May Day marches oppose attacks on unions

Thousands of people marched in cities and towns across Australia on April 30 and May 1 to mark May Day. Rally speakers pledged to resist the federal Coalition government's planned attacks on unions and workers' rights. A wide range of unions, left organisations, migrant communities and solidarity groups joined the marches. A noisy East Timor solidarity contingent at the Adelaide march called on PM John Howard to stop stealing Timor's oil and the Newcastle rally was joined by a large turnout of "Save Our Rail" protesters. Students joined the Wollongong march to highlight their opposition to "voluntary student unionism" legislation, and a contingent in the 2000-strong Perth march demanded repayment of "stolen wages" to Aboriginal workers. Pictured: 1500 people march in Sydney.

Photo by Adam Leeman

From Green Left Weekly, May 4, 2005.

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From GLW issue 625