Stick Together

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).

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

"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

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.

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. We go 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. 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. and we find out more about the how Italian Unions were able to successfully manager 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.