Townsville’s unions stand together for inclusion, diversity and a “fair go” this Labour Day
A North Queensland contingent of a union has made its thoughts on a returning federal government crystal clear, as organisers bring workers together to fight for a common cause.
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The CFMEU has made its thoughts on a returning Labor government crystal clear, with the Townsville contingent using the Labour Day march to chant “one, two, three and a bit, the Labor party’s full of s**t”.
The party has won government for a second term in a landslide election, but while it is usually aligned with unions, it has been at odds with the CFMEU.
Last year, the federal government put the construction and general division of the union into administration.
The CFMEU was facing allegations of corruption and links to criminal gangs in the construction arm of the union.
While the CFMEU took a hard line stance on the Labor government, Labour Day committee chairman Zac Murphy said the day was about unions putting their political alignments aside to stand together.
“They’ll focus on the (Labour Day) thing, which is how do we get improvements to workers’ conditions and improvements to family life,” he said.
Mr Murphy said the work of a union was never done.
“Our values are all about workers rights, inclusion, diversity, and making sure everyone’s got a fair go,” he said.
“Australia’s whole industrial structure has been established on the back of the union movement and what workers are seeking to change, so that we get weekends, we get penalty rates, and we get holidays.”
Mr Murphy said Labour Day was like the union’s Christmas.
“The buzz is really great, people are already getting a great sausage, grabbing a drink, catching up with friends,” he said.
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Originally published as Townsville’s unions stand together for inclusion, diversity and a “fair go” this Labour Day
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