Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

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Secretary's Soapbox - June 2005

The 30 June Rally was a magnificent success for the Victorian Trade Union Movement.  Even official estimates agreed that we achieved well over the 100,000 people in attendance predicted in the lead up to the rally.

The work by the VTHC affiliates and our allies in the community paid off by sending a big message to the Howard government that the proposed IR changes are totally unacceptable.

In particular, the VTHC wants to acknowledge the role the wider community played in our rally on June 30.

It was a keynote event in the ACTU National Week Of Action (27 June – July 3) and Greg Combet, ACTU Secretary, contacted me in the evening of 30 June to convey his appreciation to all VTHC affiliates for a magnificent turnout.

Another key remaining task of the week of action is a mass leaflet handout at AFL football venues over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd July.  All affiliates and activists are invited to participate in that exercise.

It was stated by a number of key speakers on June 30 that this would be an ongoing campaign, going well into the future.  The ACTU Executive is meeting in mid-July and everyone should monitor developments for details of how the ongoing national ‘defend workers rights/defend unions’ campaign will unfold.

Brian Boyd
VTHC Secretary