Employers have soughtto wring new concessions out of workers, by imposing harsher work conditions, plus changes to hours and over-timerates. This was the crux of the struggle at Yallourn Energy, which is stillsimmering despite Premier Bracks' shameful decision to force theworkers back to work. Employers' attempts to effectivelydeploy the Federal Government's anti-union laws, have also figuredprominently. The crude attempts by BHP to force its workersin the Pilbara in WA out of the unions and onto individual contracts,provoked workers in other states to take action. An important reason for growing industrialunrest is the capitalist economic boom itself.
Everyday workers hear of new record profits and obscene salaries of seniormanagement.
Workers rightly want a greater share in the wealth their labourhas created. For example, construction unions are demanding a 24 per centpay increase over three years,and a 36-hour working week. The growing war on Victorian work sites presents both opportunities anddangers. Workers stand to preserve existing gains, and improve their present wagesand conditions. Renewed militancy creates the potential to empower the rankand file of the unions, giving greater confidence in fighting the FederalGovernment's anti-union laws and bosses' union bashing.