Luke Martin is the Secretary of Bendigo Trades Hall Council and has been a member of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA for 3 years.
- What does it mean to you to be union?
To me, being union is about the working class standing together in solidarity to achieve higher standards of living whether the issue is political, industrial, or social. Being union extends past the four walls of our workplaces – it is in all aspects of our lives.
- What does it mean to you to be APHEDA?
It is about building solidarity on an international scale and fighting to elevate the quality of life for all people.
- Why is building internationalism in Australia important?
Australia has its fair share of multinational corporations and supply chains, the best way to ensure that those supply chains are ethical is to take an active role in securing better working conditions and workers’ rights internationally.
- What part of APHEDA’s work are you most connected to or proud of and why?
I am proud of APHEDA’s work with the Karen people and the Myanmar Campaign Network. I have worked with some of Bendigo’s Karen migrants who have shared their stories with me and why they needed to migrate to Australia. It has been a pleasure to get to know the Karen people and I feel closely connected with them. While the government limits how many visas they issue, it is important that we continue to help the people of Myanmar and put pressure on our government to intervene.