Among the speakers were Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre lawyer Tamar Hopkins, Aboriginal activist Robbie Thorpe, journalist and researcher into Australian deaths in custody Gerry Georgatos and anti-racism activist Louisa Bassini - these four were invited as speakers on the topic of police brutality and racism however none of them belong to the political group or affiliated to it that coordinated the event. More than one people came to listen to them.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trades-hall-ties-cut-by-police-associa...
Trades Hall ties cut by police association
Dan Oakes
July 5, 2012
The Socialist Alternative forum held at Trades Hall was a factor in the split.
THE police union has split from Victoria's peak union body after a socialist group was allowed to hire a room at Trades Hall for a forum about police brutality and racism.
Police Association boss Greg Davies told The Age the 14-year relationship with the Victorian Trades Hall Council had broken down for a number of reasons, but that the Socialist Alternative forum was a significant factor.
''The Socialist Alternative - not an affiliated party with the Trades Hall Council - put posters up all over various shopping centres that screamed 'police racism and violence','' he said.
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''They had four people who you could never say are friends of the police speaking at a public forum, and given such titles as 'industry expert on police racism'. They put the boot into our members in a very one-sided public forum and we thought that was a bit rude, given that we're paying substantial amounts in affiliation fees to Trades Hall Council.''
The union had demanded in the lead-up to the forum that it be cancelled, and Mr Davies said he was told it would be. But, the organisers objected and the meeting went ahead.
Among the speakers were Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre lawyer Tamar Hopkins, Aboriginal activist Robbie Thorpe, journalist and researcher into Australian deaths in custody Gerry Georgatos and anti-racism activist Louisa Bassini.
''There's no doubt that there was a large body of people … already uncomfortable with the idea of police being aligned with the Trades Hall Council,'' Mr Davies said.
Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd said he was disappointed but not surprised by the police union's decision.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trades-hall-ties-cut-by-police-associa...
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Forum about police brutality causes police union to split away
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/brutal-treatment-union-split-after-spe...
Brutal treatment: union split after speakers 'put the boot' into police
Dan Oakes
July 4, 2012
The police union has split from Victoria’s peak union body, after a socialist group was allowed to hire a room at Trades Hall for a forum about police brutality.
Police Association boss Greg Davies told The Age the 14-year relationship with the Victorian Trades Hall Council had broken down for a number of reasons, but that the Socialist Alternative-organised forum was a significant factor.
‘‘The Socialist Alternative — not an affiliated party with the Trades Hall Council — put posters up all over various shopping centres that screamed ‘police racism and violence’,’’ Mr Davies said.
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‘‘They had four people who you could never say are friends of the police speaking at a public forum, and given such titles as ‘industry expert on police racism’. They put the boot into our members in a very one-sided public forum and we thought that was a bit rude, given that we’re paying substantial amounts in affiliation fees to Trades Hall Council.’’
The union had demanded in the lead up to the forum that it be cancelled, and Mr Davies said he was told it would be. However, it then went ahead.
Among the speakers were Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre lawyer Tamar Hopkins, aboriginal activist Robbie Thorpe, journalist and researcher into Australian deaths in custody Gerry Georgatos and anti-racism activist Louisa Bassini.
Mr Davies said the split would have little practical impact, as the union is part of the federal industrial relations framework.
‘‘We had an affiliation for 14 of our 95-year history. It was a very professional and productive arrangement for most of that time, but there’s been a divergence of views on how our membership are treated,’’ Mr Davies said.
‘‘There’s no doubt that there was a large body of people within the trade union movement, the police association and the general public who were already uncomfortable with the idea of police being aligned with the Trades Hall Council.’’
The police union has traditionally been viewed as being at arms length from other unions due to the perceived conservative leanings of its members. It is also arguably the most politically powerful union in the state, and is viewed as having been crucial in Labor’s defeat of the Kennett Government in 1999.
Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd said that he was disappointed but not surprised by the police union’s decision, and that the 14 years in which it was affiliated had been productive and worthwhile.
He said Mr Davies had agreed that the union and the council should maintain good relations and be prepared to discuss issues of mutual importance.