Union rallies to ensure jobs | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton
Union rallies to ensure jobs
AMWU delegates Stephen Jones and Viv Rowe were among the hundred or so employees and unionists at yesterday’s rally in South Street.
DETERMINED to put a stop to privatisation and ensure jobs for their future, over 150 workers gathered outside the Queensland Rail workshops in Rockhampton yesterday.
Chris Harper, of Callide Mine at Biloela, was one of the faces in the crowd at the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union rally, ready to do his part in sending a message to the government.
“It is about fellow union members losing their jobs,” Chris said. “It shouldn’t be happening.”
He believed rallies such as yesterday’s worked to reinforce their feelings to the Government but were also about getting a message to the community.
“It shows the workers are committed to the cause. It is to help and show support for our brothers,” he said.
Addressing the crowd – consisting mostly of QR workers – AMWU state secretary Andrew Dettmer said the rally was an opportunity to make clear that the future of rail manufacturing, in particular, was under threat.
“We want to make sure there are jobs for ourselves, for our kids and for our grandkids,” Mr Dettmer said. “We want a society that benefits working Australia.”
Manufacturing industry created long-term jobs for highly skilled workers, Mr Dettmer said. It was also responsible for creating population growth outside South-East Queensland.
“Manufacturing is what builds the future.”
He said their biggest fear, apart from job losses, was that privatisation of QR would mean a change in government policies, future contracts would go overseas and workshops such as those in Rockhampton would close.
And as a spokesperson for a union famous for its campaigns, he said the message was clear: “Make it here or jobs disappear.”
The AMWU will conduct a similar rally in Gladstone today.
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Posted by equarights from Rockhampton City, Queensland
12 March 2010 7:02 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
If unions were not so damm greedy then perhaps they would be a viable option today.........unionists are a dying breed and franky good riddance!
An employer can do as they please..What right does an employee have to tell thenm they cant...
Cant wait for QR to go! Not before time................perhaps then some of the bludgers and stirring unionists who work there will get a proper damm job...
Half of them wouldnt know what a hard days work was......
Sell up and lets move on!
Posted by MartinatYeppoon from Yeppoon, Queensland
12 March 2010 10:40 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Could I just remind equarights from Rockhampton City that we have unions to thank for weekends, sick leave, a strong culture of occupational health and safety, annual leave, and a work/life balance we all seem to take for granted in this country. Without the union movement we would still have kids down coal mines. And WorkChoices. I think people forget that sometimes.
Posted by equarights from Rockhampton City, Queensland
12 March 2010 1:53 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
To Martina of Yeppoon..
Thats the trouble with unionists such as yourself...your quick to point out the good parts which i agree with but conveniently forget the bad parts of being a unionist and in a union and what issues it often caused to families while striking for some ridiculous reason.....
History of unionism in this country has been backed by communism, criminal issues, stand over tactics and the like for decades..............
I for one have no issue with unions acting as they should on behalf of employees but alas this often has not been the case over and over again throughout Australia..
Being an employer now I clearly see both sides of the fence and I wouldn't give most unions my last years calender which is sitting in my waste basket...
Their time is done in the 21st century.......lets move on.
Posted by missp from Ironpot, Queensland
12 March 2010 8:39 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Equal Rights and Martinat
I think we need to be looking at the bigger picture, Ms Bligh has dug QLD into huge debt with her "band-aid" approach to the financial crisis and now is looking to make a quick buck by selling off the states assetts. Once this money is spent where will the government find an income source, more debt?? Maybe we, the people the government represent, need to have our voices heard not about risk of job losses or loosing your perks but our states long term financial position and or lack there of!
Posted by MartinatYeppoon from Yeppoon, Queensland
15 March 2010 11:41 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
For the record I am not a member of any union. Nor am I a "unionist". But since we are pidgeon-holing people for making comments, could I assume from your comment, "An employer can do as they please..", that you are an unfair employer? Perhaps if you changed your attitude towards your workers you would have more pleasant experiences with unions.
Also, probably not the best argument to make about the criminal wrap-sheet of unions unless you are confident that corporate Australia has a history free of any criminal misdemeanours.
Finally, I actually support the sale of QR. The difference is I'm not filled with hate at the unions wanting to fight for the rights of their members in any proposed sale. I hope they ensure their members get a fair deal if the sale goes ahead.