CFMEU’s Stephen Smyth, QTU’s Chris Munro reflect on Labour Day

Teachers union says it backs Mackay’s anti-vax members while CFMEU talks up ‘tireless’ work on wages and safety ahead of today’s Labour Day march. See the pictures and watch the video.

CFMEU unionist Stephen Smyth is often in the news battling for more pay and conditions for coal workers across the Bowen Basin but on Labour Day, Mr Smyth trades in his combative negotiating style for reflection and gratitude.

“It’s an opportunity for us to pay respect and celebrate what unions have done through the centuries in this country and what unions do around the world,” the Mackay man said.

From Moranbah to Mackay, thousands of workers and their families have met and marched to celebrate the gains unions secured for workers over the years.

In Moranbah, the beating heart of Queensland’s coal mining sector, Mr Smyth estimates 1000 people will meet on the corner of Mills Ave and Tallon St for the march.

Stephen Smyth from the CFMEU. Picture: FILE

“It’s a great day out,” he said.

Mr Smyth said the union movement was about driving positive social change for the benefit of communities as a whole.

“It’s not just in employment,” he said.

“If you look at the coal sector across the Bowen Basin what unions have been able to achieve, certainly in the workplace for employment health and safety and then their families and communities, is untold.

“They work tirelessly to look after their members and workers because at the end of the day they want people to have a living wage, they want people to have health, health in the sense of retiring, and they want people to retire with dignity.

“And that’s why unions across the spectrum do, a lot that sometimes goes unnoticed by people.

The Mackay Labour Day March for 2022 started off on Gregory St and made its way to Queens Park. Picture: Duncan Evans

“At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for unionists and their families and the communities to both pay respect and celebrate what’s it’s about to be a unionist, to be a union member and give back to their community and their country.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union North Queensland organiser Chris Munro represents the Townsville and Mackay regions and said teacher shortages would be the key issue for 2022.

“There is significant stress in our schools,” he said, noting regional areas such as Mackay and Sarina struggled to attract teachers and keep them.

The Mackay Labour Day march rounds into Victoria Street on May 2, 2022. Picture: Duncan Evans

He said Covid had exacerbated the problem with teachers and administration staff forced to isolate after catching the virus or coming into close contact with someone who had.

A small percentage of teachers have also been put on suspension for refusing the vaccine.

Mr Munro said the union opposed the introduction of the mandate, but accepted it once it had become law.

He added the QTU backed anti-vax teachers on suspension.

Unionists march in opposition to vaccine mandates at the Mackay Labour Day rally on May 2, 2022. Picture: Duncan Evans

“If they are suspended at the moment and going through that process and they are members of the Queensland Teachers’ Union, we are supporting those members individually,” he said.

“We have attached to us legal officers and then a legal firm and so legally we will be supporting them around that.”

Mackay’s Labour Day march kicked off at 9.45am on the corner of River and Gregory Sts.

Before the march, Rail, Tram and Bus Union member Paul Martin stood with his son Lachlan.

Paul Martin stands with his son Lachlan before the Mackay Labour Day march on May 2, 2022. Mr Martin is a member of the Rail, Tram and Bus union. Picture: Duncan Evans

“For decades and decades if not hundreds of years, unions have been fighting for the rights and conditions of working people to stop companies just rorting the system,” he said.

“It’s all about a fair go.”

Gabriella Sovago stood with Electrical Trades Union member Sam Prior and their dog Ragnar.

Sam Prior and Gabriella Sovago stand with their dog Ragnar before the Mackay Labour Day march on May 2, 2022. Picture: Duncan Evans

She said Australia was way ahead of Hungary in terms of worker protections.

“It’s completely different compared to Hungary,” she said.

“We don’t really have any union activity so I’ve actually never heard of any union activity in Hungary.”

Ms Sovago said she had not seen any union marches in her native country.

“They (workers in Australia) have someone to rely on and someone to help them,” she added.

Paula Mulcair, a nurse at Mackay Base hospital, said the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union had helped her out during the Covid era.

The Mulcair family at the Mackay Labour Day march on May 2, 2022. (From left to right) Casey, Benji, Paula and Cooper. Picture: Duncan Evans

“In Covid times, lots of nurses are doing it pretty tough,” she said.

“They’ve (the union) kept us really informed and kept us aware of our rights, what we’re able to do.

“Particularly when there are times when if you needed time off, what happens when you have used all your sick leave, what are you going to do?”

Schoolchildren Emma Russell, Zoe Waldock and Tillee Collins stood with a CFMEU flag before the march while their grandfather Mick looked on.

(From left to right) Emma Russell, Zoe Waldock and Tillee Collins at the Mackay Labour Day march on May 2, 2022. The three schoolchildren have parents in the CFMEU. Picture: Duncan Evans

Tillee said she was proud to be a part of the CFMEU family.

“Maybe some people don’t get to be a part of this kind of community,” she said.

“I think that everyone that is here today, should be proud that they’re here.”

The Mackay and District Pipe Band led the march, which moved from Gregory St into Victoria St and then into Wood St and Gordon St before ending in Queens Park.

The marches chanted union slogans as they walked.

Originally published as CFMEU’s Stephen Smyth, QTU’s Chris Munro reflect on Labour Day