http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-04/trade-unions-to-continue-campaign-against-...

An alliance of trade unions has vowed to step up its campaign against federal Labor frontbencher Gary Gray, after a meeting today failed to resolve concerns about foreign workers.

Leaders from some of Western Australia's biggest unions met Mr Gray in Fremantle this morning.

They are angry with him for supporting an enterprise migration agreement with Gina Rinehart, one that will allow her to recruit about 1,700 foreign workers.

After meeting for more than an hour, union leaders said Mr Gray failed to allay their concerns about Australian workers being overlooked for jobs.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union's state secretary, Steve McCartney, says as a result, unions will continue to campaign for more transparency in the EMA.

"He hasn't convinced any of us of his position, our position is still the same, and if we have to keep lobbying to get that position up then we'll keep lobbying the best way we can," he said.

Unions have also warned Mr Gray not to take his Labor Party pre-selection for granted.

Mr Gray says he is not concerned by the threats.

"I've been a member of the Labor Party for over 35 years," he said.

"I've been the national secretary of the party and I've been a member of parliament; none of us takes seriously argument, references, angry words about pre-selection."

I dont get it. What is the problem? Aussies get first dibs.

SOB

Umm - in a way the Unions - along with the factions and indeed the Party(ies) itself(themselves) - have always bent the preselection process.

This is nowhere more apparent than in the current Labor quota system of 40% men, 40% women and 20% open (while the push is on for 50% women as CEOs regardless of the preference of sovereign companies).  This is effectively branch-stacking at a Party level, and is agenda-driven rather than popularly driven.

The fact remains that, regardless of how we - the ordinary people - choose to look at it - we are hand-fed the candidates the Parties require - and nowhere more apparently than in Labor in recent years with its move away from local pre-selection by local membership.

This is but one argument I have with Labor (stick around!).

That said - the Unions still hold some power - though theoretically not as much as they used to - though one wonders when our 'Prime Minister' is a Union derivative......

Footnote:-  Kevin Rudd - held to be Mr 62% over La Gillard in today's polls - is cursed with the label of 'populist' in Labor circles.  One wonders what politics is all about if it is not 'populist' in accordance with the informed will of the people.

_{“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
― John Adams}

Maqqa wrote on Jun 4^th, 2012 at 4:50pm:




we I think have always known that.. however its unlike them [the unions] to advertise it..

not a good look for gillard.. we know she the unions favorite..thats why she is still there..

however I dont think many like the hidden power they seem to have over the running of this country..


I think....the unions are going the same way as they did with workchoices..

its all about their job..more than anything else..

labor will have to promise this lot heaps of jobs in the future on govt benches...

can anyone see Howes up for the next big promotion????

anything to shut him up.


anyone have any idea how we the public will know. 

if Gina employs aussies before foreigners.??

will we have access to her employment list?

Prevailing wrote on Jun 4^th, 2012 at 7:31pm:


you really are a fool. in fact youd have to improve greatly to be even a fool.

So what are some people saying here - that elected MPs should not be accountable?

Isn't that accountability an essential part of a democratic process? Apparently not in some people's view.

Let's face it, the usual suspects would have no interest in this if it wasn't for the union involvement.

What is it about trade unions that sets conservatives off? They have no problem with organisations representing farmers, lawyers, manufacturers, accountants, mining companies.....but if workers have an organisation to speak for them and represent their interests they are regarded by some as the embodiment of evil.

How come, Maqqa?

And big business interests don't support the LNP?

But, of course, that's different.

Unions, like any other private organisations, are entitled to take whatever stance they wish. What gives you the right to dictate what they do?