Don't be left without rights

The rights of Australian workers are being eroded by a federal government that has put the needs of big business (many of which are now owned by foreign concerns) ahead of its own population.

Since the WorkChoices legislation took effect in March this year, there have been several reported cases of serious worker exploitation and government back-peddling.

Many people have either forgotten or are too young to remember the working conditions that existed before the union movement fought for the forty hour week, the eight hour day, annual leave, equal pay for women...

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is spearheading an ongoing campaign to protect these rights.

There is a view that the union movement is an archaic institution representing a minority of workers and, among other things, has lost touch with workers' needs. While there may be validity to some criticisms of today's union movement (there is no thing without flaws), it is only through and within such a united movement that workers have any serious voice and power.

On November 30 there will be a nation-wide rally. I will be there, as I hope will many thousands of others.

And as a further reminder of why you should be there...