Anti-IR rally to disrupt services
By Nick O'Malley Workplace Reporter
November 30, 2006 — 11.00am
UP TO 500,000 people are expected to join rallies against the new industrial relations laws today, disrupting services such as transport, schools and hospitals.
The State Government, which supports the protests, said it would dock the pay of public servants who attend rallies without using legitimate leave.
Police have warned of traffic disruptions in central Sydney, where 30,000 protesters are expected at Tumbalong and Belmore parks at 8.30am, before marching down George Street.
National rallies will be linked via satellite to the MCG, where the Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, will speak and singer Jimmy Barnes will perform.
A spokesman for the Premier, Morris Iemma, said essential services would operate with skeleton staff. Schools would provide supervision, but teaching would be suspended. In previous rallies public transport continued but some bus services were halted.
The federal Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, accused the NSW Teachers Federation of politicising children by sending home a rally flyer.
"It's this sort of behaviour from the teachers' union in NSW which is part of the reason that the Prime Minister said this week that parents are increasingly voting with their feet and moving from the public schools system into the independent schools system," he said.
"Imagine the outcry if I sent a letter to schools in NSW to be distributed through school students in which it outlines all the lies which Unions NSW have been uttering about Work Choices.
The president of the federation, Maree O'Halloran, said teachers had a responsibility to explain to parents why most would not be at school today.
The Prime Minister yesterday endorsed the Commonwealth Bank's move to use the industrial laws to introduce individual contracts that cut award conditions.