A year ago, we celebrated our 40th birthday with parties in Melbourne and Sydney. The 2024 Global Solidarity Dinners were joyous, fun and, as always, educational. We were honoured to hear from unionists and human rights defenders from as far as Fiji to Western Sahara, demonstrating the breadth of our concern and our friendships.
This year we’re repeating the dose, putting on internationalism night of nights – not once but twice.
On June 13 at Trades Hall in Melbourne, we welcomed an ETU Ballroom full of our near and dearest comrades. Journalist, unionist and Pacific expert Nic Maclellan gave an excellent speech on how we can build real solidarity with our siblings in the Pacific. You can read excerpts from his speech here
There were some incredible pieces of union history for people to go home with including this original 1981 poster advertising the ACTU and Australia Council funded program ‘Art and Working Life’ which sought to promote ‘the creation of cultural activities by artists, arts workers and unions in and out of the workplace’.
In Sydney, preparations are underway in earnest for the Global Solidarity Dinner on August 1 at the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL.
Delivering the keynote speak this year will be Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Australia’s new Minister for International Development. Dr Aly brings a wealth of real-world experience to the role. She moved to Australia from Egypt when she was two years old before returning to Cairo for undergraduate studies. She went on to establish herself as an internationally renowned expert in counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation. Prior to being elected, she was an advisor to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Directorate and a board member of the Council for Arab Australian Relations.
With plenty more in the way of entertainment to be announced, make sure you pick up a ticket soon as they’re going fast.
