Union rally expected to ’halt’ Melbourne as tens of thousands of workers protest on October 23

VICTORIA’S trade unions are vowing to bring Melbourne to a standstill with a huge rally set for next month.

VICTORIA’S trade unions are vowing to bring Melbourne to a standstill with a huge rally set for next month.

As many as 150,000 people are expected to descend on the city for the “Change the Rules” protest on Tuesday, October 23.

It will likely clog key CBD streets, with roads closed and trams disrupted during a similar protest in May.

UNIONS SHUT DOWN CITY, HIT THE PUB

GOVT LOOKS OTHER WAY AS ACTU CHOKES MELBOURNE

WORKERS’ PORT BLOCKADE A TASTE OF ‘MAYHEM’

The route for next month’s rally has yet to be finalised but it is likely to snake from Trades Hall in Carlton down Swanston St to Federation Square.

Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari during the union protest in May. Picture: David Crosling

Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari apologised for disruptions but said the rally would “send a message” ahead of November 24’s state election and the federal election next year.

“There are some people who will be inconvenienced and, of course, we sympathise and apologise to them but we will be giving them plenty of notice so they can plan ahead,” Mr Hilakari said.

“Part of our democratic right is that we stand up for things and we have a good tradition of doing that in Victoria, dating back to the Eureka Stockade.

“We want to make this a big, big thing — we’ve got a state election and a federal election around the corner and workers issues need to be centre.

“Wages are flatlining in this country and it is very hard for people — power prices haven’t gone backward, fuel prices haven’t dropped, rent prices haven’t dropped.”

More than 100,000 people turned out for May’s Change the Rules rally. Picture: David Crosling

Union delegates signed off on the two-hour rally, from 10.30am-12.30pm, during a statewide meeting yesterday.

It sparked a flurry of social media posts from unions claiming the movement was “on the move” and threatening to bring the city to a “halt”.

The protest — focusing on a catchcry that Australia needs a pay rise — is expected to draw workers from interstate, with the South Australian branch of the electrical and plumbing union planning to bus in “elated activists”.

Union delegates vote unanimously to march on October 23 to bring Melbourne to halt, and massively ramp up our fight to #ChangeTheRules so Australia gets a pay rise. #ausunions #springst #auspol pic.twitter.com/tQFcPOuueZ

— UnitedVoice Victoria (@UnitedVoiceVic) September 25, 2018

When I say "union" you say "power"! We're ready to #ChangeTheRules - see you on the 23rd October! @VicUnions @unionsaustralia pic.twitter.com/2miCL8Gt0N

— NUW (@NatUnionWorkers) September 25, 2018

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy questioned whether the trade union movement would be billed for what would likely be a large police presence at the planned rally.

He said the Labor government and the unions were “one and the same”.

“Anyone who thinks the Labor government in Victoria can divorce itself from the militant unionists who run some elements of the trade union movement — well, they can’t,” Mr Guy said.

“If people don’t like their conduct, well, that’s (Daniel) Andrews.”

[e-mail]

@moniquehore