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

10th March 2008 is the Labour Day Public Holiday


The original purpose of the day was to celebrate the achievement by Victorian unions of gaining the world’s first 8 hour working day in 1856.

In 2008

Howard's harsh industrial laws
Unions know that John Howard’s package of harsh industrial laws hurt working families.  The effect of these laws on many workers was to force them to work longer hours for the same or less pay.

Unions seek the immediate scrapping of all of the previous government’s harsh industrial laws, including the diabolical so called ‘WorkChoices’ legislation.

The Your Rights at Work campaign continues and, as last November’s election showed, Australia’s working families expect fair pay and decent hours.

Rudd must fulfill his mandate
Kevin Rudd has done much in his first 100 days.  But, on the eve of the Labour Day public holiday, Victorian unions are calling on the federal government to fulfill the mandate of Australian workers and roll back these laws at a brisker rate.

OHS rights
It is also the OHS right of each Victorian worker to have safe hours of work.  Long hours of work can be unhealthy on our bodies in the long term.  Long hours of work can also contribute to injuries and dangerous incidents in workplaces, and in getting home.  Victorian unions encourage all workers to ensure they have a workplace OHS representative.

Holiday should be on the right day
The 8 hour day public holiday was celebrated on the actual day of victory for the 8 hour movement – 21 April – until 1934 to give full recognition to this historic day, we should return the public holiday to the actual day – 21 April. 

It is for this reason that Victorian unions have returned to holding their annual Labour Day celebrations on the Friday closest to 21 April.

 


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