Stick Together

On June 17th the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) announced that it was adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-semitism. Nick Hanna, an experience human rights lawyer and part of the Civil Liberties Defence Centre gave a briefing to health workers around the politics behind the AHPRA decision how it affects them at work

We have two reports today.One is a reflection on the Australian Education Union Vic (AEU) memberships' refusal to accept the Victorian Government pay offer despite the executive of Union's endorsement here.We follow with a look at AUKUS as a Trojan Horse for a take over of Port Kembla and the Central Coast of NSW by a US military base here.

On Tuesday June 16th Melbourne city was awash with the Blue of VAHPA  and the Red of MSAV. In an historic joint industrial action the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association and the Medical Scientists Association took to the streets calling on the Victorian Government to pay the public health sector a fair wage comparable to other States in Australia. Stick Together was there

Stick Together is a half-hour weekly show about workers rights and current affairs. Stick Together features interviews with workers, unionists, community campaigners and academics from right across Australia. ASU members fighting to change the award and conditions across the community sector. We hear from delegates and Union officials from the sector.

Join us for a special radiothon episode with hot off the press interviews with VAHPA and ASU on their battles for better wages and conditions.Donte to Radiothon! Call 9419 8377https://www.3cr.org.au/donate

Parks Victoria workers, after a year in negotiations have been forced to take action refusing an offer that would lock in lower pay and conditions, and put them behind colleagues in other parts of the Victorian public sector. The same level paid a lower rate.Adding insult to injury the executive branch of Parks Victoria are paid at the broader Victorian Public Service wage rates. Stick Together reports from the action held at the foot of the high rise in the Melbourne CBD at 300 La Trobe street on Monday 25th of May.

Two issues this week with a common theme.First the Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation branch in South Australia the ANMF SA has stepped up industrial action after the returned Labor Government in South Australia were unable to negotiate better pay and conditions after returning to office.  We speak with CEO/ Secretary ANMF SA Elizabeth Darbars hereIn Victoria the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) are outraged at the Allan Government’s budget for failing to address gender inequality in the largely female workforce. Industrial protected action is in process. We speak with Secretary VAHPA Andrew Hewat here

Tim Gooden by Andy Urquhart On this weeks episode meet former Geelong Trades Hall Secretary, Tim Gooden. We chat and walk through GTH and chat about the towns local union history!Below are mediocre photos I took of the beautiful photos and artworks displayed around the building. Geelong Wool Combing Dispute John Howards Individual Contracts Mass Strike 2005Sandra Kranz Murals WA Solidarity and Unwelcoming John Howard in GeelongGeelong Women UnionistsJohn Kranz and 888 History

International Worker's Memorial Day is held on the 28th April. A sobering event marking the passing of workers who died from work related injuries. First we hear from some of the people who gathered to honour the dead, followed by the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen,  then from Lana Cormie, now part of a group with lived experience of loss working to change the system, and ending with some of the remembrance of those who never returned home from work.

In this episode of Stick Together we chat with Tash Wark, Secretary of the ASU Vic/Tas Branch about the multi-council campaign they are running in metropolitan Melbourne. We also hear a statement given by Dave Ball in regional town Geelong on the war in Iran. Geelong is quickly becoming one of Australia's biggest defence industry towns with the Geelong Defence Alliance and Geelong on the Rise projects.

The term critical minerals seems to be everywhere at the moment. Whether in discussions of Trump’s aspirations to annex greenland or the Albanese government's attempts to avoid US tariffs by bolstering US access to Australia’s Lithium, cobalt and other rare earths and critical minerals - it is becoming increasingly obvious that securing access to these natural resources is a top priority of the Trump administration. In today's show we will be looking at the significance of Critical Mineral security in American foreign policy and in particular the US exploitation of the Congo as a source of critical minerals. Speakers:Maurice Carney, co-founder and executive director of the Friends of the Congo;Frédéric Mousseau, Policy Director at the Oakland Institute and co-author of Shafted: The Scramble for Critical Minerals in the DRC; Mira Rubio, coordinator of the California Trade Justice Coalition and director of CRITICAL MINERALS: Creating a Just & Sustainable Clean Energy Transition.

Like me you might have been blown away by the announcement that the Fair Work Commission was abolishing junior rates of pay in the retail, fast food and pharmacies industries. It was plastered on headlines across legacy media, ACTU and Labor Party sources. But of course the headline isn't the whole story. We spoke to Josh Cullinan from the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union RAFFWU, the only voice at the Commission calling for the scrapping of the junior rate of pay about how the system continues to be rigged against young workers.

Stick Together is a half-hour weekly show about workers rights and current affairs. Stick Together features interviews with workers, unionists, community campaigners and academics from right across Australia. In this week's episode we bring you union news from around the country and speak to early education delegate and United workers union members first delegate Nicki about the upcoming union election.

In this episode we begin the episode with a great chat with Dr Adrian Marshall from the Grassy Plains Network. We hear the shocking stat 0.56% of Native Grasslands left in Victoria, and that's likely an OVER ESTIMATE! Learn about one of the major contributing factors to their decline which is agencies and corporations wrecking havoc on these sites even when they are responsible for their care and how there is a workforce waiting in things ready to help... they just need jobs.grassyplains.net.au/

Tuesday 24th of March saw the biggest 24 hour stoppage by educational staff in Victorian public schools in history. Represented by the AEU, 98% of members voted yes to the stoppage. The AEU is an industry based union and the members include Education Support Staff, Teachers and Principals. 40,000 educators and their allies took to the streets and raised their voices for a better deal.

This episode examines how war and militarism shape workers’ lives and labour struggles: DP World’s AI automation push threatens over 1,000 skilled port jobs while shifting control of critical supply‑chain infrastructure offshore; Australia’s fuel insecurity—hollowed refineries and a depleted tanker fleet—exposes us to global choke points and the fallout of foreign military campaigns; Victoria’s education strike highlights domestic austerity and the costs borne by public services. Feature: a translated excerpt from USB’s webinar “War on Women: The Price of Rearmament,” linking rearmament, gendered harms and union resistance.

On this week's episode of stick together host James brings you Union news from across the country. And we chat with Jewish Australian activist James Crafti who recently travelled to Palestine to connect with activists there.

In an attempt to undermine the collective amnesia of the working class of it's own history first up we hear from Sean Scalmer here at the launch of his book A Fair Day's Work: The Quest to Win Back Time and follow up with voices of working women at the Melbourne International Working Women's Day Rally here this year.

In this episode of Stick Together, listen to interviews and speeches from Neighbourhood Houses Victoria's recent rally to raise much needed funds for staff and operations. Following that report learn about the Geelong and Melbourne Strategic assessments. Are they a sign of change in industries working in green spaces or more the same green washing?Neighbourhood Houses Victoria - https://www.nhvic.org.au/post/keep-our-doors-open-campaignGreen Left Article - https://www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1422/news/community-pushes-back-geelong-council-wages-war-first-nations-communitiesGeelong Defence Alliance - https://geelonganarchists.org/2023/05/04/the-geelong-defence-alliance-local-government-and-the-war-industry/Melbourne Strategic Assessment Review - www.researchgate.net/publication/369932255_Evaluating_the_Melbourne_Strategic_Assessment-Elegant_on_process_currently_failing_on_implementation

In this weeks episode we hear the translations of the statements that were given by members of the USB and CALP among others at the national assembly that was held on the 23rd of January in Genova in support of the then upcoming internationa strike against the drive to war that happened on the 6th of Febuary and the ongoing campaign for the working class to oppose capitalist war.

Stick Together is a half-hour weekly show about workers rights and current affairs. This week's episode of stick together brigs you union news ad a live recording of the 'members first' campaign launch for the election at the United workers union.

In this episode of Stick Together Amy shares her experiences and thoughts about gardening and landscaping. This is the beginning of an ongoing project of hers to call out worker and environmental issues in industries that are supposedly doing Earth Care. Examples of industires include, gardening and landscaping, aboriculture, horticulture, conservation and so on.If you are interested in sharing your experiences in these sorts of industries or have some wins to celebrate then email us at [email protected] or call the station at 03 94198377.

This week on Stick Together we explore the emmergence of AI and its increasing impacts on workers in Australia. Headlines:Resignation of CFMEU's National Secretary and Victorian Executive Officer, Zach Smith on 21/01/26Australian nurses and midwives federation’s South Australia (ANMF SA) branch will be marching in response to the state government’s failure to provide a response to ongoing public sector Enterprise Agreement negotions Work place fatality on farm in Beech Forest  Guests:ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell, discussing the important role unions will play in mitigating the risks posed by AIMaritime Union of Australia (MUA) Assistant National Secretary Jake Field, discussing the MUA's ongoing campaign against DP world's attempts to automate Australian ports

Headlines:- MUA Carnival Cruise ships exploitation- HWU Strike Action- PSA NSW David Dungay Jr. Plaque Main section:Academic Nick Everett Excerpt from address about the Pilbara Strike at Perth Trades Hall in 2024 as part of a symposium held by the Perth Branch of the Australasian Society for the Study of Labour History.  ...The sheep's wool dragged and the squatters sworeAnd talked nice words till their tongues got soreAnd their bellies swelled with so much liesBut the blackfellers shooed them off like flies. The sheep got lost on the squatters' run.The shearing season was nearly done.Said the squatters eaten up with greed,"We'll pay good wages and give good feed." The blackfellers sheared the wool and thenGot their wages like working-men.The squatters' words were stiff and sore,"We won't pay wages like that no more."...Excerpt from the poem "Clancey and Doolery and Don Mcleod" by Dorothy Hewett

On today's show we chat about Venezuela and Latin America, and the ongoing impact of US intervention in the region — including sanctions, political destabilisation, and military aggression from the United States.To unpack what’s really going on — beyond the headlines — I’m joined by two guests with deep experience and analysis.Federico Fuentes is the Editor of LINKS – International Journal of Socialist Renewal, a long-time Latin America solidarity activist, and a member of the Socialist Alliance. He lived in Venezuela for several years, working as a researcher and correspondent for Green Left from Caracas during the first decade of the Bolivarian Revolution under Hugo Chávez.He brings both on-the-ground experience and a long view of the political processes shaping Venezuela and the region today.Also joining us is Carlos Eduardo Morreo.Carlos is a Venezuelan academic and anti-colonial activist, based here in Naarm/Melbourne, and is part of the Green Institute. His work focuses on imperialism, colonialism and global power, and he’s been an important voice challenging mainstream narratives about Latin America and the Global South.Together, we’ll be discussing what US intervention really looks like in practice, why Venezuela continues to be targeted, and what genuine international solidarity means in 2026. As well as union news where we take a look at some of the big industrial stories bubling away as we begin 2026.

Ballarat: In 1954, the location of monster meetings of miners and the Eureka Stockade.On December 3 2025, on a roundabout on Bakery Hill in Ballarat, now surrounded by new developments and multinational fast food chains, we hear some of the Eureka Australia Medal Award Speeches, as part of the 171st Anniversary of the Rebellion. These are lifetime awards presented by Reclaim the Radical Spirit & Ballarat Regional Trades & Labour Council (BTRLC), and stories from the medalwinners.Introductory words from:Dr Joe Toscano, MC and with Reclaim the Radical SpiritAngela McCarthy, Secretary of BRTLCMedalwinners:Dick Ryan, Seamens' Union of Australia - later the MUA;   'Don't ask what Unions can do you you, but what you can do for the Union'Eve Scarfe member of international peace brigades in Central America,   Medal was awarded in absentia - listen to her life story hereVasalia Govender, former HSR with Injured Workers Support Team,    On IWST, currently supporting 572 injured workers across Australia,Nancy Atkin, lifelong activist   With peoples' history: Vietnam War, 3CR Community Radio, Trade Union organising,Rev. Dr. Robert Stringer, retired Uniting Church Minister   Activist histories, his own journey into radical politics in the Pacific and campaigns. Head to www.3cr.org.au/eureka171 for more recordings from this day and to hear from other speakers, including Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter (Historian at Federation University Ballarat), Doug Stewart (longtime unionist BLF/CFMEU, liver transplant survivor) and medalwinner Ian Fullerton (CFMEU member, dedicated local community member & volunteer with the Soup Bus, Ballarat Trades Hall, and more).

Annie presents an analysis of the political ecosystem in which our unions exist, including the peak body (ACTU) and the Labor party, which was borne from the need to represent working class interests in parliament. She presents two case studies of unions that have been put into administration, with a focus on Labor Party political outcomes vs unions' core business - members' wages and conditions. We begin with a mini-review of the CFMEU Construction & General Division administration saga, since special legislation passed both houses of Parliament in August 2024 after a sustained legacy media smear campaign. The Red Queen approach of dismantling the CFMEU's core business via 'removed persons' in its delegate-organiser structure may be party of a larger politic, at the low cost of workers' lives and livelihoods.Next, recapping the cutthroat Game-of-Thrones style administration of the HSU/HWU and fear and loathing responses of some of the lowest-paid workers in that industry to a politicking leadership which landed the union in administration by June 2025. And in a whirlwind finale, we hear from HWU organisers, members, and supporters rallying in front of Parliament on 4 December as part of their 'Stand Together, Win Together' campaign, the culmination of months of hard work - a David and Goliath fight not just for wages n conds, but for the life of their union.

On this weeks episode of Stick Together host James Brennan brings you some reflection on the year of union struggle, union news and a case from fair work. We speak with James Crafti who has just been to fair work over an unfair dismissal case.

An interview with IWGB, Independent Workers of Great Britain, Organizer Rema talking about Pan-Africanism, Internationalism and the organization of gig economy workers. “Our revolution is not a public-speaking tournament. Our revolution is not a battle of fine phrases. Our revolution is not simply for spouting slogans that are no more than signals used by manipulators trying to use them as catchwords, as codewords, as a foil for their own display. Our revolution is, and should continue to be, the collective effort of revolutionaries to transform reality, to improve the concrete situation of the masses of our country.”― Thomas Sankara

Monash has been forced by the Federal Court to pay almost 1/2 million in unpaid wages to academics at Monash in a landmark settlement. We speak to Michael Ciaravolo one of the two lead applicants about the win in a court case sparked by the NTEU.We finish the program with a recognition of the International Disability Day. Workers who experience disability through work place accidents often have a hard road to walk. We hear one story from Danielle who has found balance after years of struggle.

"And here we are in L.ACity Hall's falling downThere is no escapeWhen a class war comes to townClass war, class warClass war, class warThis war, that warClass war, last war"- The Dils

On this week's episode host James bring you another episode of Stick Together with union news from across the country. And a recorded talk from Adam from Victorian Socialists about the equal pay campaign which took place across the country culminating in a victory in 2012. This campaign has some lessons for today's current fight within the community sector as the ASU and it's members again fight for their pay.

In this episode of stick together, new host Amy joins the team to interview Cecilia from Vahpa Pulse about the rank and file challenge to the merger of VAHPA with HACSU. Listen to learn about issues raised about the transparency and democracy of the VAHPA leadership. UPDATE! Since the recording off this episode the third petition to VAHPA leadership has ben apporved and an general meeting has been called to to discuss the merger.VAHPA members can attend the meeting on the 11th of Decemeber @ 11am Solidarity Hall at Trades Hall 54 Victoria Street , Carlton 3053.

Today's program looks at OH&S, work place safety, from a number of angles. Up close and personal, the broader lens of the class struggle and finally the importance of Unions in that struggle.

This week's episode of stick together brings you union news from across the country as well as an in-depth look at the social and community service sector. The ASU which covers workers in this field is fighting proposed changes to the pay structure for those on the SCHADS award. Host James Brennan speaks with the ASU's Phillipa Balk about these changes and the campaign to fight back.

Weaving the braid of our shared struggle, on this stick together episode we listen to important voices from the movement and bring them toegther with reporting around the world to demonstrate how truly linked our struggles are and that when we are united in a common goal we can achieve what we want. Freedom and dignity for all.

This Wednesday the 15th October marks the 55th Anniversary of Australia's worst industrial disaster, the collapse of the Westgate Bridge - the bridge designed to run out of Melbourne to Geelong.35 Workers died in the collapse, and 18 were seriously injured as a result of the 1970 incident, but the design of the bridge was already in doubt beforehand, with a similar bridge having recently come down with worker deaths in the UK.Without the modern emergency service response, the workers were left to dig their comrades bodies out of the rubble. Three days later, they were all sacked. This is an excerpt from the Creatures of the Industry podcast, a 3CR Community Radio project and an oral history of those who made the building and construction industry in Melbourne since the 1960s.Here, survivor of the collapse and industry stalwart Pat Preston gives his first-hand account of the disaster and its aftermath... plus industry standards at the time, other near-misses on the bridge, and the pay and conditions fought and won on that job.This extended interview features the voices of Peter Clarke, and Creatures of the Industry Podcast host, Ralph Edwards. You can find the full extended interview with Pat Preston, plus all episodes and stories over at 3cr.org.au/cotiToday, after this episode is first broadcast in Melbourne on Wednesday Morning, families and supporters will gather in a yearly memorial organised by the Westgate Bridge Memorial Committee under the bridge on Douglas Parade in Spotswood.

Today three stories - Local, National, and International.First, down to the Public Housing towers in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy to hear from MSS Security Guards covered by the United Workers Union taking industrial action for fair pay and conditions at the public housing towers slated for demolition.Then we find out why the Australian Services Union has called a National Day of Action for the 23rd of October to protect fair wages and conditions for workers under the Social Community, homecare and disability services award.Finally, we find out more about the how Italian Unions were able to successfully manage two general strikes within weeks of each other in support of Gaza.

First we hear from Caterina Cinanni from the United Workers Union, the UWU, talking at the Ecosocialism Conference in September about organising migrant workers and the common interests of workers of all national backgrounds. Following with an exerpt from the Anti Racism Rally in Naarm on the Grand Final Weekend.

In today's episode, we amplify union voices from around the globe as the humanitarian crisis in Palestine escalates, affecting workers worldwide. We feature key speeches from the recent Trade Union Congress in the UK, including an impactful address by Shaher Saed, general secretary of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), and a stirring speech by Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU). Additionally, we present a translated statement from Italy's Unione Sindacale Di Base (USB), highlighting a historic display of solidarity among unions, students, and grassroots organizations.Before diving into these speeches, we cover important union news, including the World Health Organization's new report on climate change and workplace heat stress, alarming trends in worker surveillance technology, and a recent decision by the Fair Work Commission regarding industrial action at Solvay Interox. Join us as we explore the intersection of labor rights and global crises, emphasizing that peace is indeed union business.

On this episode of Stick Together, James speaks with Nina Crawley from Oxfam Australia about the new report Unravelling Exploitation, which exposes wage theft, forced labour and child labour in Bangladesh’s garment industry — and the links to Australian fashion brands. They discuss why current laws aren’t enough, how unions and workers are fighting back, and what we in Australia can do to push for systemic change.

Today we go to the Ecosocialist Conference held in Melbourne on the 6-7th of September at Balam Balam Place. We will hear from Jizelle Hanna, a former presenter on Stick Together presenter, who is now the Victorian Secretary of the CPSU, a feat which came about in a members lead win against an encumbent of 30 years standing. The session Jizelle is part of is called Organising workers in today's economy.

We report on the March for Australia rallies on the 31st of August.We follow this with part of a presentation here by Iza Camarillo for Trade Justice Education Fund from the US about her report Exporting Instability, Importing Exploitation - The Impacts of U.S. Trade Policy on Migration in Latin America here.

For this weeks episode we focus on the many different intersections between workers of every type and Palestine as well taking a front row seat to the Palestine Solidarity rallies that took place on the 24th of August where VTHC secretary Luke Hilakari spoke.

James speaks with former ASU (Australian services Union) delegate Jeff about his battle in fair work to win for his workplace. A winning story that took their fight to fair work to battle it out for 5 years before winning back unpaid wages to members. We also hear some current industrial actions in Union news.

We talk with Josh Cullinan, Secretary of RAFFWU the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union about the no vote in the upcoming eba negotiations with BWS & Dan Murphy's. We follow with Palestine as Union business with a speech by Arthur Rorris from the South Coast Labour Council at the most recent Sydney Palestine Rally.

Two stories this week the first looks at the CFMEU Administration and a move at the latest delegates meeting in Victoria to have the process of elections reignited and a move to show the Administration the door.The second story takes us to the large Save Public Housing Rally held on Aug 2 in Melbourne where the Victorian Government is determined to hand over public land to private developers, knocking down 44 Public Housing Towers leaving 10,000 more people looking for shelter in a housing crisis.

This episode Host James Brennan speaks on the cuts to NSW transport workers, as we hear from the NSW public service association industrial manager Nathan Bradshaw about the proposed cuts to public sector roles in the transport sector in NSW.

Speaker Panos Theodoropoulos will discuss major themes in his research, drawing from his immersive ethnographic research inside the UK’s warehouses, factories and kitchens. He explores how precarity shapes migrant lives — and how resistance to neoliberal systems still emerges from the ground up. Theodoropoulos will reflect on the intersections of migration, precarity, bordering and organising.

Two Union Worker victories and the beginning of what is shaping up to be a Union-wide stoush over the sacking of a Health and Safety Rep at an Aldi store for doing her job.The two victories include a win by the NTEU National Tertiary Education Union in the Federal Court for Monash University to pay back it's teaching staff, and the historic win of the CPSU Members Voice by a landslide which pushed out an executive that had held on for 32 years.