🗓 April Newsletter

☕ Workers’ Café

For our March workers cafe we tackled the weighty topic of the state. How should we, as workers, think of the state? Is it the provider of good things, like health care or the source of all our misery? Should our goal be to make it better, live outside of it, smash it or something else entirely? Finally, how should those of us who work in the public sector think about our jobs? Can actions by public sector workers help the whole working class, or will we always come into conflict with the communities we are supposed to serve?

Around 2 dozen of us met to discuss these questions. We had no easy answers but came away with a better understanding of the role the state plays in our lives. One thing we could all agree on was the need to start seeing our individual problems as collective ones and to build stronger connections between public sector unions and the broader working class.

April Workers' Cafe: 'Stories from the Strike Lines'

Friday, April 10 · 6:30–8:30 pm

BCGEU Union Hall - 

2994 Douglas Street

also 588 Burnside Rd East for parking

Join us to hear from six union members reflect on their experiences from last year's strike wave. Full details & registration can be found here.

📚 Book Club

Our second installment of the Workers Book Club is starting soon. We will be reading Hyperpolitics by Anton Jäger. Wonder why political change feels impossible, even while the world seems to fall apart? This short book attempts to provide some answers. We are looking at getting discounted copies from the publisher. If you are interested in being part of the book club sign up here.

🎶 United We Sing

We explore, create, and invigorate the musical tradition within the working class struggle. Our next rehearsal is on April 17th and we'd love to see you there.

Solidarity FC

Solidarity FC, Victoria's workers soccer team is returning for another season!

Games are Sunday afternoons at GNS. It's 7-a-side, all genders and skill levels. Games are 55 minutes played on a 1/3 pitch. The season runs from May 17th to August 23rd.

You can sign up here. Cost is $92 per player for the whole season & registration ends March 30th. Also if you are just looking to dip your toes in, please reach out about joining as a substitute.

Come score some goals for the working-class!

🧗 Social Climbers

We had our first meet up on Thursday March 26th. Six climbers came out including one who was totally new to climbing and one who's getting back into it after a couple years away. Our long-term goal is to work on the skills to do lead climbing as well as trying to get Outdoors into nature to climb in the summertime. After climbing the crew went across the street to grab a beer and socialize!

Next climb to be announced. Interested? Join the WhatsApp group or send an email to southislandworkers+climb@gmail.com to get added. We'll figure out how to organize our first gathering there.

⛏️ Miners Memorial Weekend

South Island Workers will be attending Miners Memorial Weekend in Cumberland, June 12–14. Join us for this annual celebration of workers’ struggles—singing, hiking, and connecting with labour activists from across the Island. We’re exploring a group campsite and bus.

👉 Interested? Please sign up here.

More Ways to Get Involved

As the weather gets warmer, we are planning some outreach days to help SIWCEL reach a wider audience. If you are interested in tabling at community events or handing out leaflets, join our outreach team! 

Talking to strangers not your thing? Reach out to us about getting a poster for your workplace or local community space.

In solidarity,

South Island Workers