Coles Xmas Lockout

This week we chat with Debbie and Craig from United Workers Union about the Coles Smeaton Grange struggle. These are workers who have kept our shelves filled with essentials during the pandemic. Hear about their plight as they stand up and fight back. There is also plenty of workers action around the globe to report, Bill gives us another rant against the IR Omnibus Bill and of course the world famous scallwag of the week.

We are also coming up to our highly anticipated announcement of the scallywag of the year next week! We have chosen a shortlist of scummy bosses from the winners over this year who've either won more than once or done something particularly grubby. This year we are putting the power in your hands to make the decision. To have your say take a look at the previous post. And if you want to make an endorsement, or just complain about your boss, send us an email at workerspower4zzz@gmail.com

And, as a Christmas gift for us, Workers Power has sick new intro, a huge thanks to Chris Bingham from The Starvation Orchestra for creating it.

Let them hug their kids.

We talk with Kirsty from United Workers Union about how the federal government plans to take the razor to the Child Education Sector. This effects predominately women workers; those that work there and those that rely on them to support their families. As well as affecting the children, when the workers don't have enough to take care of themselves, it makes it difficult to take care of others. It is simply a continuation of the government's contempt for women and children.

We also have interviews with Sam Woripa Watson and Fletch to take you to the frontlines of the struggle to free 120 refugee workers who have been detained indefinitely at a hotel at Kangaroo Point for eight months, this is in addition to the seven years they spent in the dark stains on the history of humanity that are the Manus and Nauru detention centres.

International Working Women's Day special

Left to right - Justine, Dani, Sally, Hannah, Dani

We have a special all-women episode this week to celebrate International Working Women's Day this 8th March. As such we have guest co-host Dani from No Apologies on 4zzz. Our first guests (starting at 39m40s) this week are Linda and Kirsten from the United Workers Union, to talk about organising early education/childcare workers. Our second guests (starting at 1h08m20s) are Justine from The Services Union, and Sally and Dani from the Community and Public Sector Union, to talk about women's issues in their organising work.
Come along to IWWD this 8th March.

Songs played
Glitoris - Slut Power 0:00:00
Thelma Plum - Better In Blak 0:09:06
Being Jane Lane - Be Okay 0:12:15
Cable Ties - Self-Made Man 0:15:13
Class War - Class Consciousness 0:20:42
flangipanis - In The Bin 0:27:19
Lexicon - Greatness 0:27:55
The Double Happiness - Spooky Tiki (Theremin Remix)0:34:52
Good Boy - Extended Heavy 0:37:00
The Grates - Science Is Golden 0:46:57
Mitch, Please - Rubbish 0:49:50
Eliza & The Delusionals - Swimming Pool 0:53:32
Leanne Tennant - Everspin 1:04:54
Majestic Horses - Signal 1:19:03
The Slits - Typical Girls 1:34:10
Alex Lahey - Sucker For Punishment 1:43:34
Bluss - Shut Up Becky 1:45:56

Grill'd workers bring the heat

This week we have Mitch on the show, who is a delegate at Grill'd Workers United, to talk about the campaign to organise Grill'd workers.

Songs played
Phil Monsour - Solidarity Forever
Baker Boy ft JessB - Meditjin
Warumpi Band - Blackfella/Whitefella
Mitch, Please - Rubbish
Cable Ties - Sandcastles
Dicklord - Moll on the dole
Budd - Kairos
Last Quokka - Colony
Magic Dirt - Daddy
Regurgitator - Fat Cop
TISM - Whatareya

Organising paramedics (not ambulance drivers).

Left to right - Jaxom, Dan, Debbie, Feargal

This week we are joined by Debbie, lead organiser for paramedics in the United Workers Union, and Dan, delegate for UWU and a paramedic himself. We discuss the experiences of paramedics on the job including violence and mental health issues, as well as the experience of organising paramedics.

Songs played
Midnight Oil - Cold Cold Change
Bwgcolman Mob - Time Will Tell
Nickelback - When We Stand Together
Strawbs - Part Of The Union
Billy Bragg - There Is Power In A Union
WAAX - Same Same
Kate Tempest - Europe Is Lost
Zounds - War/Subvert
Warumpi Band - Secret War
Bitumen - Twice Shy
Last Quokka - Privilege

A very striking week. UWU fights the rotten PMFresh, and First Union cottons on to Cotton On in NZ.

Left to Right - Bill, Imogen, Feargal

This week we are joined by Imogen, who is an organiser for the United Workers Union, to talk about a potential strike at PMFresh, which supplies salads to various businesses such as Hungry Jack's or Woolworths. The strike has now been called off as all the demands were met.
We also talk to Ben, who is an organiser for First Union, to talk about the Cotton On workers' strike.

Songs played
Strawbs - Part Of The Union
Thelma Plum - Better in Blak
Indigenoise - Shrap
Billy Bragg - There Is Power in a Union
Gerry and the Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone
Tape/Off - Work Xmas Party
The Stress of Leisure - I Wanna Be Adult
Endless Summer - Full Power Happy Hour
Split Enz - I See Red
First Beige - Desire
Gang Of Four - To Hell With Poverty