Date 5/11/2002  Log onto our Website for all the latest news on your dispute: http://wa.amieu.asn.au

Why bother to go on strike?

There are many excuses why workers do not want to take strike action -  here are just few!

"I can't afford to"........."What's the point - we won't win".......... "I don't understand what its all about"........"The company will look after us - we don't need to strike"........."I went on strike once - and there were some that didn't - so I'm not going to again"........"Why can"t the Union just negotiate instead of striking?"..........."Why should I lose money going on strike when some others won"t go on strike"..., "The company might change my roster"........."If I go on strike I might miss out on promotion"........."I'm good mates with the manager".... "We have got good conditions/pay - so why strike?"......."I am OK - this dispute will only affect new employees - so why should I bother?"........."The Union is only interested in power - they don't care about us!".........."I might get the sack"........"They'll pick on me if I do"........"It won't make any difference - they just get staff to do our work"............there are countless others that may explain why some workers are reluctant to take strike action.

There is only one reason that you should support your fellow workers with strike action when it is warranted and that is quite simple.

Most workers, if approached in the correct manner, will eventually give their support to you.

At the end of the day, there may be some totally unprincipled types who will never support you - do not get discouraged - they fall into a tiny minority of people who are prepared to bludge on their fellow workers - their lack of conscience should not deter you

The conditions you enjoy today were not granted freely by this company - they were negotiated collectively with the company and when negotiations failed strike action (or in some cases the mere threat of Industrial action) has been sufficient to win the day.

This is why your wages and conditions are significantly better than employees who were not in a position to bargain!

The only thing you have to bargain with is your skills and your labour - the laws of this country allow you to withdraw your labour in the form of "Protected Industrial Action" if either side believes the other is not "Bargaining in good faith"

It is no different than the company negotiating prices from their suppliers of goods - if they do not get the price they want - they refuse to stock that brand  - an economic strike! - they do it all the time and that's called "good business!" For some peculiar reason (record profits - maybe?) - employers try to brainwash workers into thinking that if they go on strike then that it is a bad thing, irresponsible etc. - When all else fails it is the only thing workers can do!

Previous Union newsletters have demonstrated how much we have already achieved - compared to the company's initial position - we approached the company by fax on the 4^th November 2002 to see if there were any other alternatives that they might like to consider - they responded with NO but did concede that the 25% penalty for current employees would not be frozen - your courageous actions to date have already gained important ground that otherwise would have been lost!

Remember the old song

"If You Don't Fight - You Lose"... its still true!