MEDIA RELEASE 5/12/00

[Stafford Sanders]

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MEDIA RELEASE 5/12/00
Unions, Greens, Aid & Welfare Groups
Back Vision for Jobs and Justice 



CAMPAIGN 2001
National Day of Action, Wednesday December 6
Sydney Rally:   12 noon at Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park


The Greens will join trade unionists, environmental, aid, peace and justice groups in a historic rally in Sydney tomorrow (Wednesday December 6).
Campaign 2001 is the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union campaign for improved job security, fair trade and a better way of life.
Says The Greens MLC (NSW) Lee Rhiannon: "We're urging State and Federal governments to support the AMWU's campaign which integrates industrial, social and environmental considerations."
The Greens and AID/WATCH have co-ordinated efforts to gather support for the campaign.  It's backed by groups as diverse as Animal Liberation, the CFMEU, Community Aid Abroad, Earth Repair Foundation, Financial Sector Union, People for Nuclear Disarmament, Rainforest Information Centre, Search Foundation, UNSW Student Guild, and Youth Action and Policy Association.  
"It's the first time such a broad range of groups have publicly endorsed an industry claim", says Ms Rhiannon. "That's because the campaign includes ground-breaking measures going well beyond the focus of normal industrial politics - including for example, workplace environmental committees, improved parental leave, childcare and breastfeeding provisions."
Adds AID/WATCH Director James Arvanitakis: ""With 60,000 jobs lost in Australian manufacturing in the last two years, unions are right to be concerned at the effects of open-slather globalisation not just on Third World but on Australian industries. 
"Laws regulating social welfare, workplace conditions and the environment shouldn't be characterised as 'barriers'. That plays into the hands of global exploiters and polluters. Groups like AID/WATCH are committed to working with the union movement and the International Labour Organisation to develop fair trade guidelines."
Media inquiries:     (The Greens) 	Stafford Sanders   	ph. 0409 787 911
	      	(Aid/Watch) 	James Arvanitakis  	ph. 0419 617 557	


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