Unions shut down CBD streets as thousands turn out for Labour Day

Thousands of unionists turned out to march through the streets of Brisbane for Labour Day, as several unions butted heads over worker pay with the Queensland government.

The annual march began in Cathedral Square in the CBD, and continued more than 1500 metres to the RNA Showgrounds.

Industrial action will disrupt the south-east Queensland rail network from Tuesday, with delayed services, longer travel times and crowded trains expected.

“Everybody needs to stand up for what they’re entitled to,” Shayne Kummerfeld, an official from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, one of several involved in the dispute with Queensland Rail, said.

“We didn’t get our conditions by standing back and watching bosses take it away, and unfortunately we’ve got a government at the moment that wants to take everything away from workers, and we can’t have that happen … we’re standing up for workers’ rights.”

The feuding CFMEU and Australian Workers’ Union were almost as far away from each other as possible during the march.

Incidents of alleged intimidation between the unions at previous Labour Day marches were aired at the commission of inquiry into CFMEU and construction industry late last year.

Transport Workers’ Union campaign organiser Adam Brabbrook said he took part to represent workers who “fought for those wins” over the years, and to give the next generation the future they deserved.

“It’s unified union members standing together to fight for those, fight for the previous, past and present workers that we have today, to lift those standards, to bring everybody together in a common workplace to fight the same fight.”

State Opposition Leader Steven Miles was in attendance, alongside shadow cabinet members.

“I love Labour Day,” Miles said outside the Queensland Teachers’ Union tent at the RNA Showgrounds.

“It’s a great celebration of what working Queenslanders have achieved in our great state.

“The LNP are treating Queensland workers with utter disrespect.”

Other political movements also turned out, including the Greens, Socialist Alliance, Communist Party of Australia and Palestinian activists.

There were also a handful of protesters campaigning against the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact, plans for a new stadium at Victoria Park for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and US intervention in Cuba and Venezuela.

Matt Grimson of the Electrical Trades Union said Labor Day was not about making unreasonable demands, rather about maintaining “a good, safe work environment with a family-friendly roster”.

“Everyone deserves to go home in the same condition that they came to work in.”

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