The right to work, the right to education and the right to health were the “big three” issues focused on by unions at the annual May Day March through Wollongong.
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Hundreds of men, women and children met at Lowden Square on Saturday, chanting various slogans as they made their way down Crown Street, led by the Illawarra Pipe Band.
“Unity in the community is imperative. We have to stick together and demand that governments deliver the things the people elected them for and to keep fighting on days such as May Day, but also every day to achieve,” said President of the May Day committee Garry Keane.
The march culminated with teachers, parents, steel-workers, nurses and refugee advocates peacefully gathering with their placards at the mall amphitheatre for several motivating speeches.
Michelle Myers from the National Maritime Union was the first to the microphone to rev up the crowd.
“[The Federal Government] is not doing enough to save any of the industries – the teachers, seafarers, the meat workers, the steel workers,” said Ms Myers.
“We need to fight as hard as we’ve ever fought before, to make sure there are jobs for the kids that are sitting right in front of me.
“There is so much going on that we need to stand up, otherwise there will be no jobs for the working class of this country.”
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said this year’s campaign was getting “back to basics” to target fundamental rights that they believed were in jeopardy.
Teachers Federation Wollongong organiser John Black pushed for more funding for the Gonski education model, warning children in low-socio economic areas were greatly disadvantaged without the extra support.
Health delegates were angered by cuts to Medicare meaning certain pathology and medical imaging would no longer be bulk billed, while cuts to dental schemes for children would again greatly disadvantage low-income families.
Steelworker delegates were thankful for support during their “save our steel” campaign, but reminded the crowd the fight wasn’t over until the government’s proposed changes to the steel industry came into effect.
The International Workers Day rally is the longest running of its kind in the region, going strong for more than 100 years.