Workers rally against Industrial Relations law : Melbourne Indymedia

In Sydney, a rally comprising "a genuine cross-section of the Australian community", and estimated by the ABC's reporter at "maybe 40,000", met at Belmore Park before marching though the city to Chifley Square to hear speakers against Howard's law.
An exuberant and very noisy march left observers in no doubt as to their resolve. At one point, there was an unnecessary diversion when some of the marchers taunted the visiting Uruguayan footballers, who were watching the procession in George Street.
A single handwritten banner, "Say NO to working poor", summarised the thrust of the new legislation, which Victoria's Premier Bracks declared had been the lot of many workers following the regressive legislation in that state by the former Kennett government.
The new laws have been an obsession of Prime Minister Howard for many years, and, contrary to its stated intention—to usher is a new era of "choice" in the workplace—promise to ignite more nation-wide protests from unions, who see the legislation as stripping away a century of hard-won rights for workers.
Opposition leader Kim Beazley promised a Brisbane rally, estimated by ABC reporters at about 10,000, that, if elected, he would "stand on the steps of Parliament and rip these laws up".
ACTU President Sharan Burrow told the Melbourne rally, which unions put at 150,000 to 200,000 (ABC Midday News), that the unions were defending "values that shape the way we care about each another". "We must not be the first generation of Australians who leaves our kids with fewer rights at work than we inherited, and we won't", she said.
(See photos of Sydney rally as separate upload)

In Perth LHMU members spoke out against the laws
"I actually asked to speak at the rally because all of this makes me really angry, " said 27 year old Misty Matthews, who now works as a cleaner and patient support in a government hospital.

Six years without paid leave
" I hear John Howard and employers saying that the Unions are scare mongering about AWAs and losing conditions, but I have worked on AWAs and individual contracts before ( When a previous conservative gov't introduced them in West'n Australia), and as a result I went for six years without any paid leave.

"I was told that my hourly rate ($10.25 hour) compensated for no paid leave.

" When I broke my ankle playing sport I ended up having to come to work in a cast, otherwise I had no income.

" That is the reality of workplace agreements."

Other LHMU members attending the Perth rally
Irene Snow is a social trainer, working with people with intellectual disabilities at Activ Foundation, which she has done for over 15 years.

Now in her 60s, she will soon be retiring. "Obviously I worry about what work conditions will be like for my children and grandchildren.

" Some people will be able to bargain and look after themselves, but a lot of people won't. And what about the pension? That's linked to the average weekly wage, so all of this could affect me even after I stop working."

Anne Anderson is an experienced Child Care director and was employed to set up the Curtin Technology Park Child Care Centre.

She set up the centre, successfully seeing it through its licensing and launch. Despite her long hours, hard work and commitment, six months later Anne was sacked.

The company claimed they couldn't afford to pay her, so they employed someone with less experience for less money.

Anne's claim for unfair dismissal was successful and she was awarded 3 months pay and compensation for using her own vehicle and time to ensure the success of the Centre.

" Under this legislation, I would have nowhere to go to clear my name.

" Everything is stacked to the employer. That's wrong. That's why I will be going to the rally."

SHAME hoWARd SHAME ON YOU!

NOT BAD FOR THE FIRST GIG!

i met some guys in the street and they sed aorund 20-30,000 ppl had rocked up to elder park this morning for the protest....there certainly was a buzz in the city when i left my dungeon in the laet morning

Yyyeeeesss!
Good to see workers over there standing up and taking some action against these attacks.

Question: Why were the Melbourne rallies so large compared to Sydneys much smaller effort, given that Sydney is in a Labour state and has a much larger population?
Over here, over the last few years, we had been given to believe that many Victorian unions were controlled by "thugs" and 'wreckers" whilst in NSW (for eg.) the unions are much more "responsible".
Have we been misinformed?

Lifelong Unionist, NZ

* Why was the Melbourne rally so large (200,000+) compared to Sydney (40,000+)?

Both Victoria and NSW have right-wing Labour governments (although NSW perhaps more so?). And while Sydney has a larger population than Melbourne does -- 4.3 as opposed to 3.6 million -- it's much more geographically dispersed. Differences in political culture and labour movement politics are also factors.

* Are many Victorian unions controlled by thugs and wreckers while in NSW the unions are much more 'responsible'?

Er, depends what you mean by 'thugs' and 'wreckers' I guess. A number of unions -- the AMWU, ETU and the Construction division of the CFMEU in particular, but also others -- have a reputation for militancy. And recently one official from the ANWU -- Craig Johnston -- served time for his involvement in a run-through at a scab labour hire firm. Dunno 'bout NSW unions being 'responsible' ...although they seem to be responsible for a lower-than-ideal turnout at any rate.

Because of a number of reasons, mostly going back in history, the unions in Melbourne are much more left wing than the unions in Sydney.

Importantly the militant unions in Melbourne have the majority on the Victorian Trades Hall Council. This means they choose the Secretary and important officials.

They also decide the strategy (like big rallies).

In Sydney the moderate unions have the majority on Unions NSW (their union council) and they elect leaders who aim at a responsible image and decide tactics that are not so militant (like the meetings in the footbal clubs & workers' clubs and no really big rallies).

Things may change now that workers are moving.

Please note that 5% of the Australian population was on the streets yesterday. That is one in twenty people counting everyone including babies, maybe one in ten workers and probably one in three unionists.

This means that the unions have mobilised their core constituency and are now leading a social movement which is becoming mobilised. Historically and internationally this is rare and it always indicates big social change.

The government can say what they like, but Howard is in trouble.

Solidarity comrades

Fuck the workers

The unions believe most australians are sad, stupid, inarticulate whores who need help negotiating a few crumbs from their masters.

They have no respect for their own members.

It should be remembered that this is an inverted Brave New World - the managerial class are the Deltas... the executives are STUPID. That's how they got where they are today.

Unions want the workers to beg for a few crumbs from these mindless corporate tools, and suck their executive cocks

Unions want the people to leave it all to them... they'll go into little rooms with the pigs in power and make deals that will be good for everyone...

welllll from where I sit there's little difference between the unions and the corporates - they're all part of the same game

David, face it... it's time for a revolution...

The turnout in NSW was iover 120,000 spread over 300 venues.

the reason for the many venues was so that as many people as possible could get to the rallies and skychannel hook up.

Syndey is a nightmare to move around in in am peak hour, which would have deterred many people from coming in for the 9am start. Having many venues allowed a greater participation.

Worth noting some regional figures:

Newcastle: 15,000 (and about the same number in the upper Hunter as well)
Wollongong: 12,000
Albury: 3,000
Goulburn: 2,000
Blacktown: 2,500 (One of over a dozen venues across Sydney that had over 2,000 present.)
Blue Mountains 2,000 (out of a population of 30,000) over 5 venues.

There's quite a few with more over 1,000, and special mention must go to the brothers and sisters in Boorowa, where 9 hardy souls turned out.

Considering a top flight NRL game in Syndey gets about 20,000, while the equivalent AFL game gets 70-80,000, you get the significance. For Sydney anything over 40,000 is a VERY BIG turnout.