Episode 6 Building and Sustaining Power
Masterclass for Activists
History has been changed by building power, and there’s power in drawing upon the lessons of history. This podcast discusses power, what it is, why it’s important to analyse and understand it, and how to build it.
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Episode 3 Strategy for Success
Masterclass for Activists
Episode 3 Strategy for Success discusses how to design and execute a winning strategy.
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Episode 5 The winning strategy that built Australia’s safety net
Masterclass for Activists
Australia’s safety net is the envy of the world: the highest minimum wage; a world-class health system; the only compulsory universal superannuation system. These towering reforms are the legacy of a 1983 Accord between the ACTU and ALP that was globally unprecedented in its vision and scope, a philosophy that repudiated neoliberalism, and a strategy that overcame the economic crisis and changed capitalism forever. How was this possible and how was it done? A compelling episode about a remarkable story.
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Episode 4 Mindful Militancy
Masterclass for Activists
In this episode about Mindful Militants, our panel is Lisa Fitzpatrick, Doug Cameron and Tom McDonald discussing the role of militant tactics in pioneering social change.
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Bonus episode - Women Leading the ACTU
Masterclass for Activists
A bonus episode Women Leading the ACTU with more of our conversation from Ep 3 & hear about how equal representation for women on the ACTU Executive was won. Whilst as Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary says, there remains more to be done, the achievement of equal male and female representation on the ACTU Executive, won more than two decades ago, demonstrates the power of values, strategy & tactics in making change for the better.
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Episode 2 Neoliberalism and a New Deal
Masterclass for Activists
Episode 2 Neoliberalism and a New Deal unpacks the strategy of neoliberalism to wind back workers’ rights and living standards and weaken our democracy. It also discusses how the CoVid19 pandemic has dramatically exposed the failings of neoliberalism and looks to the future by discussing what a new deal for working people should look like.
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Episode 1 Hearts and Minds
Masterclass for Activists
Hearts and Minds discusses values, their place and role in driving change, how to counter right-wing populists and shock jocks, and how to win the support of working people for the cause of building a fairer Australia.
info_outlineEpisode 3 Strategy for Success discusses how to design and execute a winning strategy.
In this episode, our host Emeritus Professor Ed Davis is joined by Sally McManus (Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions), Bill Kelty AC (former Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions) and Tom McDonald AM (former National Secretary, Building Workers Industrial Union and ACTU Vice President).
Working people confront a power imbalance in our society and to overcome injustice, says Sally McManus, activists need to learn to be very good at strategy. This episode is rich in stories and learnings that will better enable activists to design and implement successful campaigns.
Strategy has been described as “the art of creating power” and comes into play when values and interests collide. Union elder Tom McDonald kicks off the conversation by exploring the significance of the ideas of Sun Tzu, the legendary Chinese general, strategist and philosopher from 500 BCE, who famously said that “tactics without strategy” is the “noise before the defeat” but that “strategy without tactics” was the “quickest route to defeat.”
Our panel discuss some of the great moments in forging a fairer Australia, and dive into the winning strategy and tactics used in the fight for equal pay for community sector workers and the epic battle for superannuation for all Australian workers.
Listeners are also in for another treat from Chloe and Jason Roweth, whose songs of struggle have inspired activists across the generations. In this episode they perform Don’t Be Too Polite Girls (Words by Glen Tomasetti to the traditional tune of Flash Jack from Gundagai). Find out more about the Roweths’ music here.
This podcast series has been produced by Deliberately Engaging in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to build the capabilities of civil society and give people a greater voice. Learn more about the UN Goals and our podcasts here.
The series has been made possible by the support of the Committee to Defend Trade Unions Rights, Tony and Nina Bleasdale, our discussants and musicians, and the ACTU.