Unionists rally against asset sell-off

Thousands of workers rallied on March 9 in protest against the state Labor government's plans to privatise public assets. The crowd of 5000 people rallied at the Roma Street Forum, before marching to state parliament.

The militant crowd was mainly from public sector unions. It chanted: "Queensland rail, not for sale! Queensland ports, not for sale! Queensland roads, not for sale! Queensland forests, not for sale!"

The protest was sponsored by the Queensland Council of Unions, and supported by many individual unions.

Rail, Bus and Tram Union state secretary Owen Doogan said: "The people of Queensland have told the government again and again that our public assets are not for sale. This plan is a major sell-out of the interests of regional Queensland in particular.

"It is a betrayal of the people of Queensland. We cannot let this happen. We will continue this battle."

Doogan said unions would continue protesting against the asset sales, with further actions planned in coming months. "It is part of the campaign against privatisation, and the campaign isn't going away."

While so far no strikes or stop-work actions were planned by rail workers, he said, "nothing could be ruled out".

Trevor Munday from the Maritime Union of Australia and Peter Simpson from the Electrical Trades Union warned of the serious threat to jobs posed by Premier Anna Bligh's $15 billion privatisation plan.

A delegation of union officials presented a 12,000-signature petition opposing the sell-off to Bligh.

Despite a nine-month campaign against Labor's privatisation plans, the government has refused to budge. Hypocritically, it has backed off from changes to land valuation laws, sustainability policy and koala protection plans, when pressured by big business.

From GLW issue 830