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. The example of militant mass action can serve as a beacon toother workers, showing what's needed to fight the bosses. Dangers Sectionalism threatens the unity of the unionmovement. The Yallourn Energy dispute saw how quickly even a well placedsection of the working class can be marginalised by a united front of the capitalist class. The emerging offensive struggle by militant sections of the class, whileimproving their own wages and conditions, could leave less organised,part-time, and casual workers behind.