BY CAMILO JORQUERA

GEELONG — Almost 1000 people, mainly members of the the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), gathered to commemorate May Day on May 1 for the first time in 30 years.

The union-organised rally was joined by a youth contingent organised by the socialist youth group Resistance.

The crowd demanded an end to the government's wars on workers, refugees and the Third World, and to it’s support for Israel. Speakers at the action included CFMEU state secretary John Cummins, Michelle O'Neil from the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, Linda Waldron from the Melbourne M1 Collective and Marcus Pabian from the Palestinian Solidarity Network.

The rally marched to the Australian Industry Group building, which represents business in Geelong, as well as housing both the Labor and Liberal party offices, where AMWU state secretary Craig Johnston called for May Day to be a public holiday for workers in Victoria.

From Green Left Weekly, May 8, 2002.
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