NSW Public sector campaign spark biggest union rally in 20 years | ABC PM | #Ausunions #NSWisconsin #NSWpol

NSW Public Sector campaign rally Sept 8 | ABC PM

MARK COLVIN: In Sydney today unions say they've held their biggest rally since Nick Greiner was in power 20 years ago.

Tens of thousands of union members massed in Sydney's CBD. Other rallies were held around the state in protest at the Government's plans to cap public sector pay rises and neuter the independent wage arbiter.

The unions have promised the State Government that they're prepared for a long fight. But the Premier says the protests are pointless and that the policy won't change.

Lexi Metherell reports.

(Protesters shout, "Shame Barry, shame.")

LEXI METHERELL: As thousands of union members marched along Macquarie Street in Sydney's CBD the depleted ranks of state Labor MPs cheered from the balcony of Parliament House.

(Cheers and whistles)

Rallies involving police, teachers, firefighters and nurses were held around the state and in Sydney alone, police counted about 30,000 protesters.

Unions New South Wales secretary, Mark Lennon says they haven't held such a big rally since Nick Greiner led the state.

MARK LENNON: There was no doubt, no doubt now that the Government has to listen. This has been the biggest rally that we have seen in New South Wales in over 20 years.

LEXI METHERELL: Unions are angry over the Government's budget announcement of 5,000 public sector job losses through voluntary redundancies.

But they're also responding to recent legislation which caps public sector pay rises at 2.5 per cent, unless savings are made first, and which reduces the powers of the Industrial Relations Commission to arbitrate in wages cases.

Workers PM spoke to say they feel under fire.

VOX POP 1: The message to the Government is hands off, leave us alone.

LEXI METHERELL: And do you think we'll see more of this sort of action if there is no change?

VOX POP 1: Most definitely.

VOX POP 2: Spending, people wasting money comes from the politicians quite largely, not the bottom. We're the hard workers, okay? We're struggling, we're struggling.

LEXI METHERELL: Why are you here today?

VOX POP 3: To defend our right to work practices and fair arbitration for wage claims and to protect the education system that I've worked under for 30 years.

LEXI METHERELL: And what's your message to the Government?

VOX POP 3: To listen to the people in this domain today. They have a clear message to give him and it's not his mandate to destroy the public service.

LEXI METHERELL: And do you think that we could see this kind of action continue if there is no change?

VOX POP 3: Absolutely.

VOX POP 4: I think quite a few unions are in for the long fight and until it gets changed.

LEXI METHERELL: New South Wales teachers defied an IRC ruling yesterday to delay their strike for 48 hours.

Five-hundred-and-sixty, or a quarter of the state's public schools were affected, leaving parents, like Susan Carter, with mixed feelings.

SUSAN CARTER: I 100 per cent support the right of teachers to go on strike. I think, as the parent of a child in year 12, I just think it's unfortunate that some 40 days out from the Higher School Certificate there's no teachers at school to support my daughter in her preparation for the most important exam of her life.

LEXI METHERELL: The Maritime Union also caused controversy. The Government says 100 Sydney Ferries workers walked off the job in a snap strike at about 9 o'clock this morning leaving 10,000 passengers stranded for several hours.

Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian.

GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: These deckhands who have left their jobs, 100 of them or so this morning, are not even employed under state awards. They are employed under federal awards. That's why their action is illegal and completely unethical. That's why I'm so angry.

LEXI METHERELL: One passenger PM spoke to at Circular Quay didn't mind being delayed because of the strike.

VOX POP 5: Because it's the same Liberal routine, cutting public services. It's the same old rubbish and corruption as previously it looks like to me.

LEXI METHERELL: The State Government is now considering whether to fine the Maritime and Teachers Unions. The Premier Barry O'Farrell says today's action won't change a thing.

BARRY O'FARRELL: A day of chaos inconveniencing the public is not going to change what's been through both houses of parliament. This is the union movement attempting to flex its muscle, inconveniencing the public pointlessly, because the policy will not change.

LEXI METHERELL: But Unions New South Wales' Mark Lennon says the campaign will continue.

MARK LENNON: As always with these campaigns, this is going to be a long campaign and, as I said up on the stage, it'll be a political campaign, it'll be a campaign out there that we'll take out in the community and as always when we're in these campaigns there's always industrial aspects to it as well.

MARK COLVIN: The head of Unions New South Wales' Mark Lennon ending Lexi Metherell's report.

Lexi Metherell reported this story on Thursday, September 8, 2011 18:34:00

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3313423.htm

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