From Samoa to Palestine, building international movements’ capacity will be a struggle without investing in human connections and establishing a sense of community. The same can be said for fostering solidarity between working people near and afar. In the urgency of modern life under late-stage capitalism it can be a challenge but still critical to take the time to connect with one another on shared working-class struggles.
Australian unionists continue to prioritise their long-held connections within the international union community by demonstrating their commitment to global solidarity. Most recently, activists have shown it through attending a variety of events across the nation and in neighbouring countries, organised to support the work of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and partner organisations around the globe.
- Global Solidarity Dinner in Sydney
Sydney unionists made the annual Global Solidarity Dinner a night to remember by filling the Canterbury Bankstown RSL to capacity, fitting for this year’s theme – ‘Union Building in Action’. Philippa McDonald, one of Australia’s most respected journalists and a proud MEAA union member of 35 years, led the evening as MC.
Joined by special guest and panellist, Saina Tomi from Samoa First Union shared her experience of community organising, the crowd then sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to celebrate SFU’s 10th anniversary. Unions also had the opportunity to bid in the live auction for a guaranteed space on the upcoming Study Tour to the Thai-Myanmar border – congratulations to NSWNMA for securing the spot!
- ‘Brisbane Meanjin Quiz Night for Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’
The annual EKKA-eve Brisbane Quiz Night was a success, led by the APHEDA Action Network Meanjin Brisbane! Attendees enjoyed ‘Taskmaster’ styled games with Union and APHEDA based trivia, including a musical round with a live rendition of ‘Don’t be too polite girls’. There were a plethora of donated raffle prizes up for grabs and even a live auction for a rhubarb & apple pie, all of it raising over $6,000 for the night.
Dinner was catered by MU’OOZ, a social enterprise founded by 32 refugee women from war-torn Eritea and surrounding African countries. To date 160 African refugee women have been supported through employment and traineeships, for which many had little opportunity for education and have suffered traumatic experiences of war and poverty.
- Indonesian Independence Day Fundraising Dinner WA
‘Unions WA’ hosted their third annual fundraiser dinner for the ‘Local Initiative for Occupational Safety and Health Network (LION)’, who campaign to end asbestos use and prevent asbestos related diseases in Indonesia. Usually organised near Labour Day, it was aptly rescheduled to the eve of the Indonesian Independence Day – just in time for the 80th anniversary.
Highlight of the night was Professor and historian – Charlie Fox, who spoke about the historical ‘black bans’ imposed in the late 1940’s by Australian maritime unions whose members refused to load or crew Dutch ships destined for Indonesia, supporting their newly declared independence. To keep the maritime theme, the event was held at the Freemantle Yacht Club – as nothing is too good for the working class.
- ‘Local Music, Foreign Aid’: MUA/CFMEU WA concert
CFMEU and MUA’s WA Youth Networks put together ‘Local Music, Foreign Aid’, a Gaza fundraiser gig at the Buffalo Club in Freemantle that was a night filled of great bands with great music for a great cause! CFMEU organiser, Vinnie Molina kicked off the night by highlighting the humanitarian aid work in Gaza by MA’AN Development Centre and the need for Australian unionists to continue their support for the organisation at this critical time.
With over 250 supporters, the vibes were elite with bands: The Decline, Didion’sBible, Interflow, Clancy, Greta, and Streets of Separation – who all donated their performances to the fundraising event. Sam Wallman also designed and donated a Palestine-themed artwork specifically for the event which was sold on the night to many!
- Painters and Dockers Solidarity Concert for Timor Leste
Hosted at MUA in Melbourne, attendees enjoyed a one-off show from the legendary punk band, Painters and Dockers supported by Elijah Augustine, Cicso & Son, Red Envy and The Salvation Army brass band. In attendance where two special guests, Abe and Etel, two unionists fighting for dignity and respect for the domestic workers in Timor, who have recently won the rights to their union.
Organised in part to mark the fiftieth anniversary of devastating BALIBO 5 tragedy where a group of Australian journalists, including ‘Painters and Dockers’ frontman Paulie Stewart’s brother Tony, were murdered in the time leading up to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. Proceeds were raised to support the Working Women’s Center in Timor Leste and to assist farmers to establish municipal level unions across the country.
- ‘When Woody Met Pete’: Melbourne Gaza Fundraiser
Melbourne was treated to a union musical adaption of the real-life story that helped create the folk movement in the US and across the world – ‘When Woody Met Pete’. A Gaza relief concert opened by the Victorian Trade Union Choir and headlined by Peter Hicks and Maurie Mulheron performing the musical works of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger – who used music as a tool for justice which has stood the test of time.
Filling Solidarity Hall (VTHC), attendees turned the event into a union sing-along with renowned hits: ‘Union Maid’, ‘If I had a hammer’ and ‘Where have all the flowers gone’. The Victorian Trade Union Choir sang songs of solidarity including a tribute to the Maurie Mulheron with his song ‘Poor Strong Women’.
