[Oz-envirolink] Greg's "My Future and the Future of the Rights at Work Campaign"

[Anne Goddard]

Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 8:59 PM

To: Greg Combet
gregcombet at rightsatwork.com.au

Dear Greg

I find it a very dishonourable thing that you have been running the rights
to work campaign whilst obviously considering (and now deciding) to run for
the ALP.

I imagine that all of those "generous donors" you have recognised are
pretty annoyed.
I know i am glad i was not foolish enough to donate!

I guess you support an expansion of the nuclear industry too... well,
obviously.
My opinion, every member of the ALP should be ashamed!

If this is the sort of behaviour we can expect from the ALP, then good luck
in getting votes... the ALP will NOT be getting my vote or my preferences,
and as you can see by the distribution list... i will be spreading my words.

Anne Goddard

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Greg Combet
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 4:43 PM
Subject: My Future and the Future of the Rights at Work Campaign

My Future and the Future of the Rights at Work Campaign

Dear Anne,

I'm writing to let you know that I have decided to stand as a candidate for
the ALP at this year's federal election. I will however remain as ACTU
secretary until I am, hopefully, elected to Parliament.

For years now I've had one goal driving me: fighting the Howard Government's
sustained attacks on working Australians. Most recently, this has been
alongside the unions, community groups, and supporters that joined together
to form the Rights at Work campaign.

Our campaign's primary, critical focus is getting rid of the industrial
relations laws by maximizing the vote against the Government at the polls.
We must win the election this year.

I believe it is my responsibility to contribute as best I can to achieving
this goal. Running as a Labor candidate on Kevin Rudd's team would help show
voters what I know to be true: that the ALP is serious about making
workplaces fair.

The defeat of the Howard Government this year is crucial, not just for
working Australians and their families, but for future generations.

We started this campaign with massive challenges. Now look where we are. Our
unprecedented television advertising, funded by the generosity of union
members and our supporters. The record number of people at our rallies. Our
activities in workplaces and the community. Look at the 170,000 people on
the Rights at Work email list, taking action, sharing ideas, and supporting
those affected by the laws. With your hard work, we have helped shape
national debate and changed public opinion.

The Rights at Work campaign is perhaps the most successful community
campaign this country has ever seen. We have already achieved this together.
But it must continue.

The Rights at Work campaign will maintain growth and intensity in the lead
up to the election. It has always been, and will always be, bigger than one
person and bigger than one organisation. The campaign is based on union and
community strength; on a shared belief in fairness and democracy in our
great country, and an overwhelming desire to keep our rights at work safe
for our kids.

Working as ACTU Secretary has allowed me to go into battle every day for
what I care about: standing up for the rights and opportunities of working
people. This is what I have done my whole working life. It is what I will
continue to fight for as I assume my new role as a candidate, and later, if
all goes well, as a Parliamentarian. I will miss this role, and the people I
work alongside, very much. However, it my belief that every conceivable
effort must be made to win this critical election and get these blatantly
biased and unfair laws overturned.

You will probably have a lot of questions. Please email us with any
questions or feedback. I won't be able to answer them personally, but over
the coming months I will be working hard to ensure our campaign continues
running smoothly and gathering pace towards the election later this year.

Thank you for all your support, and for your ongoing hard work on the
campaign.

Many thanks,

Greg Combet
ACTU Secretary

PS: I want to also take this opportunity to personally recognise our
generous donors whose online contributions have helped fund vital campaign
advertising and made a concrete, measurable impact on this campaign. Thank
you.


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