A strong turnout at rallies and events around the country on September 1st sent a message to Federal, State and Territory Governments that workers will not back down in their push for stronger national health and safety laws, say unions.
An estimated 15,000 workers in Melbourne took to the streets, and thousands more have attended large events in Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Brisbane. Workers marched on the Victorian Parliament in Spring St Melbourne to protest against any watering down of OH&S laws. They called on the Brumby ALP Government to insist that their federal government counterparts make the best laws possible in the national ‘harmonisation’ process for OHS law.
Both rank and file Health and Safety delegates and union officials addressed the rally. A minute's silence was held to pay respects for workers killed at work, after a lone bag piper played on the parliament steps.
Hundreds of empty shoes and boots were put on the steps of Parliament to commemorate those who didn’t return from work after a serious incident at work.
The mood of the rally was determined. Any moves by politicians to water down OHS laws was condemned.
