How does one get to the National Community Day of Protest? (Assuming one wishes to)

At the very least, the PS employees there were using their own flextime and/or leave. So, if they’re there for a day off, they’re choosing to go there rather than stay at home…

I wish they did surveys of rally attendees to find out what percentage of the turnout a) have an accurate understanding of what they’re protesting about and why they disagree with it and b) how many of them are just there for a day off work and/or school.

At least he was a real person, not some skit on Sky Channel 😉

Yes but he got a standing ovation (at our end anyway) because he’s not a Liberal…..

They put out 3000 chairs, which were all full and with people outside, so I’d say between 3,500 and 4,000.

Actually…says 3000 here

The unions are estimating 3000, which I’d say isn’t too far from the mark (though I, too, am shite at guessing…).

I’m shite at guessing…I’d say maybe 2000-3000? Or more?

How many people were there?

I went, too…Good that there was a great turnout, yet most of the rally consisted of a video feed from Melbourne, which got consumed in a fully seated hall. The protest for the MTV generation?

I went to the rally. Shame the sound system wasn’t great, but the PASSION my friends, the PASSION!!!! I’m all overwrought!

Viva Le Rights!!!! And the workers shall rise UP! And… and… and…. sorry, it’s the passion. Shall have a bex and good lie down.

Samuel. You are a child. Maybe when you get a job you will change your mind. And since most tossers ring John Laws, go for it!

How many of the kiddies having a day off will actually turn up at the protest? Just the lefties and NoHope acolytes? How many will opt for a round of golf instead? Or a day of domestic chores that didn’t get done at the weekend despite the nagging from the missus? Or just a day on the piss?

What if the bar isn’t open at the track? Disastrous!

What if there’s no ashtrays for the smokers? Will there be another protest once the IR protest is over? Or would they be better using the day to picket outside Woden?

All these questions – will they be answered?

Perhaps Samuel could don a skivvie and pop out to Mitchell and file a report for 2CC and post details here later

We can (mostly) all read and write and spell, there will be no problems getting work in Canberra as the next generation succeeds.

I wouldn’t be suprised, but i’m there to keep the unions alive and i’m not getting paid for it either, that’s the commitment many former protesters took.

Annie, Sam will make a very good journo for something like the Daily Telegraph or Women’s Weekly!

Contracting indeed pays more than full time work – as long as your skills are scarce, in demand and required on a constant basis.

If ever the market dries up for your skills, you’re stuffed. Not so much the case for a full-time employee…

Gee I’m glad you want to be a journalist, Sam.

Seeing as how you’ve got such an open mind on so many issues, and you’re not set in your ways or anything like that.

BTW, personally I think these IR changes are crap and people should be entitled to protest. It’s disgraceful the way the government has rammed the legislation through the House of Reps and manipulated the media coverage.

But just remember these changes only cover award employees. 20% of the workforce are ALREADY on individual contracts, and they’ll continue to hang in the wind with no minimum wage and no safety net provisions.

Then it sounds like these reforms’ll suit you just fine Maelinar.

I’ll see the rest of you at the racetrack.

If you really want to protest – QUIT.

Contracting pays much more than fulltime positions anyway.

i am off to protest against the erosion of union power! This is the final nail in the coffin of the union movement and I cannot let it happen!

How is one meant to join a union, become involved, and climb the greasy pole into an ALP safe seat? attend branch meetings? Unions must be preserved at all costs to ensure democracy is not restored to the ALP. To do so would risk presenting a credible alternative to the evil and dictatorial Howard minions.

I don’t know much about the legislation but goddamm, if the Comrade says it is a holiday for ACT public servants then it must be worth protesting.

I hope that’s right, Ralph, because I don’t don’t want to see Aussie go down the path that NZ took with workplace agreements.

Maybe in five years Labor would’ve got their act together a bit better too?

when the IR reforms fail to get through parliament…

Oh, how I wish I shared your optimism. My money says they’re pretty much a foregone conclusion.

I’ll still be at the protest, though.

If IR reforms really get you ‘stressed’ or ‘depress’ the shit out of you JB, you could take a guilt free sick day without commiting minor fraud.

SGS – now you’ve layed your cards on the table, I’ll look forward to seeing your retraction on this site when the IR reforms fail to get through parliament…

Well they reckon if the States take it to the high court then it could get tied up for at least 5 years – more than long enough to keep it a hot issue at the next election.

I think if protests were limited to guaranteed chances of sucess we wouldn’t need to have them in the first place.

It is going to be a test of strength.

I suspect having it at the racecourse is to guarantee no hot heads try and storm parliament which would decide the issue in the government’s favour in the court of public opinion.

Yes Sam, that’s right, just sit back and don’t bother doing anything because it’s all probably just a complete waste of time because nothing will change anyway. You have been listening to John Laws for far too long.

I like how Howard is so against people taking time off work to protest about something, but then doesn’t think twice about suggesting that employers should cut their staff some slack when the Ashes was on because people may be staying up late to watch the Test matches. Jesus, no wonder some countries don’t take Australia very seriously!

By the way…why is the rally at the bloody racecourse? ‘Keep them feral workers out of the city’?

SGS So how do people tell the Government they are pissed off?

The use of legitimate leave for a private purpose such as attending a protest seems pretty acceptable, but the idea that the Government can “misleadingly” suggest such attendance is illegal is the real issue here.

Sam, that’s the beauty of democratic systems…that people can raise their voice and maybe achieve something. If 30.000 would show (I knnow I’m dreaming, but that’s how many could be potentially f****d by the laws), you think Johnny would still look as smug? Unfortunately the whole IR laws thing got totally lost under the scaremongering about a cut lock near a nuclear reactor….So people…raise your voice!

I personally on ringing John Laws tommorow to talk about how I think this protest is a worthless waste of time which won’t change anything and is attempting to bring the nation to a halt for no good reason.

Then again, I do listen to “the home of vicious old bastards of the air” according to some, so maybe that explains it.

I have no problem with people protesting about things, but I prefer it when they actually have a chance of success, otherwise they are just wasting their time, and making life difficult for people with something better to do.