Unions mass in Newcastle to protest IR laws

Delegates and members joined forces with hundreds of other angry union members to protest the O’Farrell government’s unfair public sector wages policy at a lunchtime rally in the centre of Newcastle on Friday 29 July.

The RTBU Bus and Tram division had the biggest delegation at this rally and it was a proud day for the union members of Newcastle as they hammered home the message that workers will relentlessly continue to protest until this legislation, which holds rates of pay below inflation and gags the independent umpire, is abandoned.

Organised by Unions NSW, the key speaker Secretary Mark Lennon demanded that the member for Newcastle Tim Owen make his constituents concerns heard inside the government. A petition was later presented to Mr Owen’s office.

Divisional President, Gary Way also spoke, and Hamilton depot delegate Kelly Budden gave a stirring speech to the huge crowd.

The Newcastle rally was the last in a series of union rallies across regional NSW. Every regional centre in the state has now participated in these rallies and the message will be taken straight to the government’s doorstep at a massive public sector union rally in the Sydney Domain planned for September.

Check out more photos from the rally here.

Information about the rally in Sydney  is here.