Open Letter
Pro Vax, Pro Union, Anti-fascist
We, the undersigned, condemn the far-right, anti-vaxxer protests in Melbourne and the attack on CFMEU headquarters. We stand in solidarity with workers in healthcare, construction, education, and other sectors impacted by the pandemic who have rightfully condemned these protests as reactionary.
The key demands of these protests were the complete abolition of public health restrictions and the suspension of vaccines. If these demands were realised, the result would be mass deaths and a further overwhelming of the health system beyond its current crisis state. The protesters claimed to be “workers”, but they put forward anti-social demands that threaten to endanger the lives of nurses and hospital staff alongside other workers.
The reverberations of these attacks are felt well beyond the smashed doors of one union and beyond the fascist stickers plastered across the walls, bridges, and traffic lights in their wake. They're felt in the hospitals filled with exhausted nurses working around the clock to save lives, and by their colleagues in vaccination centres being spat on by far-right demonstrators.
Far-right anti-vaxxers are a threat to our communities and it is the responsibility of all to openly oppose them. The Campaign Against Racism and Fascism unites students, trade unionists, activists, academics, journalists, and our most important frontline workers against a resurgent far right.
At a time when hospitals are already overburdened, we recognise that vaccination against Covid-19 is not just a personal choice but a matter of social solidarity and workplace safety. We call on everyone who is pro-vaccine, pro-union, and anti-fascist to sign on to this open letter and demonstrate your support.
Signed
Belinda Gladman-Nuske, Australian Education Union
Madeleine Tapley, United Workers Union
Stephanie Barker, RAFFWU
Georgie Martin
Kelsey Buchanan, NTEU, UWU
Bruno Jenel, CPSU Victoria
Joshua Garfield, National tertiary education union
Emily G, UMSU
Leonardo Caltabiano, Unemployed
Deitra Kanellos, Socialist Alternative / SDA
Robert Marsh, Australian Services Union
Joey Mann, Rainbow Labor ACT / SDA
Liam Butler, RAFFWU & WA Labor
Revan Oluklu, Australian Services Union
JACINTA CHAVULAK, HACSU
Kit Herma, HACSU
Nikki Imberger, ASU
Ian Bayley, CFMEU
Melas Khole
Martin Kingham, CFMEU
Luke Perica, ANU
Jack Howard, Rail, Tram & Bus Union
Sean Stebbings, Victorian Socialists
Guido Tresoldi, National Tertiary Education Union
Ruby Healer, United Workers Union
Angus Fretwell, Professionals Australia
Mel Sam, AEU
Ella Marchionda, RMIT University Student Union / UWU
Vanessa Born, Australian Services Union (ASU)
Matt Roberts, AEU
Simon Crowe, Independent Engineer
Sophia Munro
Sam McKenzie, CARF
Leigh Paice
Anthony Kelly, ASU
Richard Smith, ANON.ORG
Ian Jamieson, MUA
Mila Vasilic, HSUWA member
Fiona Johnston, AUWU
Terry Smyth, HACSU / registered nurse
Darryl Rodgers, ASU
Sol Skeletor, Retail and fast food workers union
Janan Toksipahi, Socialist Alternative
Amanda Cannon, Hascu
Cheryl Kaulfuss, Member of ISJA Melbourne
Alicia Mitchell, AEU and ASU
Aisha Khodary, SDA Union Member
Haydon Boyd
Brad Reich, Socialist Alternative
Shane Cameron, Retired Healthcare Professional
Karen Hocking, ANMF
Mary Doyle, NTEU
David Harris, ISJA
Allyson Hose, CPSU delegate
Jaynaya Travis, AMWU
Bianca Jewell, UWU
Carolyn Weidner, Harm Reduction Victoria
Sara Rafferton, AEU
Lilah Mooney, United workers union
Natasha Wilson, University of Melbourne
Hulya Coleman, Medical practice