Melbourne workers protest anti-union proposals

A week of nation wide protests and strikes against the conservative Federal Government’s proposed industrial relations changes has drawn to an end with a rally in Sydney on Friday. The protests, some of the largest seen in Australia in recent times, including over 100,000 people marching in Melbourne , highlighted the impacts that the industrial relations changes will have on low and middle income earners, as the government gains full control of both houses of parliament, and is in a position to push through it’s reforms.

Reports : Melbourne | Brisbane | Perth | Sydney

The reforms are designed to undermine collective bargaining and the influence of unions by pushing workers on to individual contracts, known as Australian Workplace Agreements. They will also strip workers of protection against unfair dismissal and will lead to a wage freeze for those on the minimum wage.

Rallies took place in regional areas, as well as in capital cities where workers, unionists, church groups and community members took to the streets in a colourful display of solidarity. Unions have emphasised that this is the first stage of a long struggle to build a broad based resistance to the reforms.

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