Police bash union organiser

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Police bash union organiser

MELBOURNE: Kitchen staff at the Preston Hospital recently struck and mounted a picket line outside their workplace. Although the details are sketchy at present, we understand that the dispute was triggered by moves towards privatisation which would have led to job losses. They deserve the support of the entire workers' movement in their struggle.

The police response has been all-too-predictable. They have been herding scabs into the kitchens and bashing anyone who gets in their way. We understand that an organiser from the kitchen workers' trade union was severely battered by these licensed thugs and was hospitalised as a result. This kind of thing is depressingly familiar; for example these hooligans bashed middle-aged migrant women on the Michaelis Bayley picket line and waded in with horses and batons against the Spotswood glass workers last year.

Militant believes that it is high time that the Trades Hall Council launched an inquiry into police violence against workers. Individual unions would be well-advised to arrange for all such confrontations to be videotaped.

The police may feel that they have open slather to bash workers senseless in Kennett's Victoria, but we must stand together to prevent what will otherwise lead to even greater tragedy. Otherwise there is every danger that workers will be maimed for life or even killed in these vicious and cowardly attacks.