear to bosses that we are not campaigning on cash in hand pay, even though we unequivocally stand against it. Those bosses paying cash in hand, however, are still required to comply with our six minimum legal requirements, in order to avoid being named and shamed, and to be eligible for a UNITE door sticker. UNITE unequivocally supports all those casuals working cash in hand positions.

UNITE is opposed to cash in hand as a matter of basic trade union principle, but due to the low level of casual organisation, class consciousness, the negative balance of class forces and so forth, we have made a tactical retreat.

It is a job for the trade union movement as a whole to struggle for the improvement of social securities and for the payment of living wages for casual workers so that it need not be ‘under the table’. But it is a misinformed myth that casual workers are predominantly students in such a situation. Today, over a quarter of Australia’s workforce is casualised, making it the second highest ratio of casualisation in the world. Many are now ‘full-time casuals’ - working parents who are forced into ever growing casualised positions.

To struggle for the rights of such workers, cash in hand practices must be the first thing targeted. The rights of casuals must be strengthened before a true struggle of organised workers can take on casualisation. To suggest to these workers that cash in hand is ‘okay’ is the grossest of insults, and contradicts the virtue of organising.

As for such unjustified comments that UNITE has “made it really fucking bad” (camille, 18/12/03) for those who work cash in hand, don’t have work visas or are illegal - how exactly is that? By fighting for decent working conditions and decent pay? If your argument is that by forcing bosses to pay minimum wages some people will lose their jobs - this is the exact same argument we hear from bosses everyday. Or are you insinuating that we are working with DIMIA? Exactly whose side are you on?

It should be made clear that both UNITE and the YUN have their offices in Trades Hall. If Camille had a serious concern or question as to the tactics of the UNITE campaign, she could have easily talked to us. In fact, we have tried to contact her in the past as a representative of the YUN, but she will not even respond to our calls. Not only is she not even doing her job for which she was elected, but I hope that all Young Unionist Network members are content with Camille making all executive decisions on their behalf.

The issue of dealing with casualisation is indeed complex, and it requires much more debate in the workers’ movement. Camille would be better serving YUN members (which includes UNITE members) and the paid position she has been appointed to by contributing her thoughts in a more comradely way. Her unprofessional language only encourages the lunatics on the fringes of the movement, the armchair critics, the internet warriors, and possibly, agent provocateurs.

Ginny wrote on the 13/12/03 about workers on Brunswick St. she knows who say that UNITE has given stickers to dodgy employers. We have heard no word from these casuals, and we find it surprising to hear that they felt these places were horrible, yet did not bother to contact us. I know if I was being ripped off or being treated poorly, and a campaign came along that would clean the place up - or at least shame him publicly as a dodgy boss - I would not hesitate to do so.

That you suggest that these people you know should organise their workplace, while at the same time don’t have the motivation to call a number to dob in their boss is farcical. If these people that you know have information regarding dodgy bosses on Brunswick St., they should let the campaign know. Complaining to their friends that their workplace is horrible and that nobody is doing anything about it is the waste of time.

As for comments such as UNITE are fascists - clearly this person has little idea about either. I would be curious to know what survivors of fascist regimes would think of the belittlement of their repression; comparing the struggle for workers’ rights with death camps, torture and genocide.

Despite the few slanderous and unfounded attacks as posted on this site, the progressive elements of the community have applauded UNITE for its work. Most importantly, we have cast the first stone in the fight back against casualisation. Through its boosts in membership and with help from the massive community support, UNITE looks to strengthening the campaign along Brunswick St. in the new year, as well as spreading the campaign to other key shopping districts.

To get involved with UNITE, or to dob in a dodgy boss, email us at