10,000 rally against WA government
By Stephen Robson
PERTH — Ten thousand unionists rallied here at lunch time on August 19 to protest the Court Liberal government industrial legislation and changes to workers' compensation.
The new legislation is currently being pushed through state Parliament. This includes three bills: the Workplace Agreements; Minimum Conditions and Industrial Relations Amendments Bill.
Speakers at the Forrest Place rally included Trades and Labour Council assistant secretary Tony Cooke and ACTU assistant secretary Jenny George.
George told the crowd that new workplace agreements provided no guarantees on overtime, hours of work, penalty rates or redundancy pay.
Messages of support were read out from Arthur Scargill, the president of the National Union of Mineworkers in Britain, and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions.
Following the rally at Forrest Place, marchers proceeded to Parliament House.
The rally heard TLC secretary Rob Meecham followed by Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary John Halfpenny.
An effigy of Premier Richard Court was dismembered highlighting the government's view that those deemed to be less than 30% disabled will no longer be eligible for common law action.