Industrial Workers of the World

Rally in support of striking Hazelwood workers Date and Time: Fri, 31/07/2009 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm Location: International Power, Rialto Tower, 525 Collins st Melbourne Contact Name: Dave Contact Phone: 0412 484 094

Emergency Services Officers at Morwell's Hazelwood power station have been striking for almost 4 months, demanding better pay and conditions on par with their follow workers at Yallourn and Loy Yang power plants, increased numbers and proper safety training. ESOs take on responsibilities in situations of fires, leakages, equipment failures and all other safety risks in the mine and the power plant. Yet their base rate of pay is just $19.32 per hour, only slightly above minimum wage. While the ESOs have been on strike, International Power have tried to distance themselves from the dispute. Yet they are fitting the bill for scab labourers who are not adequately trained for the work.

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On Sunday September 13, 2009 people from across Victoria, and Australia, will come together for a day of peaceful community mass civil disobedience and walk on to Switch off Hazelwood and Switch off Coal - taking action for renewable energy. Switch off Hazelwood- Switch off Coal is a day of fun, creative, inspiring direct community action at one of the main causes of climate change - coal burning power stations – specifically Hazelwood coal power station. There are many opportunities for people to get involved in making this event happen from joining the creative collective, media team, community outreach group or even helping with our fundraising trivia night on August 15. We are organising activist skilshare/traiing sessions where you can find out more about your legal rights and responsibilities, how to take part in a the walkon at Hazelwood and meet other people who will be taking action to Switch off Hazelwood.

More information on dates and locatiosn of these trainings can be found at www.switchoffhazelwood.org

If you would like to know more about the event, or how to get involved email us at info@switchoffhazelwood.org

or come along to our weekly organising meetings every Thursday, 6pm at the Climate Action Centre, 5th Floor, New Building, Victorian Trades Hall, Cnr Victoria and Lygon Sts, Carlton South.

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On Wednesday 8th July, environmental activists joined the picket line at the Hazelwood coal fired power station as part of the annual Students of Sustainability conference. Defying all dietary stereotypes, the Mining & Energy division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) cooked a vegetarian BBQ for the students. On Wednesday 8th July, it was clear that the interests of climate change activists and power workers are aligned. There'll be no jobs on a dead planet, and there'll be better workplace conditions in a renewables sector with workers control!

More info: call Liz, 0402 657 392

http://indymedia.org.au/2009/07/21/climate-change-activists-in-solidarity-with-striking-coal-workers

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In U$A: Violence Escalating Against Anti-Coal Activists by Mike Gaworecki Published July 23, 2009 http://globalwarming.change.org/blog/view/violence_escalating_against_anti-coal_activists