Members of Migrante Melbourne joined the tens of thousands of workers in the National Day of Action protest against the Howard Government’s Industrial Relations (IR) laws at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Nov. 30. The challenge on the day of the rally is to fill the “G” (people’s ground) and become part of history against John Howard’s “draconian” IR laws.

BY REYVI MARIÑAS
Contributed to Bulatlat.com

Members of Migrante Melbourne joined the tens of thousands of workers in the National Day of Action protest against the Howard Government’s Industrial Relations (IR) laws at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on November 30.

The challenge on the day of the rally is to fill the “G” (people’s ground) and become part of history against John Howard’s “draconian” IR laws.

Workers and union members assembled at the MCG at around 7 a.m. and marched toward the city area at the Federation Square after the program.

Speaking at the MCG rally, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president Sharan Burrow gave an opening remark and highlighted some of the “unfair” aspects of the new laws including the loss of protection from being sacked unfairly for millions of workers.

Kim Beazley, a leader of the oppositionist Federal Australian Labor Party, addressed the national protest and received a rousing cheer from the crowd when he promised that a future Labor Government would tear up the IR laws.

Victoria Premier Steve Bracks also addressed the Melbourne rally, emphasizing that the new laws are putting further pressure on ordinary working families.

Various rallies were also held across Australia and attracted more than 264,000 people (with Perth and other Western Australia rally attendances yet to be included).

In Melbourne alone, about a 60,000-strong crowd attended the rally considering that a signal failure had disrupted three railway lines on the day of the protest and many workers feared they could be sacked for attending.

Migrante believes that IR laws are unjust to workers’ rights and conditions. The “unfair dismissal,” lower wages and lost of entitlements affect the lives and future of ordinary families.

Migrante continues to call the support of all Filipino workers and migrants in Australia to oppose and fight against the implemented IR laws. (Bulatlat.com)

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