CFMEU, ETU, Plumbers Union walk off job

THOUSANDS of unionists have brought the Brisbane CBD to a standstill massing to rally against penalty rates cuts, the Government’s industrial relations agenda and One Nation ‘selling out workers’.

• DES HOUGHTON BLOG: Union protests achieved nothing

UPDATE: Thousands of unionists have walked off the job and massed at Roma Street in Brisbane to fight against reductions in penalty rates and the Government’s industrial relations agenda.

“One Nation is their name, bashing workers is their game. Every city, every town, Queensland workers don’t back down.” Picture: Darren England

As more workers walked off the job the crowd has swelled to thousands for the march through the city.

Stretching for hundreds of metres and thick across the street, the march has bought traffic to a standstill around George and Mary streets.

CFMEU leaders worked the crowd up, leading a series of chants.

“Penalty rates are here to stay, LNP go away,” they chanted.

“We are the unions, the arse kicking unions.”

The rally also attacked Pauline Hanson and One Nation, marching through the city and accusing her of selling out workers.

“One Nation is their name, bashing workers is their game. Every city, every town, Queensland workers don’t back down.”

Protesters at rally against penalty rates cuts in Brisbane CBD. Picture: Darren England

EARLIER: Thousands of unionists have walked off the job and massed at Roma Street in Brisbane to fight against reductions in penalty rates and the Government’s industrial relations agenda.

The rally coincides with industrial strikes across the country, including on the Gold Coast, as unions launch a prolonged Work Choices style campaign against the government.

Members of the militant CFMEU are out in large force, as well as the ETU, Plumbers Union and Queensland Nurses Union. There is little visible presence of the SDA, whose members are directly affected by the penalty rates decision.

The rally coincides with industrial strikes across the country, including on the Gold Coast, as unions launch a prolonged Work Choices style campaign against the government. Picture: Darren England

Construction unions were warned earlier this week by the recently reintroduced regulator, the Australian Building and Construction Commission, that any strikes had to receive written authorisation from employers.

CFMEU leaders worked the crowd up, leading a series of chants.

“Penalty rates are here to stay, LNP go away,” they chanted.

“We are the unions, the arse kicking unions.”

The rally also attacked Pauline Hanson and One Nation, marching through the city and accusing her of selling out workers.

“One Nation is their name, bashing workers is their game. Every city, every town, Queensland workers don’t back down.”

Union members walk off the job in Brisbane. Picture: Michael Wray