Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

VTHC delivers IR protest postcards to Federal IR Minister Gillard’s Office

20 November 2008

Caption: VTHC Secretary Brian Boyd (3rd from right) and Bronwyn Halfpenny  VTHC Industrial and Campaigns Officer (2nd from right) led the delegation of union and community groups to Julia Gillard’s Office.

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The VTHC, union representatives and a number of concerned community groups delivered thousands of signed protest “postcards” to the Electorate Office of the Federal IR Minister Julia Gillard today at 10.00 am, Shop 2, 36 Synnot St, Werribee.   Passers-by saw the first protest outside the deputy leader's office since the 2007 election.

 

“This is occurring on the eve of the Federal Government tabling its substantive IR Bill in the Parliament next week”, said Mr Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary.

 

“The timing of this action is to draw to the public’s attention that there remains a number of key concerns with what is being put forward by the government in contrast to the expectations of many hundreds of thousands of workers who participated in the anti-WorkChoices campaign that saw the Howard government defeated,” said Mr Boyd.

 

“Recent public comments by the government and employers reveal that full bargaining rights and many rights at work in general are not going to be contained in the Bill.”

 

“The protest postcards highlighted these concerns and indicate there will be much unfinished business after the new Act is dealt with.”

 

The Your Rights At Work delegation presented more than 6000 signed postcards, calling for the immediate abolition of WorkChoices and the introduction of full fair work laws.

 

The postcards have been signed over the past few months by workers and their families and friends. Many more have been mailed directly to the Minister's office.
 
The postcard also called on the Minister to scrap the Australian Building and Construction Commission  and other laws that single out building workers for unfair treatment and intimidation.

The delegation was led by the Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary, Brian Boyd and consisted of representatives from Your Rights @ Work federal election marginal seats campaigns in Deakin and Corangamite, as well as community groups and workplaces in the Minister’s own Lalor electorate.

 


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