Over half a million workers protest across the country
Over half a million workers marched across Australia on 15 November, protesting against John Howard’s new Industrial Relations laws. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) called the national community day of protest with meetings and rallies in all major cities.
The biggest march and rally was in Melbourne, in the state of Victoria with over 250,000 workers marching in city. Regional meetings around the rest of Victoria attracted around 25,000. Throughout the country, other large protests took place. About 45,000 attended rallies in Sydney, New South Wales, with a further 95,000 people in more than 200 venues across the state. 25,000 people attended a Brisbane rally in Queensland, with 35,000 turning out in other parts of the state.
About 40,000 attended a rally in Adelaide, with 10,000 workers at rallies throughout the state. 3,000 were at protests in Darwin and 2,000 in Alice Springs. 5,000 went to a rally at Canberra Racecourse. Around 30,000 protested in Perth, and a further 10,000 throughout Western Australia. Solidarity protests also took place in Auckland and Christchurch, in New Zealand. Hundreds protested at the Australian High Commission in Wellington.
Unprecedented attacks
The protests were so big because of the deep anger at John Howard’s unprecedented attacks on workers rights and conditions. The legislation is deeply unpopular. Indeed, Howard introduced the new legislation last week, on the same day as a massive police operation against ‘terrorist suspects’. Many workers believe this was an attempt to deflect attention away from the anti-union bill – a ruse that failed.
The new Industrial Relations laws include attacks on job security by abolishing unfair dismissal protection for millions of workers; changes to the fixing of the minimum wage which will mean the value of minimum wages will fall; the right to collective bargaining will be eroded and bosses will be encouraged to sign up workers on individual contracts. Howard claims the ‘reforms’ will “boost the economy”. But the Industrial Relations legislation will mean further exploitation of workers to boost the super profits of the bosses.
Huge anger from below pushed the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) leaders to call for the action on 15 November. Even though the protest was limited to marches and video link up meetings, the magnificent response from workers and youth across Australia shows the depth of anger at Howard’s laws. This, despite a massive media campaign by the government, in the weeks leading up to 15 November, that saw a sustained attack on workers who planned to go on strike. In some cases bosses threatened workers with fines of up to $22000 if they took action.
In a shift to the left, at least in words, ACTU leader Greg Combet said he would refuse to pay fines for standing up for workers’ rights. “We must look the Government in the eye and stare them down,” he said. “I will be asking other union leaders to adopt the same stance.”
The mood on 15 November was more serious and sombre than during the last day of industrial action against the Industrial Relations laws, in June. The legislation is now in place and it wont be long before the attacks start in the workplaces.
Whilst the demonstrations were a brilliant display of workers’ strength, now is the time for industrial action to be stepped up. UNITE is calling for a one-day national general strike as the next step in the campaign.