Members of the public service’s Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) joined more than 200,000 Australian workers around the nation taking to the streets with their concerns about workplace conditions.
The nationwide Change the Rules rallies were organised by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and Secretary of the ACTU, Sally McManus said the turnout was a show of strength and provided an excellent opportunity for members to tell their stories about why the rules needed to change for working people.
At the Sydney rally, Deputy Secretary of the CPSU, Melissa Donnelly said members made it clear that they needed better bargaining so workers could get a pay rise, an end to the Public Service staffing cap and a stop to the privatisation of public services.
Will Starritt with his award-winning placard.
They also called for secure employment to be the norm.
Ms Donnelly said she deplored the Government’s move to privatise parts of the Australian Public Service and attack Centrelink and the social security system.
Ms McManus proclaimed CPSU member, Will Starritt the winner of the Australia’s Best Placard competition for his Banksy-inspired effort.
Further rallies are taking on 30 October at the Newcastle Town Hall at 10am and on 20 November in Brisbane (Emma Miller Place) and Canberra (Fair Work Commission). Both these rallies will begin at 12.30pm.
