In August 2003 at the ACTU's (Australian Council of Trade Unions) national congress held in Melbourne, a motion was passed unanimously supporting the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta's campaign against the proposed national nuclear waste dump.
The motion was a 'Policy Priority for Action' and reads:
"The ACTU and affiliated unions stand in solidarity with the Indigenous communities in opposition to the nuclear waste dump proposed for South Australia."
This policy was passed as part of the new ACTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Policy, a policy that recognises 'that the destiny of the Australian union movement is entwined with the destiny of Australia's Indigenous peoples'.
Visit <www.actu.asn.au/congress2003/draftpolicies/indigenouspolicy.html> to view the entire policy.
Thank you to all the ACTU congress delegates for their support of the Irati Wanti Campaign.
That the UTLC support the CFMEU in it's opposition to the establishment of any Nuclear Waste Dumping Facility in South Australai, and calls on all SA unions to ban the construction of and provision of services to any dump.
In addition the UTLC supports the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta in opposing the building of a nuclear dump on their land.
The United Trades and Labor Council last night endorsed a state wide black ban on the construction of a nuclear waste dump in South Australia.
It adds weight to a similar ban recently imposed by the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union).
UTLC Secretary, Janet Giles says the unanimous vote means that members of the 30 UTLC affiliated unions will refuse to be involved in the construction of the project, or the supply of products and services for it.
"We're sick of the Federal Government treating South Australia as a wasteland. Our vote reflects the views of the majority of South Australians, who don't want to see our state become the dumping ground for the nation's poison."
"If the waste disposal methods are as safe as the Commonwealth claims, store it at Kirribilli House", Ms Giles says.
"The UTLC is also committed to working with the Kupa Piti Kunga Tjuta - the traditional owners of the land earmarked for this flawed project - to prevent it proceeding. South Australia has endured appalling radioactive pollution as a result of the Maralinga debakle; we deserve no more."
"The UTLC will attend Parliament House on Tuesday for the Legislative Council vote on this issue, and urges MP's to heed the views of their electors and say 'no' to this toxic legacy," Ms Giles says.
South Australia's peak union body has enforced a blackban on construction of a nuclear waste dump in the state. The United Trades and Labor Council (UTLC) executive last night endorsed a statewide ban on building a proposed low-level radioactive waste repository near Woomera in the state's north.
The federal government has earmarked a Woomera location as its preferred site for the dump, with a final decision expected by the end of the month.
A similar union blackban on constructing the dump was recently imposed by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
UTLC state secretary Janet Giles said last night's unanimous vote by the council's executive meant members of 30 unions affiliated to the UTLC would refuse to be involved in constructing the dump, or in supplying products and services for it.
"We're sick of the federal government treating South Australia as a wasteland," Ms Giles said today. "Our vote reflects the views of the majority of South Australians who don't want our state to become the dumping ground for the nation's poison."
The UTLC had also committed to work with the traditional land owners of the proposed Woomera site, the Kupa Piti Kunga Tjuta people, to prevent the dump proceeding, Ms Giles said. "South Australia has endured appalling radioactive pollution as a result of the Maralinga debacle, we deserve no more," she said.
"That in solidarity with the UTLC, CFMEU and the UTLC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unionists Network, the AEU opposes the establishment of any nuclear waste dumping facility in South Australia."