Concrete Gang - 25th September 1977 program

• Reading full statement from the BLF, after serving its log of claims on the employers at the arbitration commission, on September 21st, following four months of campaigning:
  “We're prepared to cop conciliation and arbitration on our claims, if the builders:
  1. Restore all annual leave entitlements,
  2. reinstate labourers sacked in VIC on 2nd August, and
  3. agree to pay the 1.9% indexation increase back to the 24th May back when it came in, and 2% indexation increase recently awarded…”

• Includes information on the ‘penal power’ bans clauses - with the builders having successfully applied to insert section 32 in the award (shades of the 1969 Clarrie O’Shea case at play); current moves by the BWIU & AWU; the Federal Management Committee’s decision not to pay any fines; and no choice but to fight - or all working people face the consequences.

• Reading some 'Sun' articles for comment: 'Rise for MP's Payment' (approx. three weeks ago), and 'Judges will get a payrise of $3000 under legislation introduced in the State Parliament yesterday...' from today's paper.

• SONG: 'Flash Jack' by The Bushwackers new album 'Murrumbidgee'

• Economic crisis at the moment & actions of other unions: NSW amalgamation of BWIU & AWU, and reading part of a leaflet, 'Not The Right Way to Work' printed by QLD branch of BWIU who condemn their own union for going against the interests of the membership, including quotes from Huey Hamilton, the BWIU QLD branch secretary.

• Wider discussions with first-hand accounts of union democracies in action - Collins Place job, carpenters and plumbers, then suburban jobs, ‘Long Island’, etc

• SONG: 'The Frozen Logger' by Odetta

• Commentary on Pat Clancy's BWIU, and his television feature last Sunday night, with comments that align with MBA and Government.

• Discussion of uranium issue; a ‘Mr Grosman’ visited from U.S. with some insights:  'American union leaders had already made up their minds about uranium and would not allow any discussions like the one at the ACTU Congress... Australians have a great country, I hope you save it.' .

• Mario reads 'Jet Uranium up for Scrap' from the Herald, & discusses ACTU calls for referendum.

Presenters: 'Gabby', 'Mario', ' Colin', 'Willie', 'Harold’, and more.

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