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| Aye bonny lad its all the folk with flags again |
I am late posting this for a variety of reasons. May Day 7 May 2017. It were a tremendous day. The sky were blue, sun were out and a good cross section of folk turned out. There were the fairfax print mob there having joost taken a bashing in job losses at the granny. MUA, the builders, public sector unions, yon nurses, people representing migrant workers, communists, socialists. The speeches were fiery and then the march. A reminder to one and all our challenge this year is to grow unionism and provide support to where it is most needed (retail and hospitality areas, places where migrant labour is being exploited-where government funding is being slashed- our indigenous community.) It was good catching up with friends. Thanks again to the MUA for continued comradeship and Kevin Robinson from the Liverpool Dockers for the extended crack. James Donovan for his wisdom and taking the piss. Sam and Dimitri for friendship through shared values. The Big Will, or Wiremu for ongoing delegate's support and understanding Geordie ways, aye well he is Scots. Nowt to say as unions become more important to our workplaces. Conditions still being stripped back. Underemployment, lack of permanent jobs and big business crying if they can't take your labour for next ta nowt then more jobs will be lost. Don't get that logic. Then there is the mantra of we can't afford to increase wages boot basic cost of living continues to rise, utilities, education, rates, child care, aged care, health insurance public transport. Aye, we're becoming more like the USA everyday in every way. Fair work still trying to stop the right to strike (the buses after this one). We were reminded of the importance to exercise civil disobedience as a right in challenging unfair and indiscriminately applied laws. It were grand to see young folk in amongst those present and counted! The multi cultural mix that is diversity in action and the look on shoppers faces seeing the marchers getting in way of their right to consume from the capitalist trough better known as Westfields. Let the pictures tell the story of the day.
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| New Zealand dock workers support |
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| Construction workers on mass |
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| That they do!!!! |
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| Nurses on the march |
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| Selling rosettes...the old guard |
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| The Union Choir with a rendition of "There's Power in the Union" Billy Bragg moves us all |
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| Where would we be without him |
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| MUA here to stay |
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