United Voice News
In this issue:
1. High praise for LHMU partner
2. Misery behind the luxury
3. Putting down the roots of community
4. Farewell Jane Farrell
5. Community notices
Dear friend,
When we work together, the difference we make to our community is inspirational.
Just look at the powerful changes we have brought about within Moonee Valley.
When we joined forces with Victoria Police to help the growing African community build a voice and find a foothold in our society — more and more of our friends were keen to get involved.
It is so great to see one of our partners, Inspector Nigel Howard receive recognition for this work.
The programs we have worked on together — like the Kokoda Annual Youth Trek and the Service Stars Jobs Alliance — are helping the area’s youth and their families every day.
In this e-news you will also read about Margarita Murray-Stark. She is part of the invisible army of migrant women who clean Melbourne’s luxury hotel rooms. These workers are fed up with dangerous workloads, unacceptable injury rates and poverty wages. They are demanding respect from their employers and support from their community.
We’re also celebrating another successful community planting day at Moonee Ponds Creek. Volunteers from across the Valley came together to give a little back to Mother Earth.
And we farewell former LHMU Victorian President, Jane Farrell. Jane has spent 23 years fighting passionately for the rights of low-paid workers. We look forward to working with Jane in her new role with Service Stars. We also welcome our new branch president, Marie Angrilli.
In unity,
Cyndy Connole
Community Coordinator
LHMU Victoria
High praise for LHMU partner
Former Moonee Valley top cop awarded two of the force’s most prestigious gongs
Inspector Nigel Howard was named the Blue Ribbon Foundation Police Officer of the Year only weeks after receiving the Australian Police Medal.
Inspector Howard (pictured) said he was “shocked and honoured” to receive the APM for commendable service.
He was also announced Police Officer of the Year — in recognition of his community engagement work — at the Blue Ribbon Foundation annual breakfast.
“I was absolutely humbled by that award; to be recognised by the community means a lot to me.”
He left Moonee Valley Police last year to set up the state’s mobile operational response unit.
But his time in the area transformed the relationship between police and its growing African community.
“We really focussed on the youth’s acceptance of the police and fostering a positive connection.”
Nigel said he owes a lot to his partnership with LHMU.
“I would never have dreamed that getting involved with LHMU would lead to such community-strengthening programs.”
The LHMU-backed Kokoda Annual Youth Trek sees police and Mooney Valley’s at-risk youth build strong bonds on their way up the gruelling 96 kilometre track.
The Service Stars Jobs Alliance ensures LHMU and the police work together to bring good union jobs to the community.
“It is important we all get to live decent lives with access to the same opportunities no matter who we are or where we’re from,” Insp. Howard said.
Misery behind the luxury
An invisible migrant workforce is demanding basic respect
Margarita Murray-Stark has worked as a hotel room attendant for 15 years.
“I love my job; I like the way room attendants really work together,” she said.
Margarita (pictured) works at St Kilda Road’s Parkview Hotel. Over the years, room attendants have been given more and more work but no extra time.
“There is so much pressure to get the work done — often 18 rooms in 8 hours — but not enough time.”
Room attendants are putting their bodies on the line to meet their impossible workloads.
“I have so many friends that have permanent damage to their back, knees and shoulders,” she said.
“They have had major operations and some are suffering so severely they have had to resign.”
Margarita, who migrated to Australia from the Philippines in the early 80s, became a hotel worker to support her two children. She said there are many migrant women working in the industry.
“Hotels target migrants because they are desperate to get a job quickly — then they exploit them by giving them huge workloads for very little money.”
Margarita believes it is time room attendants spoke out.
“We do a very important job and we deserve to be treated with respect!”
Room attendants across Melbourne are standing together for better jobs. They are calling on the community for support.
Putting down the roots of community
Trees aren’t the only thing budding at Moonee Ponds Creek
Over 140 volunteers from across the Moonee Valley came together recently to connect with their environment and each other at CityLink’s Putting Down the Roots Festival.
The LHMU-backed event brought together school children, state and federal politicians and members of the Indigenous, Chinese and African communities on the banks of Moonee Ponds Creek.
Together they planted 300 trees — forging a strong connection with the land and their neighbours.
CityLink Neighbourhood Connections Program Coordinator Bronwyn Riddell said the day was a huge success.
“It was fantastic. The presence of all the different communities blew me away.”
Wurundjeri Elder, Ian Hunter (pictured), opened the day with a ‘smoking ceremony.’
“He handed the children a leaf which is the symbolic representation of a passport to the land,” Bronwyn said.
“That was one of the delights of the day: watching the children get really involved and plant their leaves in the ground.”
Farewell Jane Farrell
After 23 years with our union Jane is taking on new challenges
Retired LHMU Victoria President Jane Farrell has stepped down to become the Director of the Service Stars Community Jobs Alliance.
Since 2008, Service Stars has been training and placing people from disadvantaged communities in decent jobs with union employers.
The LHMU program enjoyed such huge success that it has become an independent organisation — with Jane at the helm.
“Service Stars can now strengthen its support base by bringing in other industry partners — increasing job opportunities for participants,” said Jane (pictured).
“I am grateful for the support the LHMU has pledged to Service Stars and look forward to delivering many more decent union jobs to refugees and migrants.”
“This new work will never be dull and will be ever changing and rewarding — just like my union!”
In her 23 years with LHMU Jane has helped drive innovation and change in the union movement, particularly for women.
Cleaning industry leader and activist Marie Angrilli has become LHMU’s new Victorian president.
Community notices
Sunday 10 October
International Day of Climate Action
We will be rallying at Hazelwood since it's Australia's most greenhouse gas-intensive power station, and one of the dirtiest in the industrialised world! We'll also be drawing attention to the real solutions by constructing a model solar thermal power station. But we need your help to build it, so please RSVP for this event to help us make this happen.
Rod Quantock will MC and there'll be a range of inspiring speakers, great music, and kid’s activities.
For more information visit our website.
Hazelwood is 2 hours east of Melbourne. We'll be assisting you with transport so please RSVP so we can help you get there.
Click here to RSVP
Click here to visit the website
Friday 15 October – Sunday 17 October
Latin American, Australian & Asia Pacific Solidarity Gathering
"Building bridges and global resistance against Multinational Corporations"
Grassroots activists & Indigenous representatives from a range of organisations, communities and movements will share ideas, experiences and stories of struggle inside their own countries against global capitalism. Our purpose in coming together is to educate ourselves and one another in order to build new, global models of solidarity to combat global corporate tyranny.
Objectives of this gathering:
• To share experiences of struggle to inform and build solidarity.
• Achieve a clear resolution on united and internationalist action against corporate tyranny.
• To explore developing a popular/community tribunal/ watchdog to monitor and disseminate
publicly on the behaviour of Multinationals
For more information please contact: Marisol (0413 597 315), Michael (0438 496433), Rebecca (0439 503839), James (0417 732698), Tully (0410 388187), Sam (0422 507758) or visit our website.
Click here to download flyer
Click here to visit the website
Sunday 14 November
Hanover ConnectEast Ride for Home
Hanover and ConnectEast, with the support of The Age, will be conducting a major fundraising cycling event on EastLink.
There are three levels of entries:
• Corporate Challenge: 30 teams of 10 @ $10,000 sponsorship — timed, 70 km.
• Individual Challenge: 70 km timed challenge for the serious cyclist, the entire length of EastLink, no cars, no lights!
• Recreational Ride: 35 km for cyclists of all abilities; individuals, families (children must be over 10 years of age) and social teams.
If you can’t participate I would urge you to consider sponsoring a rider – the money will go to support our work with people experiencing homelessness.
Click here to download flyer
Click here to register today
