Unions rally to protest

Queensland Council of Unions members rally against selling state assets outside Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan’s office.

UNION members are gearing up for a major protest rally outside the State Government’s community cabinet meeting in Ipswich.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh’s proposal to privatise assets, including parts of Queensland Rail, has raised the hackles of unions.

Yesterday, Queensland Council of Unions Ipswich president Jamie McQueen said he expected 500 union members outside the meeting.

He said the members would gather in the park opposite Ipswich Civic Centre at 9am next Monday and march to the centre where the community cabinet would be held.

“We’ve got all the Redbank rail workshop workers and the workers from the North Ipswich workshops as well,” Mr McQueen said yesterday.

“We’ve lodged an application to have a deputation of union members talk to someone

from the government after the meeting.

“Hopefully Anna Bligh can hang around long enough to talk to us.”

He said the delegation would include a trio of Ipswich-raised union figures – himself, Pat O’Doherty from the CFMEU and Steve Franklin of the AMWU.

“Ipswich families are facing a very uncertain future with this proposal,” Mr McQueen said.

“The three of us are old Ipswich boys, we’ve been involved in sport in the city, and we’re all committed to the welfare of Ipswich workers.

“We’re hoping to get a crowd of around 500.”

He said the rally was part of a state-wide union campaign including a rally outside Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan’s office in July.

“People have to be mindful there is an election looming,” he said.

“The Premier has an agenda but she doesn’t have the support of the unions and there are obviously other ways to achieve what she wants to achieve.”

Ms Bligh responded yesterday, saying “all members of the community are welcome to attend community cabinet, to put their questions to all members of our cabinet”.

“If union representatives would like to attend and ask questions, I would encourage them to do so,” she said.