Thousands of unionists have turned out to march through the streets of Brisbane for Labour Day, as several unions butt heads over worker pay with the Queensland government.
The annual march started in Cathedral Square in the CBD, and continued more than 1500 metres to the RNA Showgrounds.
It came a day before industrial action would disrupt the south-east Queensland rail network, with delayed services, longer travel times and crowded trains expected from Tuesday.
“Everybody needs to stand up for what they’re entitled to,” said Shayne Kummerfeld, an official from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, one of several involved in the dispute with Queensland Rail.
“We didn’t get our conditions by standing back and watching bosses take it away, and unfortunately we’ve got a government at the moment that wants to take everything away from workers, and we can’t have that happen … we’re standing up for workers’ rights.”
The feuding CFMEU and Australian Workers Union were almost as far away from each other as possible during the march.
Incidents of alleged intimidation between the unions at previous Labour Day marches were aired at the commission of inquiry into CFMEU and construction industry late last year.
TWU campaign organiser Adam Brabbrook said he took part to represent workers who “fought for those wins” over the years, and to give the next generation the future they deserve.
“It’s unified union members standing together to fight for those, fight for the previous, past and present workers that we have today, to lift those standards, to bring everybody together in a common workplace to fight the same fight.”
State Opposition Leader Steven Miles was in attendance, along with ministers from his shadow cabinet.
Other political movements also turned out, including the Greens, Socialist Alliance, Communist Party of Australia, Palestinian activists and a group campaigning against US intervention in Cuba and Venezuela.
Matt Grimson of the Electrical Trades Union said the movement was not about making unreasonable demands, rather about maintaining “a good safe work environment with a family-friendly roster”.
“Everyone deserves to go home in the same condition that they came to work in.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
From our partners
Read the full article here
