Workers rally against social security changes

Workers rally against social security changes

By Chris Spindler

MELBOURNE — More than 400 construction workers rallied outside South Melbourne Centrelink office on August 27 to protest against the federal Coalition's plans to classify construction workers as seasonal workers.

Under the proposed social security changes, construction workers who receive more than $35,000 a year would not be eligible for unemployment benefits. This regulation currently applies to seasonal workers such as shearers, fruit pickers or those in the fishing industry. The regulations apply to anyone who earns above the average wage in less than a 12-month period. The proposal is to be implemented at the beginning of 1999.

Workers at the Centrelink office went on strike and joined the demonstration, walking out to huge cheers from the crowd.

The CFMEU's Martin Kingham gave the government two weeks to drop the plan or face a national building industry strike. A cross-union committee to organise the campaign is to meet.

Andrew Hall reports from Wollongong that more than 200 construction workers occupied the Centrelink office there on August 27. Members of the CFMEU, Australian Workers Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union joined the protest.

From GLW issue 331