Thousands Commemorate Labor Day In Queensland
Labor Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, went out to the central business district of Queensland to march to Labor Day. This is despite receiving threats that there will be a union revolt against her administration this coming election. There was an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 marchers for the celebration commemorating workers’ rights.
Michael Ravbar, union state secretary of Gold Coast Construction, has given a warning that many workers are still angry over Bligh’s decision of selling state-owned assets. He added that they could vote for former Brisbane lord mayor, Campbell Newman, of the Liberal National Party.
After the march was a union rally at Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds, but Bligh and other politicians were not invited to speak. Despite this, Bligh still considers a good working relationship with the unions.
ACTU President Ged Kearney, the only speaker at the rally, started the largest national survey of Australians workers’ condition and pay dubbed as The Working Australia Census 2011.
Ms. Keaney says that the survey results will be reflective of the conditions of workers in Australia and will help frame union policies for the next decade.
“We know there’s lots of pressures on the workforce that go beyond working an eight-hour day,” she said. “We expect to hear how people are managing with their budgets … are they working longer hours or unpaid hours … do they have work and family balance? People are working longer, they are working harder, they’re in casual labour, insecure work. There’s issues with occupational health and safety,” she added.
Rail Tram and Bus Union leaders led the march to commemorate their anniversary on Monday. Keaney also arrived with a congregation a banner that said “women building union and strength” to commemorate 100 years of International Women’s Day. She was also with her environment minister, Kate Jones.
“We have a female premier, female governor, female governor-general, female prime minister … our views are taken into account in the top levels of decision making. That wasn’t the case when I was growing up, or my mother,” Ms. Jones said.
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/thousands-march-for-labour-day-in-queensland/story-e6frfku0-1226048551037
