Celebrating Labour Day - 2020 style!

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 123 No 3, 11 May 2020, page no. 6

COVID-19 may have stopped unionists marching on Labour Day 2020, but that didn’t stop QTU members celebrating the achievements of working Australians and the union movement.

Although health concerns put the traditional Labour Day marches and fun days off the agenda for this year, unionists were able to don their union T-shirts and tune in to local radio stations across the state to hear union-themed tunes and announcements. The celebrations also moved online, with unionists getting involved and sharing what their Union means to them, why they joined, and their stories of struggles engaged in and wins secured. 

The community impact of the pandemic has highlighted the strength and capacity of the union movement: ensuring that workers are safe, working creatively to keep Australia moving and ensuring that those who are doing it tough have a safety net. Now more than ever, Australia needs strong unions.