Melbourne Unionists Stand with Rajendra

Melbourne Unionists have come out in force this month to support the APHEDA-led #StandWithRajendra campaign. Health and Safety Representatives from the Victoria Trades Hall Council (VTHC) HSR Network met at Trades Hall early in April to discuss shared issues for workplace Health and Safety Reps (HSRs). At the end of their session they heard about the work of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA and in particular the Asbestos. Not Here Not Anywhere campaign. As workplace representatives who deal daily with the impact of hazards in the workplace the HSRs were keen to show their support by taking a video and group photo to Stand with Rajendra.

Victoria Trades Hall Council (VTHC) HSR Network

Likewise a group of AMWU Health and Safety Reps took time out from their 5-day HSR training course in Dandenong to join the Stand with Rajendra campaign. Led by the awesome Union Educator, Cindy O’Connor, their Solidarity photo was also picked up on Social Media by LabourStart and featured as Photo of the Day.

From last week: @theamwu and @cindytweetheart take action to #StandWithRajendra! You can too! Demand action on chrysotile asbestos; sign the petition! (link in bio) #Repost @cindytweetheart #StandWithRajendra huge thanks to @sambalamski from @unionaidabroad for popping in. @TheAmwu #HSRs agree: asbestos #NotHereNotAnywhere! @wauwomen @weare.union @ohsunion @ausunions . . . . . . . . . . . . . #RotterdamConvention #health #safety #OHS #education #awareness #labourrights #asbes #asbesto #amiante #amiăng #amianto #石棉 #アスベスト #แรี่ใยหินชนิดหนึ่ง #석면 #asbestoskills #asbestos

A post shared by Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA (@unionaidabroad) on Apr 10, 2017 at 6:56pm PDT

A few days before Easter, APHEDA was delighted to attend United Voice Vic Branch’s Annual APHEDA Bake-Off (yum!) and present on current APHEDA projects and campaigns. The awesome UV team held off on eating delicious cake to also show their solidarity and participate in a #StandWithRajendra action.

Finally, MUA members at Patrick’s East Swanston Dock in Port Melbourne had an APHEDA presentation in their lunch break this week and proudly showed their longstanding global solidarity to take a photo just days before Rajendra’s petition is due to be presented at the Rotterdam Convention meeting in Geneva.

MUA members at Patrick’s East Swanston Dock Workers Stand with Rajendra

We’d like to thank all unionists who have signed the #StandWithRajendra petition to hear the voices of Asbestos Victims at this important meeting and for their ongoing demonstrations of Global Solidarity for workers everywhere

Don’t forget to sign the petition #StandWithRajendra if you haven’t done that yet. Last chance it closes on the 30th of April!! SIGN PETITION NOW!