The Vintage Reds are concerned at the lack of public debate and transparency on the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership.
Vintage Reds Submission Regarding the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)
27 February 2015
Category Archives: News
New useful information websites
Vintage Reds have long been concerned that the concentration of media ownership in Australia leads to overly conservative press.
Some time ago we started collecting websites that we found to be useful for gaining a more balanced view of issues of interest in Australia and the world in general.
A couple of good new sites have just been added to our list –
http://www.aldaily.com/
http://www.jubileeaustralia.org/
A L Daily (Arts & Letters Daily) is a cornucopia of ideas, criticism, culture, history, disputes etc. Short descriptions of a huge range of articles, opinion pieces and publications. This site is gold (even if it can consume your entire day!).
Jubilee Australia began as a movement of ordinary people speaking out against the injustice of ‘third world’ debt. More than a decade later it remains a critical voice in Australia, and a dynamic member of the international movement for global justice. They seem most active in relation to their ‘Voices of Bougainville’ report.
To see the consolidated list of suggested websites, sign up.
Report on Vintage Reds Lunch Thursday 26th @ the RUC Turner
What a fantastic time! I think the Penster said it best > “It was very pleasant – good food and company and a very pleasant setting.”
Eleven intrepid VRs enjoyed a very pleasant lunch & the RUC got 2 new members!
Saturday arvo was also interesting at the RUC. It was pumping with the Canberra City Pipe & Drum Band performing & some strange function with some dressed to the 9’s, & some to the 0’s (we think ‘Pretty in Pink’ may have been a theme for some & the young bearded wonders looked a bit strange in the pink dresses!). There also seemed to be a group sporting green attire!
Almost a bit too interesting!
We hear that there are going to be a few changes to the menu, so we may consider the RUC again for March’s lunch.
Stay tuned for future details . . .
Dennis Gazlay
Australian Labour History Society Conference, Melbourne University, February 2015
A group of Canberra’s Vintage Reds – Don Dwyer, Peter Ellett, Jane Timbrell and Bob McFadden – who attended the Australian Labour History Society Conference, at Queens College, Melbourne University, held on 11-13 February 2015.
Maintaining the Rage
Jane has written a new article for the Australian Unions’ Working Life blog. (Originally at http://workinglife.org.au/2014/10/08/maintaining-the-rage-long-into-retirement/)
“I QUICKLY learned that after retirement there is a whole new world for a committed trade unionist and there is much for us to do.
It is not hard to feel concern for our old work colleagues or for the next generation of workers confronted everyday by the outrageous excesses of the Abbott Government.
Retirement has also made me look at all the other hard earned rights and privileges that the union movement has won for our society.
I am thinking of superannuation, the aged pension, Medicare: all of which provide me and other retirees with a comfortable retirement.”
About Vintage Reds
[Source: Chris Bourke, chrisbourke.com.au/2014/02/18/vintage-reds/, Feb 18, 2014]
Vintage Reds, a new network of retired progressive unionists in the Canberra region was officially launched by ACTU President Ged Kearney at the Unions ACT offices in Mitchell on 15-2-14. In the photo at the launch I am with Jane Timbrell, one of the founders of Vintage Reds, Ged Kearney and Kim Sattler, Unions ACT Secretary.
Vintage Reds gives older unionists a chance to socialise, support each other and continue to be involved in campaigning using the skills acquired over a lifetime.
Ged Kearney praised Vintage Reds and said they can play an important role in supporting the struggles for workers’ rights especially when the union movement and retirees are under sustained pressure from the new federal government.
To contact the Vintage Reds email vintagereds.canberra@gmail.com
Unionism’s retired ranks dust off their cards
[Source: Noel Towell, canberratimes.com.au/act-news/unionisms-retired-ranks-dust-off-their-cards-20140214-32rog.html, February 15, 2014]
Their days as union firebrands might be long behind them, but a group of Canberra’s retired workplace activists reckons the flames never really go out.
Hundreds of retired union members from around the capital are answering the call to arms from Vintage Reds, a new group set up to try to unleash the untapped grey potential of the Australian union movement. Continue reading