Kambrya College teachers show their support at the rally, centre from left (holding the By Sarah Schwager
A RALLY against controversial changes to national workplace laws in the city yesterday saw support from unionists and residents from across the south-east.
Teachers from Berwick’s Kambrya College offered their support with 35 teachers involved.
Australian Education Union (AEU) Kambrya College sub-branch treasurer Ruth Scott said at the rally that it was important for them to take part in the event.
“We are just coming together to support the AEU and unions in general,” Ms Scott said.
“We believe our rights are worth fighting for.
“We are also fighting for the future of the young people we represent.”
AEU Kambrya College sub-branch president Glenn O’Shaughnessy said it was important to come down and support their fellow workers.
“We’re here as part of the community rather than as teachers in general,” Mr O’Shaughnessy said.
“In fairness, it’s not going to effect us for the next few years because we’ve got our current agreement. But in five years from now when the agreement runs out we don’t know where we will be.”
Seven teachers from Pakenham Hills Primary School attended the rally, with two classes at the school cancelled yesterday.
Student union president at Monash University Berwick Campus Ben Maxfield also offered his support at the rally.
“Workers’ rights need to be protected,” he said.
“John Howard is deregulating our industrial relations system, shifting powers from the workers to the bosses in an unfair way.”
Mr Maxfield also represented the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) which has 250,000 members across the country.
Pakenham Secondary College assistant principal Bruce Churchward said less than 10 teachers had attended the rally.
“We made arrangements for the kids that needed to come to school,” Mr Churchward said.
“Some of our senior students weren’t required at school so no classes were disrupted.”
He said as a school, they supported the right of the school union to take action.
Federal Deputy Opposition Leader Jenny Macklin spoke at the rally, promising to fight against the industrial relations changes.
“I’m here to tell you that the Labor Government will go to Parliament and throw this legislation out,” she said.
“It’s going to be a tough campaign.”
Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd congratulated the crowd on their support.
“This is what we do best in Melbourne, turn up in our tens of thousands,” Mr Boyd said.
“A lot of this campaign will have to be fought back in the workplace, defying the Howard Government, defying in the thousands, risking fines.”
ACTU president Sharan Burrow urged the crowd to stand up for their values.
“For more than 100 years Australia has had an industrial relations system that… has ensured there are decent protections for people,” Ms Burrow said.
“This is a protection that the Government will destroy.
“None of our conditions will be safe – penalty rates, holiday pay… John Howard, our Prime Minister, is putting it all up for grabs.”
