
Issue No 3		05 March 1999

News

Unionists Flex Muscles for a Gay Time

By Deirdre Mahoney, NSW Labor Council special projects officer

The spirit of the Village People was alive and well at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade last Saturday, with more than 100 trade unionists donning overalls and hard hats to show their support for same sex rights.


	Workers Wave the Red Flag at Madi Gras

Looking much less glamorous than our nearest neighbours in the parade (40 Shirley Basseys, numerous Dannii Minogues, the Get Smart team - aka Anti-Discrimination Board - and a smart "LAPD" force), the red-banner wavers nevertheless made up for it with enthusiasm.

Joined by a number of children (including one on rollerblades) and a few tourists who jumped on the union bandwagon (and an unmissable opportunity) at the last moment, the unionists chanted slogans, and carried placards lobbying for same-sex rights.

A committed group had been meeting for weeks beforehand to prepare the flags, placards and glitter hard-hats (they won't be seen on another construction site - more's the pity!), and Robyn Fortescue should be congratulated for her co-ordinating efforts.

The Meatworkers Patricia Fernandez made her mark on the parade, leading the Dykes on Bikes contingent with a trade union flag.

A highlight was joining up with unionists from as far afield as Queensland and Victoria, including a contingent from the ASU's (Services) southern branch carrying their new "GLAM" (Gay & Lesbian ASU Members) rainbow banner.

The ASU's slogan, "Job Security never goes out of style" was spread via red helium balloons handed out to the crowd, as well as stickers publicising the ACTU's "Work Overload - Say No" campaign.

The parade wrapped up several months of hard work for Labor Council and its affiliates. Earlier this year, Labor Council submitted an application urging the NSW Government to consider giving same sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples (find it on our website), and at the Mardi Gras Fair Day, held in Victoria Park, Glebe, on Valentine's Day, we collected 2200 signatures on a petition on the same matter, which will be presented to the Government after the election. Congratulations to all who have supported our efforts - we have been overwhelmed by the response.

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Issue 3 contents

Interview: How Organising Works
The ACTU�s Sarah Kaine is part of a new breed of union organiser who help workers stand up for themselves.

Unions: Big Boys Bank on Mergers
Mergers of the big banks are back on the agenda, and the Finance Sector Union is leading the community campaign against them.

History: Commemorating Our Dear Departed Equal Pay Activists
Two women who deserve special recognition and commemoration as part of our Women's Day celebrations are Eileen Powell and Edna Ryan, both of who played a crucial role in the struggle for equal pay.

Legal: New Judge Announces Zero Tolerance Of Pay Inequity In NSW
The NSW Industrial Relations Commission is training its sights on industrial raw-deals for women, and targeting the traditional under-valuation of women's work.

Review: Keep the Australia in Australian Television.
Local content quotas for Australian television are under threat from our Kiwi cousins.

Campaign Diary: Radical Conservatives Raise Their Own Bar
This Monday writs are issued for the state election, The phoney campaign ends and the real one begins; and the issue of stability, the need for it and the lack of it, is set to dominate the next four weeks.

» Unions Win Virtual Access To The Workplace

» Shaw To Snip At Gender Pay Gaps

» Living Wage - Round One To Unions

» Workers Fight Hotel Chain's Contracts Push

» No Picnic, No Pay

» The Modern Day Tales Of Robin Hood

» Nothing Casual About Woolies Drivers

» Unionists Flex Muscles for a Gay Time