Union Organiser Predicts 150,000 At Melbourne Rally

NUPE’S union organiser attending tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) National Day of Community protest in Melbourne against the Australian version of the Employment Contracts Act is predicting 150,000 plus will ignore threats from employers and march against John Howard’s legislation.

Lynda Boyd, Organiser with the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) has been invited to speak to the crowd in Federation Square after the biggest of 300 rallies across Australia marches there from Flinders station.

“The speeches are to be broadcast by satellite around the nation from Federation Square, so it is a huge opportunity to inform Australian workers and their families about the disastrous consequences of Employment Contracts Act type legislation and that prevention is better than cure, “ said Lynda Boyd.

“Melbourne has traditionally had the biggest Union rallies,” said Lynda Boyd. “On 30 June this year the centre of Melbourne was brought to a standstill by a smaller union march of about 100,000, which stretched from Flinders St Station all the way back to Trades Hall in Lygon St, a distance of 1.5km.”

“My message to the crowd will be – ‘it’s not fair, mate’,” said Lynda Boyd. “It’s not fair that some workers could be fined $22,000 simply for stopping work to attend a rally. It’s not fair that minimum wages will be cut or that unfair dismissal will be legal. It’s not fair to have to pay $50 for a doctor’s visit after one day’s sick leave,” said Lynda Boyd. “The size of the Melbourne crowd will show that Australian workers will fight hard to stop anti worker legislation when they have the NZ experience on their doorstep proving the realities for workers.”

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