Workers Power

New Year, same system.

31 December 2019

As we come into the new year we have a full house of Workers Power contributers in the studio: Feargal, Bill, Hannah, Steven, and Darrel, the Together union delegate at CITEC. In this episode we talk to Darrel about working and organising at CITEC, and what it is like to organise your workplace as a public servant.
We also go over all our scallywags this year and make the grand decision, who will be the scallywag of the year?

Songs played
Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name
A.B. Original - January 26
Kev Carmody - Thou Shalt Not Steal
Class War - Class Consciousness
The Stress of Leisure - Shark Killer
Pussy Riot - Hangerz
Bad//Dreems - Mob Rule
Rebel Diaz - Which Side Are You On?
Glomesh - Factory Heart
Thelma Plum - Better in Blak
Interpol - Evil
The Clash - The Call Up
The Coup - The Guillotine
Calle 13 - No Hay Nadie Como Tú

All I want for Christmas is decriminalisation of sex work

24 December 2019

This Christmas Eve we are talking to Eva from Decrim Qld about the reality of sex work, the laws regarding sex work in queensland, the difficulties and dangers they pose to sex workers, and the campaign for decriminalisation of sex work. We also talk a bit about the intercourse between sex work and feminism.

Songs played
Billy Bragg - The Internationale
Thelma Plum - Better in Blak
Emily Wurramara - Black Boy
K.Flay - Blood In The Cut
Cardi B - Money
Phantastic Ferniture - Fuckin 'n' Rollin
Some Jerks - A Million Girls
HEXDEBT - Loops
Roo - Malicious Delicious
Valley Latini - Pay My Rent
Yothu Yindi - Treaty

Organising paramedics (not ambulance drivers).

17 December 2019

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.

10 December 2019

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

Workers Power debut

3 December 2019

No guests but plenty to talk about. With action from CFMEU - Construction & General, MEAA, AMIEU Queensland Branch, Independent Education Union - Queensland & Northern Territory Branch, and a special report on lots of action from the new fighting union United Workers Union including a Scallywag looking for redemption. Our Scallywag of the week is perfect example of one rule for us and one rule for them. We also have international struggle and local events. Phew! You can see why we need 2 hours.

Songs played
The Clash - Something About England
Warumpi Band - Blackfella/Whitefella
The Mob - Speak With Me
Class War - Killin Us
Ausecuma Beats - You Never Know
Glomesh - Factory Heart
Redskins - Unionise
WAAX - FU
Adele & The Chandeliers - German On My Mind
Majestic Horses - Call You Out
Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Man

Negotiating for catholic school workers, Free West Papua, and workplace injuries.

26 November 2019

Left to right - Feargal, Brad, Bill

Welcome to the final episode of The Workers Hour, as we are now Workers Power, and we will have a two hour show from 10-12am Tuesday. This week we are joined by Brad, the assistant secretary of the Independent Education Union, QLD and NT branch. To discuss the ongoing EBA negotiations for catholic school workers. Then we have Ash Brennan, who has been organising solidarity gigs for the Free West Papua Campaign, come to the Rockin' for West Papua gig at Banshees Bar & Artspace this Saturday at 7pm. Finally we have Ganesh from Sciaccas Lawyers to discuss how to deal with all the legalities involved when fate deals you a workplace injury.
The Internet Archive, which we use to host the recordings of this show, is running a 2 to 1 matching campaign, so any donations you make to it will be tripled. To support Workers Power, along with all the other amazing work that The Internet Archive does, consider donating.

Songs played
Roaring Jack - The Lads of the B.L.F.
Bwgcolman Mob - Time Will Tell
Doxa - Carrier
Ska-P - El Vals del Obrero
Some Jerks - A Million Girls
Roo - Malicious Delicious
The Saints - Know Your Product
Billy Bragg - There Is Power in a Union
Dropkick Murphys - Worker's Song
Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopia
Civil Villains - Soapbox
HEXDEBT - Loops
Midnight Oil - Kosciusko
The Dubliners - The Molly Maguires
The Chameleons - Up the Down Escalator
INXS - Mystify
David Bridie - Act of Free Choice
Last Quokka - Privilege

The legendary Bob Carnegie, the IWW, the trade unions, and climate change

19 November 2019

We've got another long show this week as we fill in for Echo Boom after they had their final show last week. Since Bill was off fighting for RAFFWU members we had Jaxom fill in for him.
We are joined by Bob Carnegie, former state secretary of the MUA, member of the IWW, and long-time working class activist, to discuss various topics including the IWW in the US, climate change, the state of trade unions in Australia and their future.
We also discuss solidarity unionism, and workers actions from the TWU, the ETU, the brand new UWU, and more.

Songs played
Last Quokka - Privilege
Drmngnow - Australia Does Not Exist
Billy Bragg - Joe Hill
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Against The Wind
Majestic Horses - Call You Out
Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows
Chakra Efendi - Morphine
Lunchtime - Deception Bay
Waax- FU
BOAT SHOW - I Don't Get It
flangipanis - Scully
The Clash - Up In Heaven
Alla Spina - Getting Nowhere
Sonic Youth - Youth Against Fascism
Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Hero
Birdz - Black Lives Matter
A.B. Original - 2 Black 2 Strong
Soundgarden - Blow Up The Outside World
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