I am rallying on November 30 to show Howard that he can push the hard working Australians further and further under, but as a nation of we can survive and at the same time make Howard realise that not him nor his counterparts have the power to treat Australians the way they do and get away with! The power of people will win! Tom McCartney QLD

I am rallying to reclaim my working rights which have been unjustly and unfairly removed by the PM John Howard. My vote counts and my rights count! Vera Kaliczinsky NSW

I am rallying on 30 November because I DO NOT like the way things are going in Australia... especially with the new Work Choices and Mr Howard's IR Legislation that he has put in place.  He has stripped away the rights that our fathers fought for and only listens to BIG BUSINESS.  He certainly turns a deaf ear to the working man and all his decisions are made with the Australian Business Council in mind. It is time for the working people of Australia to make their voices heard and to go to the next election with the intent of putting Mr Howard out of business... H Low

I am rallying in protest of these unjust, unacceptable and grossly unfair workplace laws. I am also rallying for the people who are not able to do so. Our future. We should (and WILL not) be the generation that lets our rights and conditions be stripped away by a twisted and ideological driven government. I would also like Mr. Howard to ask employees of Spotlight, Feltex and even Kevin Andrews's office and see their understand why they are rallying?. Maybe Mr. Howard might learn something?? They are rallying in response to less pay and less conditions provided by their employers via AWA's. It is a proved fact by his own Office of Employment Advocate that AWA's cut pay and conditions such as penalty rates. These laws are a formula for social destruction. Howard just doesn’t get it, why should the workers of this fine county lower our standard of living to feed a few of Howard's big business buddies. What a disgrace! I call upon every worker in this county, Union or Non-Union to stand and protest against these laws as they WILL lower our standards of living now and into the future. Luke Hutchinson NSW

I want the wealth of this country shared between all Australians not just the privileged few. United we will make this a great country not by creating division. Unfair workplace conditions will only bring less productivity not more. Why should I work hard if there is no appreciation for it? Peter P

I am going to attend the Newcastle rally because of dignity and decency, although retired from the work force, but not the struggle to see justice done in the workplace, that Howard and Andrews has shattered. Also the exploitation of s457 visas and the demolishing of the conditions that I and my union fought for, to make Australia a better and fairer place to live in...all the conditions and the fabric of living that we used to enjoy were gained by the Trade union movement and that has been eroded by greed, the boss's give themselves huge pay rises, while the workers struggle to make ends meet...Yours In Solidarity.. with Workers Rights!!! Ross J Campbell NSW

I am attending the rally because the new laws are so ambiguous and tricky that they make it legal for employers to do what they want to whom they want. Then are not fair, they are un-Australian, and they are a slap in the face to those who have gone before us to achieve the conditions that we have taken for granted for so long. We all have an interest in standing up for our right, without them we are at the mercy of the rich. Janette Kruger SA

I will be rallying on November 30th to voice my disgust with the arcane laws the current government has brought on the Australian worker. Howard must be stopped if then future working Australians are ever going to have any opportunity of progressing in the future. Tim McCloud
QLD

Because I do not want to end up with the same working conditions and wages as the USA, where 25 per cent of homeless people have full-time jobs. That's why.
Stephanie Edwards SA

This is too important not to support.
My children's futures are at stake here.
My father and the generations who came before worked and fought too hard for our working conditions for Howard and his cohorts to come along and simply throw them away so that his big business mates can make bigger profits on the backs of hard working Australians.
Ross Warren NSW

Maybe I could be better off with an individual Workplace Agreement because I can negotiate from a strong position and my current work conditions are underpinned by a hard won Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (thanks to the Australian Services Union). But Howard's individual Workplace Agreements will hurt my family and my community, tomorrow if not today.

I don't want the dog eat dog society that Howard's individual Workplace Agreements want to create, the type of society that advances the strong at the expense of the weak, that perpetuates a master and servant idealogy. It's not Australian.

Howard's individual Workplace Agreements threaten a new era of economic oppression. I want my family and my community to live with dignity, to be treated fairly and to be paid a decent living.

If individual Workplace Agreements are to have any future, they must be backed by a strong Awards process and be able to withstand comparison to Award conditions. E Bryant, QLD

Dear Mr Howard PM,

After applying for hundreds of jobs, with 25 years work experience, I'm basically forced (with the threat of being breached if I refuse a "reasonable"job offer) to accept a short term contract: 6-8 weeks work, on call seven days a week, 6am-6pm for a flat $18 hour, handling highly hazardous substances (hydrofluoric acid). That's your idea of a flexible workplace Mr. Howard?

Mr Howard, I want a real job; a job that considers MY family commitments, MY age and respects ME as a human being.
Mr. Howard your IR laws are a threat to MY ideal of a "fair go".  I'll protest and if need be, I'll fight you tooth and nail.
"Get It" Mr. Howard, just like I "get it", in the neck.
Michael Pitt SA

Unlike John Howard I know exactly what this rally is about.  It has a number of purposes:
1. to raise awareness in local communities of the terrible impact that Workchoices will have on ordinary working families.
2. to demonstrate that workers will not just accept these draconian changes lying down.
3. to defend those workers that are already struggling to survive under the Howard Government.
4. to ensure that John Howard and his cronies are unemployed after the next election. Sharon QLD

I am rallying because these changes affect the lowest paid workers not the corporate high flyers,who get millions of dollars in salary and contribute very little to the economy. Howard is bashing our kids quality of living to the lowest minimum. M Barry

John Howard's workplace laws are driving employee rights back over a hundred years. Conditions some young Australian employees just assume all employers want to give their employees were won by huge campaigns and some employees losing their lives.  These conditions have just been knocked out in one hit.  those who are least able to negotiate are hardest hit - is the Australian way?  Do we want a huge criminal underclass like the US - of desperate people trying to survive? Julie Lundberg, SA

For hundreds of years workers around the globe have campaigned for fairer, safer, workplaces. People have been rewarded for the work they do, and given the power to stand up to employers when they haven't been treated fairly. If we let corporate Australia walk all over the workers by removing overtime rates, sick leave entitlements and the power to collectively bargain we move more towards a self-centred society interested in putting the individual first and punishing those less fortunate. Tom Dixon QLD

My kids are soon to be entering the work force.  In the past they could have applied for jobs reasonably confident that they would be covered under a suitable award etc. But now that is no longer true.  They have to be confident enough to be able to "negotiate" their own pay and conditions.
How fair is that? Andrew SA

I respect the benefits I have under my current work agreement (certified agreement), however this is about to expire and in negotiations for a new agreement it is obviously that conditions and being moved from "legislation" to "policy" making it too easy for my employer to change matters whenever they choose, with no consultation.
As a women who may access maternity leave in the future, and want part-time work arrangement to provide care for my children, I valued the assurances in the old certified agreement that this would be possible.  Now nothing is guaranteed in the same way, and a 2 week increase in maternity leave provisions is being fought by my employer.
I also need to work part-time currently due to ill health.  I fear that this will be another area that the government attacks and a lose of conditions with result.
Over 14 years in the public service I have occasionally accessed the comfortable work conditions we have.  This has result in my desire to work harder as I feel valued.  I no longer feel valued as an employee.
100 years of fighting for safe, comfortable workplaces has been overturned in one wave of the government's wand.
M West ACT

I'm rallying because I believe in the importance of relationship, equality and a fair go. I believe the 'Work Choices' legislation undermines the employee/employer relationship leaving it open to abuse and unfairness. We should be eradicating such injustice from society, not promoting it. TC

I am rallying because I don’t want my children left with the burdens of an inequitable industrial relations system.
Mark Brand NSW

The reason I will be attending the rally is that I wish to voice my disapproval to the removal of workers rights to collectively bargain, the anti worker, pro company, worst choices legislation. My kids deserve a better future because when the economy turns, companies will utilize the legislation to further reduce wages and conditions to maintain or increase their already exorbitant greedy profit taking. Attending will also indicate that we will no longer stand by and allow john Howard to continually lie to the Australian PEOPLE. He is not governing for all people he is governing(dictating) for business. By taking part I will be 1 more voice against his lying deceitful ways. Ray (Rev) WA

I am rallying because I am particularly concerned about the interaction of WorkChoices and Welfare to Work legislation, which will further marginalise and casualise women in the workforce. Women already fill the bulk of casualised jobs, so these two pieces of legislation will entrench existing disadvantage, especially in the case of single parents, whose casualised job status may mean that they are not able to meet the requirement to work 30 hours per fortnight in order to remain entitled to welfare payments. This is gendered legislation, and it removes protections for all workers. Laura Deane SA

I'm rallying on November 30 because its a just cause to protect the rights of workers and in particular in my case young workers who can be undermined more easily due to out particular financial situation. In addition, i study a bachelor of business majoring in economics and i believe the current IR implemented by the Howard government are unfair and undermine the strengths of Australia's workforce as a developed country and will reduce out competitiveness in the global market and reduce overall productivity and constrain the Australian economy by our lack of competitiveness caused by a weakened workforce. Jim Armstrong QLD

Because I can't afford not to!
The Government has deserted us so if we don't stick together we will be doomed to becoming third world citizens in our own country.  The Government uses fine words but they will not "butter any parsnips" in the households of regular Australians.  Actions speak louder than words and it is very clear from the Government's actions that they are NOT concerned with the standard of living of ordinary Australians - just Corporate Australia [no matter how many words they say about caring about families in Australia].
Not since the 70's have I seen such a need in industrial relations for us all to rally together. SM

I work in the industry of teaching English as a second language. These language schools which are often at Universities make huge profits and treat their workers dismally. Most workers are either part-time or casual and can be hired and fired at will, have their hours slashed at will and are generally too afraid to complain or raise their heads above the parapet in case  they lost their jobs altogether. They are paid by the hour to stand in front of a class but as anyone who is a teacher knows there are huge amounts of hours that need to be put in outside the classroom; for lesson preparation, corrections, mountains of bureaucratic paperwork and arranging excursions. Students have to be advised and counselled but all of this is unpaid work in what is, in reality, a very responsible job. The 'English as a second language industry' has been at the cutting edge of John Howard's brave new industrial laws for quite some time. Workers are not unemployed; just underemployed. Unless there is another main bread-winner in their family they cannot obtain a mortgage or pay for a car. I am getting towards the age of 60 now but in my lifetime I have seen the 'profession' of teacher slide every downwards into what it is today - a casualised, part-time skill where all the rights and priveleges are totally skewed towards the employers who are making mega-bucks out of overseas students. It is people like John Howard and his colleagues in Canberra who have slowly but surely brought this 'profession' down  with a step by step destruction of the 'fair go' industrial workplace.
Marita Bodman 

I don't like WORK CHOICES. These laws don't give me choices. I don't want these laws to stay, I want more choices not less. I want to voice my objection by attending these rallies to show John Howard I'm against his laws.
Alan McLean QLD

Because all the sacrifices our forebears made to get a fair deal for workers shouldn't just be trampled by this legislation. This is people's survival we're talking about.
Tina Bramley QLD

My fathers, father fought in wars to give us a fair go, good working conditions and fair pay. Your IR LAWS have the lowest pay increase ever known. I have a right to be paid penalty rates and better my family!....even your own department has admitted to this!
My grandfather would turn in his grave if he knew your so could caring government are abolishing public holidays and leave loadings Your government is taking more perks out of my family budget, building up your great economy and I have to find the extra money for fuel cost increases, interest rates rises (And four eyes Howard, don’t think I cant do my simple maths, a mortgage 20 years ago with an interest rate of 12 to 15 % on a $110,000 home is no where near as atrocious as a 6% interest rate on a $370,000 home mortgage. And you give me a pathetic 4% pay increase which doesn’t even keep up with inflation.
Yeah, Johnny and you say, "We don’t now what we are protesting about!" John WA

I will be protesting the new 'work choices' laws because they fundamentally skew the employer / employee relationship in favour of the employer. Allowing bosses to hire and fire at will, indiscriminately and with no explanation other than “operational reasons” places to much faith in employers to act fairly and professionally. Despite Kevin Andrews’ infantile denials, every single Australian can see that employees can now be sacked by their boss on any discriminatory ground - all the boss has to do is cry “operational!” and they have a get out of jail free card and bosses with less than 100 workers don’t even need one. They have impunity because their workers’ rights to claim unfair dismissal are a sham - not dissimilar to a democratic activist’s right in communist China to a fair trial. The Minister’s claims that sacking on discriminatory grounds is still illegal and employees still have a means of redress are meaningless as employers have a blanket defence and in any case the costs of pursuing it will be a solid brick wall in front of wronged employees.  This means that employees now carry a disproportionate amount of the risks associated with carrying on a business compared to the rewards they gain from working for the business. CF

I am a childcare professional - as is already known the wages and conditions of this industry are not the best. In my workplace since the IR laws came in every new employee is on contract and can have employment terminated at the whim of head office. Under the contract employees must give four weeks notice but only be given two weeks themselves, there has been a loss of pay for overtime (meetings and "social events") for all of us on contract or not, some have had their hours cut. Its ridiculous to think an employee has any power to barter with an employer - unemployment figures given by the Howard administration do not realise the full unemployment of Australia. Many unemployed people are not on centrelinks system for many reasons and unemployment figures don't recognise the casual workforce. Employers are aware of how easily they fill jobs and this will make some industries have less bargaining power. Only those with unique qualifications in high demand industries will have any bargaining power.

Being a child care professional and hoping to begin a family of my own, I believe in the rights of children to a better future. IR laws that allow a master/slave mentality are not the kind of future I want.

I feel so strongly about this that four weeks ago I notified my workplace I would not be taking five days holiday but only four that is I broke a nine day holiday (including weekend days) so that I could attend the protest on the 30th Nov without inconveniencing my place of work.

I don't want to fight my employer but I do want fairness for all. Ruth NSW

Because I don't want my kids working in an environment reminiscent of the Dark Ages here they have no rights. I want my children to be able to work in an environment where there is respect for work/life balance particularly the needs of families. Katherine Moyo VIC

Fair pay and decent conditions are the most important way we make our society fairer. Unions and collective bargaining won me the rights I have at work, and the fairness that I enjoy in the community. If we don't stand up and defend our rights now, we will be much poorer, in every sense.
Ben Spies-Butcher NSW

I am rallying becuase we have come out of the dark ages where workers had no rights, into the 21st century where workers had to fight to get rights and now John Howard again sent us into the dark ages of by taking away our rights. After a lifetime of hard work and protection of the workers, He is selling away the future generations of Australians, the youth of tomorrow. We will suffer through his actions, if we do not change this. Abdul Moos NSW

I am concerned about my working conditions when the new agreement is up for negotiation in 2007.
I am also worried about my children's future job prospects with increased casualisation.  One of my children was changed from a casual to an Independent Contractor after July 1 06 even though he was doing the same job.  He had been "casual" even though he worked five and sometimes 6 days a week. Now he has to pay his own tax and has to organise his own work cover and superannuation.  Unfair!
Jenni Guilfoyle VIC

Just one week after the new "workchoice" laws were passed, a colleague left our company. The management immediately called a meeting and said if anyone had thoughts of leaving as well, they would not accept our resignations and would forfeit our entitlements. What's more they pressed that they would sue us under the new laws, which we knew to be false, but still played on what were supposed to be our lack of understanding. Five workers have since been pressured into leaving after new applicants were interviewed and granted jobs at a rate much lower than what we have been paid. Dion Waterman VIC

I am rallying to save workers' rights.  For the sake of Australian families we must support the Labor Party in tearing up Howard's IR laws.  I am rallying on November  30 because our unions have worked hard to obtain better working conditions and wages for Australian employees.  Don't let Howard undo this our unions work.  We don't want to open opportunities for "slave" labour. Sandra Hodge TAS

I am a professional officer in Local Government and while I hope my future is secure due to an ongoing need for my service I am extremely concerned and angered by the Federal Governments attempt to erode my right to collectively bargain for conditions and salary increases in my workplace. I count myself fortunate to be employed in a Local Government area where the majority of elected Councillors are Labor and have provided staff an assurance we will continue to negotiate in a fair and collective way while ever Labor holds the balance of power. This has not stopped individual managers signing new staff on under AWA's and promoting the concept corporately. I see this as thin end of the wedge and feel most for young people new to the workforce, particularly those with little qualification, skill or experience. The changes to the IR laws leaves this sector of the workforce particularly vulnerable to mercenary bosses, and does not build a platform for an equitable and sharing society. Modern management practice encourages us to be resourceful, innovative and responsible while modern IR legislation takes away my incentive, does something not add up here or is it just me? LC

I am rallying because unlike the politicians who make the laws I will not be set up for life as far as super, golden hand shakes and other tax payer subsidised benefits go when I am stood down from my Job for whatever reason my employer chooses. I want to have 'A fair go' I don't want to just be an indespensible number on the books of a company - who can just say "We need to get rid of 100 of them (employees)". KU

I have worked as a registered nurse for 37 years. My hourly rate shows that I am not valued anyway for the work I do. The Liberal Govt clearly does not value me and the many others in this country who work outside the 9-5 Mon-Fri workframe. Penalty rates are the only thing that help me keep my head above water.
I am rallying to fight for shift workers rights to a decent pay, penalty rates in recognition of the out of business hours that we work so people can have health care around the clock and adequate leave so that we can continue to cope with a very demanding role.
The new IR laws have seen penalty rates eliminated or significantly reduced, shift allowances cut or reduced, pay increases significantly reduced, holiday allowances reduced. At the same time living expenses are rising. Mr Howard and his Liberal team cannot possibly have any idea how life is lived outside the Ivory Tower. Dianne Stebbing SA

Because although my rights at work may be affected to a certain degree, there will be others in smaller workforce areas whose lives could be devastated by the changes.
Pauline Aitken (aka Fieth) QLD

John Howard's IR laws are attempting to take away the conditions that have been hard won over many generations. These laws are not about greater economic prosperity for all Australians, they are about a better bottom line for the employers and and the corporations. John Howard's campaign against the unions is idealogically driven. He thinks that by introducing these draconian laws that he can strip the unions of their power and use divisive, isolationist  tactics to force employees onto AWAs. We have a message for him on November 30  - YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG!!! Australians pride themselves on believing that everyone should be given a fair go. These laws will mean hardship for all Australians but they will bite hardest those who can least afford it. We will see the advent of a huge poor working class, forced to take on several casual/part-time jobs to try to earn a living wage, much as is experienced in the USA. Recipients of supporting payments will be hit hard as the minim!
 um wage is driven lower and lower as their pensions are based on a proportion of the minimum wage. Society as a whole will suffer as more people who were traditionally Monday - Friday workers are exploited to work on Weekends for no additional penalty rates. This will mean that there are fewer parents available to supervise weekend activities such as sporting events  and take on other voluntary work in their communities. Families will suffer.  Small/local business will suffer as there will be less disposable income available, what would you choose, food for your family or to rent a video from the local video outlet or jump in a taxi on that rainy night?  Soon to be retirees need to think hard about what their retirement will be like.... As we lose penalty rates etc. our final salaries are decreased and our superannuation payouts are based on final salaries. We must ensure that we get the message to the wider community that this is not just about worker's rights, this is about the rights of all Australians to be treated fairly and decently. R NSW

I am rallying for a fair Australia. If we don't stand up now, Australia will slide even further towards a society that promotes meanness, individualism, and conflict among its members.  The gap between the few that still have rights and entitlements and the rest of us will widen rapidly if we do not stop the madness of the current Federal government.  We must take a strong message to John Howard and his team to say this is not how we want to live. Every one in Australia should be entitled to opportunities and good life chances, including the next generation. Julia Cranney SA

My husband and I were unfairly dismissed on the same day from different jobs. Neither of us were able to pursue our rights to arbitration due to John Howards new "NO CHOICE " law reforms. Name withheld

To protect my rights and the rights of my baby when he enters the work force. Leigh Korbatits QLD

I am rallying because I am so opposed to the Howard Governments IR laws that I want to do something. I was in a haberdashery shop today and there were two people serving and one counter open. Normally there were two counters open and at least five employees serving. There were at least 12 customers waiting to be served, this was on a Thursday one of the busiest days of trading. Undoubtedly the firm has taken on board the IR laws and cut staff to save the payroll, I will be rallying and thinking of the "Spotlight" employees.  All I could think of was "Thank you John Howard, you bastard" Pauline O'Neill NSW

I am not politically minded, never have been! But when the broad spectrum of Society's leadership say "These laws are a bad idea!" I would be a fool not to listen! The fact our elected representatives do not shows how out of touch they are! My ten children deserve better. It's no wonder there is no need for a Politician's Union. They look after themselves at our (tax) expense. Paul De Graaff VIC

I'll be marching again in Sydney because I've got  two grand-daughters, one who is too young to walk and the other is too young to go to school.
They don't know what work or jobs are, their parents cannot afford to take a day off work because their mortgage, petrol, and taxes are crippling them. This is all to keep our useless MP's in the comfortable manner to which they have become accustomed.
I emigrated to Australia to give my kids a better chance not to be enslaved by a greedy government. I owe it to my grandkids to fight for their future, they don't want to go back to sweeping chimneys like their fore-fathers.
So yes wee Johnny we do get it and we won't submit to corporate and political greed.
We can't all be generals, someone has got to work to keep Australia alive!!! Peter Gilbert NSW

I am a teacher, I work with disadvantaged students who will have little chance of negotiating with an employer. Just to gain employment they may have to take conditions that no politician would be prepared to do. Few breaks, slave labour wages. They need someone to ensure minimum conditions. L Thomas NSW

As a student of History (BA Honours, Oxford University) a small business owner and an adviser to business management in Australia for thirty years, I am greatly concerned that the balance of power is being shifted entirely to the employer. John Howard can't touch me, but his IR legislation puts my children and millions of Australians at the mercy of their employer. History shows that the effect of this is disastrous. Maurice W VIC

I am proof the laws are unfair. I lost my job two days after they came in and all because I wasn't the boss' favourite anymore. My work was excellent and I couldn't be sacked for that so he waited until the laws came in. How is that fair? Dusty VIC

To rally the government that all people have a right to work with dignity and protection from being exploited.  The new IR laws are Draconian and take unfair advantage of our most vulnerable.  Enough is enough. Celina Bilander VIC

I am really concerned for my daughter's future. She knows how important unions are and have been historically. We could lose so many things that were fought for and especially affect women. Jill trotter NSW

As an educator of young people I am already seeing disastrous consequences of the AWA system.  Students who have studied in my course at TAFE have won positions fully expecting to be treated equitably, but although their employers have lavished praise on their progress, when the 3 month trial period has finished, the new employee is OUT!  Young people are being exploited and the Howard government is expecting them to negotiate terms for employment which are governed by complex laws that most people don't understand. What hope have they got? Tricia Anderson SA

I marched last year and would march again this year, however, I am presently in the UK. In my time overseas I have been working in schools doing relief teaching. The situation of teachers here is in stark contrast to that of teachers back in my home state of Queensland. Here, teachers seem to have very little job security. They are hired and fired by schools rather than the State, and are often on employment contracts that provide little job security. Each time a school is closed (which appears to be on the increase) to make way for a new academy, all teachers lose their jobs and are forced to reapply for new positions. In addition, teachers doing the same job can be on different wages, depending on the strength of their bargaining position within a particular situation. This seems to create division and uncertainty in the workplace. This in turn makes teaching less attractive as a profession, and is contributing to a driving down of standards. As I see it, this is the way we are headed if the current Howard industrial relations regime is allowed to stay (and indeed be expanded upon). I sincerely hope that Australian's take the time to show their opposition to these laws on November 30 ... workers need to stand up for their rights before we lose them for good. PA

I demand a say in the workplace, a say in ordering my life. The immense power that the Howard government has given to employers viciously undercuts democracy. I intend to fight this. Peter Forbes NSW

Because I am tired of the government telling me that I support what they have done.  Marching today...voting tomorrow! Rachael QLD

Because AWA's are the first step in breaking the unions in this country, stripping workers of every advancement  fought for and won over years of patient and persistent determination; to improve the quality of our teaching, working conditions, pay, job satisfaction and our ideal of, A Fair Go for all Australians.  Maree Hitchcox NSW

I am rallying because I am tired of living in country so focused on vocation and the economy that human needs are being forgotten.  I want my daughter to have the chance of a permanent secure job without selling her soul to get it.  I want the students I teach to have a chance for a secure future.  Our country is going down a very dangerous path and if we, the adults, do not lead the way in asking for an alternative, how will our children ever know the difference? Brenda Holmes NSW

It needs to be done. Makes me so mad when the rights which have already been hard fought and won are threatened and eroded by a government that just doesn't care. I don't take this lightly, and neither should anyone.
Sandra NSW

I can't rally because I will be at work all day even though I have plenty of reasons to, believe me! K Hulin QLD

I will not be rallying at the MCG to show John Howard I am unhappy with the IR law changes.Of course he will ignore the entire proceedings as he has done every other significant protest (and there have been many)since he became PM. I will be protesting for the benefit of the politically ignorant and disinterested, who,on the promise of another tax cut prior to the next election,will return to power the worst government in the history of this country.I hope that the spectacle of the MCG filled with angry protesters on their TV screens will spark an awakening of their otherwise vacant minds and create an image which will return to them at election time. And they will realise that there are other issues to consider other than the promise of another tax cut!  Peter Holt VIC

Because unions in this country fought hard for the good working conditions we have now. I don't want to see my children working for a basic wage of $5.00 per hour (as in America) where these poor people cannot afford health care. So, not only are my husband and I rallying but we are taking children out of school for the day so they know what's what in this country! B family

We have built something special in Aust, a community that looks after it's own, I feel these laws in the long term will consign millions of Australians to a life of working poverty. As a father of 4, I want to leave my kids with a "just society" not just a society. Anthony McGlone TAS


My husband, myself and our three children will be at the MCG on November 30.  We will be there because we are fighting not only for our working conditions but also for those of our children in the future.  I am a nurse and my husband an electrician. I am amazed at how many people I know who are workers like ourselves are so complacent about this issue or have no idea at all what it is about.  Our ancestors fought hard constantly to maintain satisfactory working conditions through the union movement and this government, hell bent on destroying the unions appears to be succeeding to a point because people don't care.  Once again, the old 'someone else will do it' mentality reigns.  My husband attended an information session the other day where he was informed that the next EBA had been agreed upon by employers and workers but the government's new laws mean that it will no longer stand.  I do not understand how this can be when neither party has an issue.  And to top it off the  union cannot go to the media to highlight this ridiculous mess because that may be viewed as coercion. Some democracy we are living in.  I will not stand back and let my children walk into an uncertain future.  I implore all families who can to be there on November 30 to do so.  If not for you, do it for your children. Marita VIC

For my grandchildren and for my grandparents who fought for the rights we had before Howard began eroding them.
Peter Atkinson QLD

Many elements of these new laws allow for the growth of a socially unjust labour system. Our current Federal politicians have been ignoring my opinions on this matter and those of all my friends who feel the same way. They are not recognising or acknowlegding the degree of public disapproval (if not the out right anger that exists over these laws). I have been incensed by blatantly dismissive comments made in response to our concerns regarding the social implications of these laws, particularly the long term implications. I am incensed by claims that I am somehow ignorant because I do not support them. How dare men like Andrew Robb be so arrogant, let alone ignorant! Mr Howard quotes "growth in the economy" as justification for these unjust laws. I'm sorry Mr Howard but I don't want to live with your society that is designed to skew income distribution further toward the rich. I'm not so blind as to not see how this ties to the US-Aust Free trade agreements and the "need" for a "freer" labour market. I am marching to let the government know this move toward vulnerability and lower wages for the vulnerable ( creation of an even larger working poor) is not my idea of a prosperous Australia...a booming economy to provide greater wealth for whom Mr Howard? The changes went far too far. I will be marching to let the government know this. It is also worth noting that, for the fifteen of us- (not hardline unionist or "lefties" as the government seems to want to label us as), who are marching together, there are another one hundred or more, who, although not marching (for many differing reasons) feel the same way. Take note, even your former supporters don't support these changes John. Elizabeth Chisholm VIC


I am rallying because I have a 15 year old daughter who is about to apply for her first part-time job. Can you imagine a 15 year old being able to 'negotiate' with her employer? Of course you can't. She will not have the protection of collective bargaining or the 'benefits' that we all fought so hard to gain- the right to sick pay, fair conditions, reasonable wages, anti-discrimination laws, etc, etc. I want her, (and her friends, her generation and future generations), to have a future where she has decent working conditions, where she really does get a 'fair go'. This will not happen under the new 'Work Choices' legislation and I want to tell the Howard government that I will NOT accept it, not for myself or anyone else. I certainly will not go down without a fight! Imagine what we could achieve if every single person who believe that these laws are wrong turned up at the rallies! They'd hear us in Canberra! Please everyone- urge family, friends, colleagues to go and support the rally. I don't think there has been a single issue in my living memory which will have such a devastating effect on Australian workers... we HAVE to reject this! We have to voice our opinion- long and loud so Howard has no choice but to hear us! Christine Dashwood NSW

Because I despair as to the sort of society we will hand on to our kids.  Because permanency was the reward for a middle to lower income.  All this contract and risk of immediate dismissal without recourse was only in jobs with very high incomes.  The moving of the goal posts was never in the deal.  If they want me on an individual contract with virtually no rights, pay me like a senior executive, with a huge bonus every year.  If you expect me to show up for an average wage, I have to be able to rely on it being there for life. Ross NSW

It will be our children who will face the social upheaval and family disruption as they are forced to accept the erosion of hard-fought workers' rights. We are close to retirement so the impact on us will be minimal Max Andren NSW

Australia has always been a great place to live, to work and to bring up a family.  The changes to the IR Laws mean that we will no longer be the "lucky country".  I want my son to have the best working conditions when he finishes his education ... not the conditions that these IR Laws are creating. I'll be there - on November 30 - to show that these laws are wrong!  Together we can make a difference - join us at the 'G'! J Duffield VIC

I know very clearly why I am rallying on 30 November.  I want to live in a country where everyone is treated fairly and workers are not exploited by unscrupulous bosses.  I want to live in a country where workers are not afraid to stand up to bosses when they are being treated unfairly.  Under John Howard's IR laws, these rights are at risk of being lost forever.
I want to be able to know that my union can bargain collectively for fair pay and conditions for all the people in my workplace.  On AWAs I won't even know what the worker next to me is even being paid. 
I want harmony both in the workplace and in society. John Howard's IR Laws are driving a wedge between the haves and have nots. 
I want to know that people on low wages are being looked after.  Currently average earnings increases for workers are the lowest they have been for seven years.
These laws must be removed.  Australia used to be the Lucky Country.  It isn't anymore.  Thanks to John Howard.
Lorraine Hines QLD

My son was working at a Civic Video store when he was a teenager.  The new franchisee changed and reduced his shifts and made inaccurate comments about his performance only to put in their family members as staff after they sacked him and all other older (over 18 ie more expensive) employees.  At the time he was able to claim unfair dismissal and receive compensation.  Under current legislation he would be unprotected from unfair tactics such as these. Mike Greenwood NSW

When the government takes actions that are not in the best interests of the people who they are meant to protect, there are very few options other than protesting. I am protesting because I am no longer protected in my workplace. When our EBA expires my pay and conditions are vulnerable. My employers, who are good and ethical people, have no choice but to implement AWAs with us. They don't want to - we don't want to. Our only alternative is to stay with an out of date EBA that means we can't receive pay increases or make any timely changes to our conditions. Work Choices gives us no choices. That's why I'm protesting. Vanessa Lynne VIC

To all Coalition Politicians,
You voted for unfair Industrial Relations Laws even though the majority of Australians didn't want them, soon it will be our turn to return the favour by voting you all out of a job!!!  Richard SA

I teach kids about the Industrial Revolution and the struggle of working people for the right to decent pay and conditions.We look at times when kids went down mines and worked in amongst working machinery; when people had to accept what the Employers offered with no chance of sticking up for themselves and when 12 hour days were the norm.We look at the efforts made to better these conditions and the jail sentences Unionists were handed out just for trying get a fair deal for the Workers.This is done in History classes...I want it to stay History! Dianne Manning VIC

First let me point out that I am a small business owner and I'm 60. I'm not a "battler" and I'm one of the people who is supposed to benefit from these new IR laws.  Nevertheless, I have rejected them from the first.  And why?
I've thought long and hard about this.  There are many many good reasons that others will articulate but what it comes down to for me is that no one asked me - did I want this? Did I agree with such sweeping changes?  This was never, as far as I recall, a platform during the last federal election.  It came in as a result of the current govt winning power in the Senate.  Howard then saw his opportunity to make these long held ambitions of his a reality.  He did not campaign on this basis. This is major social change by stealth and, as far as I'm concerned, about as unaustralian as you can get.  I appeal to the Labour Party to get its act together and show the people there is a real alternative for them to vote for.
I congratulate the Unions for their work on behalf of all Australians.  I'll be there on the 30th. Anne Bradley NSW

I was tempted to just give up and say so much has been done now by the Howard Govt, we can't wind it back and I felt so powerless, like I just wasn't hearing anything that I felt or believed in and then I said I am not giving up and I WILL fight it and I WILL go on the 30th Nov and rage against the UNfairness of this new order in IR. Name withheld

Because I am afraid my children will never realise the Aussie dream of owning their own home (or anything of value)because if they are ever fortunate enough to land a job that could afford the repayments there is no guarantee they will still have the job when the first payment is due. Lynne QLD

I am joining the rally because there is so much at stake, including mateship. How can you look a fellow Australian in the eye and call him mate when you are about to take his job for a lower rate of pay. Aussies are being forced to turn on each other. Chris QLD

The only thing I own is my labour, and the Howard government has taken away my tools to protect myself at work. That's not a fair go in my opinion. Daniel NSW

I am rallying in protest at the lack of fairness in the new IR laws. They are un-Australian and lack the basic quality of "a fair go". A responsible employer will work WITH his/her employees to achieve agreed goals but these laws are aimed at dis-empowering the employee and reducing their importance to nothing more than a commodity like electricity or machinery etc. Let's not lose the humanity in workplace relations. Kevin NSW

I am rallying on November 30 to give Howard and his government a warning: If they continue to implement IR laws that take away security for workers, then I will not be voting for them in the next election.
He can consider this rally a warning. Emma Stewart NSW

I believe that workers are entitled to fair, and liveable wages, as well as decent conditions of employment. I am not alone in this view as at the last rally in Cairns I talked to 3 business owners who were also attending and didn't want the IR changes. The reason was simple "our employees make our business the success it is if I don't treat them right I am out of business" It is about fairness, equity and dignity - or as we know it the AUSTRALIAN WAY - mateship or caring about each other. Mike "banjo" Patterson QLD

Because every Australian deserves a fair go and this includes the right to not be unfairly dismissed regardless of the size of the workplace. 
Every Australian has the right to a fair and just wage and this law will push down the wages of the most vulnerable in our society.  We have a special duty to protect the most vulnerable in our country and this law absolutely works against that duty. David Moore VIC

I am rallying for the workers of this country who no longer have a voice because they are too afraid to access a union.
Rose Peel NSW

I have been in the workforce as a teacher for a good part of 40 years. In that time I have seen significant changes to working conditions. It is shattering to see that the clock is being turned back, so that my children who are now in the workforce have to go through those struggles all over again. I would have hoped that the achievements gsined over the last 40 years would be a legacy to my children. I feel that as a generation of older workers, we need to have something positive to leave to the workers of today which are the future of the Australian workforce.
Jennifer VIC

Australian people fought very hard over many years to get the best conditions for living in the world. Today, because of the greed of the corporate world which controls the media and our politicians the living conditions of ordinary people has changed dramatically. Only the wealthy can afford tertiary education, the unemployment statitics have been rigged, people are working longer hours than ever before with less overtime rates and to the detriment of family life, the suffering environment is being manipulated by the coal industry and  the promise of more wealth for the shareholders of uranium mines because cheaper simple solutions like windfarms and solar energy are ignored.
When 10% of people are living below the poverty line and representation by unions has been made virtually illegal it is time for us to stand united in protest. Pam Harris NSW

I am rallying to assist the rights of Higher Education Sessionals to obtain permanent (full or part-time) employment. Dr Jennfer Herrick NSW

It angers me that during times with huge company profit growth, and executive wage blowouts we are willing to allow the next generation of workers to have none of the benefits which have made Australia the "FAIR GO" Country. It will change the face of the country forever. John NSW

I am rallying to stand up for those who do not have the capacity to make a stand for themselves. I am a strong self assured person who has had to battle for my rights against a work place - I did receive what was deemed my rights but it was a year long battle. There are those who require the consideration of a civil and caring society as opposed to a society that is built only on economic rationalism. We need a fair go for each end of the continuum in Australia. Elizabeth Goodwin TAS

I am rallying in protest at the Government's AWA policy, and especially for the people who can't be there in fear of being sacked, as I am lucky enough to be in a union that can protect rights such as protest. David Warwick VIC

I am rallying to support workers in their right to reasonable working conditions and pay..to show that i am one of hundreds of thousands who are dissatisfied with the Govt's so called work choices legislation...I am a unionist and proud of it..we are strong and determined and will not be defeated! Catherine Green NSW

I am rallying because of the governments greedy new laws. If there is one way to make the rich richer and the workers poor this is it. I'm disgusted the government would betray its own people so that big business can get richer. Howard calls this scheme "Work Choices" more like "One Choice". Little Johnnies way or the highway. I hope people start to see clearly why the unions are fighting hard. You should be ashamed of yourself John Howard. Pushing the little guy around to make you rich mates richer. Nathan VIC

I never thought I could fear my government enough to overcome my distaste for unions.  I was wrong.
art San d'Berg WA

I'm rallying on the 30th November because I am frightened of the outcomes of these new laws.  I currently work for  the Qld Government in a school and I'm concerned that if we have a change of government that we will be contracted to work only during the school terms.  This will mean 12 weeks without pay.   I am also concerned how these laws will affect my children.  These laws are changing Australia, making the rich richer and a even bigger gap between workers and employers. Sharon A QLD


We've been fighting for better conditions for 50 years and now they've been taken away again! I, for one, will be rallying on November 30 because I believe in rights of my fellow workers. Join the fight and win the battle against injustice. Mike Kennard QLD

I have retired from the workforce but will never let my father down by allowing the rights that he worked so hard for, to be whittled away by a government hell bent on disadvantaging working men and women. These are the rights that he believed in until his death and I continue to believe in. Allan McLeod VIC

I am rallying to protect the rights of workers that my parents and grandparents fought for - to ensure that future generations do not find themselves queuing at the work house door hoping for some work. If people cannot control their labor they are slaves, no matter how gilded the cage - John Howard is supposed to govern for ALL Australians and not just those that own and run large corporations. Greg Barwick VIC

I am rallying on Nov 30th as I believe it is important to take a stand over what I see as an erosion in workers rights. Most of my generation  do not remember what it was like not to have collective bargaining, to be without overtime and penalties, not have   access to decent leave and award conditions. Currently we have 57 clauses in the Nurses & midwives award and under the federal system it is  possible that this could be reduced to less than 10. As a Nurse I know that during my 33 years of nursing our union has fought hard to achieve parity in wages and conditions with other health professionals.At times we have had to take our issues to the State industrial commisssion to be an independent umpire. The new IR laws take away our capacity to do that. I am only 10 years off reiring but I worry about what sort of country this will be for my children and for future generations when workers have limited rights, limited access to important family time and do not have the ability to earn extra money for working unsocial or extra hours which keeps them away from their families.
I think this system is geared towards more power to employers and businesses and less rights for workers.
Angela Pridham NSW

My father fought for many years to get the conditions workers had until John Howard decided to take them away.  My father is turning in his grave. Rosemary VIC

Because I do not believe laws hampering the rights of workers to bargain collectively,or laws that impose unfairly on the rights of workers to enjoy proper remuneration and working conditions should exist. I want them overturned.
Fiona Press NSW

I'm rallying because I believe that John Howard wants to completely destroy the power of Unions, like Margaret Thatcher did to England. That is what the PM's IR Work Choices (should be called "Slave Choices") is all about. We would not enjoy the high standard of living we make today if it was not for Unions fighting for a decent pay for low income workers. Employers do not pay the incomes we get, out of the goodness of their heart. Not to mention the role Unions play in keeping the workplace safe. John Lopez NSW

I do not believe that the Coalition's reforms will move us further as a nation. On the contrary, they retrench the social progress that has been achieved since federation, and will result in Australian workers competing for wages at the low end of the international economy - not the high tech end where a secure trade position in elaborately transformed manufactures (ETMs) would ensure a high quality lifestyle for 'ALL Australians - NOT JUST THE FEW' (to quote Howard). I do not look forward to the Americanisation of our labour market, nor the wealth divide that it dictates, nor the increasing social conflict that will inevitably result from a more unequal, inegalitarian and unjust society. I strongly protest these directions and will demonstrate against them at every available opportunity. Furthermore, I will be encouraging everyone I know to dismiss Howard at the next federal election. Like many, many others who Howard offensively and inaccurately refers to as the 'lunatic fringe' I do indeed know what I'm talking about and why I'm taking this stand. Roz Averis
SA

I am rallying in order to lodge my protest against the industrial relations changes and because it enables me to carry my poster that tells the world what I think of our current prime minister. Besides, it's great fun! Janine NSW

I am rallying because I believe social justice and equality is for ALL Australian, not just those in the highest income brackets.  I believe working class Australians are already doing it tough, without John Howard's IR laws making it tougher.  Our prime minister has lost touch with his electorate! E Brown SA

John Howard is ideologically opposed to unions. Dating back to and before the last waterside workers disputes he has shown his preparedness to use fair means or foul  to destroy unions. In a perfect world where employers universally respected their workers basic rights and paid fairly for their labours we wouldn't need unions... But as long as there have been bosses there have been abuses of power and these proposed IR laws strip away the rights of workers and more fundamentally are designed to remove our last vestige of protection... the unions. John Howard you are wrong and this will be your political epitaph .. "took on the unions and lost". Andrew Hancock VIC

A a former student of 18th British History and avid reader of Charles Dickens, I am appalled that the Howard government wants to return us to the early days of the industrial revolution where workers had no rights and unions were outlawed. I am also concerned for my daughter's family; her husband's job will be terminated shortly and even though he is supposedly permanent, he and the rest of his colleagues will have to re apply for another job in another place. There are less placements than workers, so he may be lucky or he may be not. Even if he is, what about his less lucky colleagues? They all have  families to support and mortgages to pay, and it is almost Christmas! What sort of workforce are my children and grandchildren entering when the bosses want more and more power to sack you and reduce your wages and hard fought for entitlements while they give themselves millions of dollars in so called bonuses for doing exactly that! This is increasingly becoming a government by the rich for the rich, and nowhere else in the first world are there such draconian laws affecting the workforce. Shame Howard, shame! Olivia M VIC

100 years of hard earned conditions of the working people have been destroyed by a lying pro business government.
If these laws are not repealed by a Labour Government the division between rich and poor will widen to the stage where the government of the day will not be able to provide social safety net to enable people to live sustainable lives. Down with the Howard dictatorship! Philip Syratt VIC
I am rallying because I want to send a message to the Howard Government along with other workers that it is unacceptable to trample over workers' rights - rights that have been fought for for over a century. The new IR laws undermine human dignity, reducing workers to mere commodities. Our children who are entering the workforce for the first time, deserve to be encouraged, supported and treated with respect and fairness which AWAs undermine. It is not an equal power relationship between employer and employee and it is so dishonest to pretend it is. Living constantly with job insecurity (where you can be sacked for "operational reasons" at any time) undermines the spirit and well being and a demoralised worker is less likely to give of his or her best. There are times when we are sick, may experience family bereavement need time off for circumstances beyond our control and leave entitlements are a right, not to be traded away. Name withheld

The main reason is to protest the removal of the safety net, and to stand up against individual contracts that can undercut pay and conditions. This Government has gone too far - they have to be told in the strongest terms that they do not have a blank cheque to do whatever they like with our country. Daniel Kildea NSW

Because the day the IR Laws came into effect I was made redundant after 17yrs with no warning and no redundancy pay. I walked away without a cent and wasn't paid a full days wage on my final days. I was employed as a casual for the full 17yrs but paid far less than award wages let alone casual wages. My employer has been exploiting staff from the beginning and now seems to believe The Govt. has given her permission to do so. This has to stop.
LH SA

I'm rallying because I recognise the importance of protecting rights and entitlements that have been secured through the action of generations before me.  I'm rallying because I believe that the working women and men of this country have a right to a living wage, secure employment and safety in the workplace; rights that the Howard government are intent on removing.  I'm rallying because I believe that removing protections for those in society unable to negotiate with their employer on an equal basis weakens all of us.  I'm rallying because I believe that every worker deserves the right to not be dismissed because of workplace personality conflicts, or because they have the courage to stand up for health and safety in the workplace.  I'm rallying because I believe the removal of unfair dismissal provisions for workers employed in workplaces under 100 staff creates a two tier employment structure, and that workers in small business are just as worthy of protection as those employed in larger enterprises.  I'm rallying because I believe that my children (if I should have any) have a right to future employment that allows them justice and dignity at work.  I'm rallying because these laws do much more than simply shift the power balance away from those most in need of support; they impact on the amount and quality of time our youth will have to spend with their working parents, and our ability to engage in voluntary work - things that strengthen the cohesiveness of our society.  I'm rallying because I have no choice but to add my voice to the millions of Australians who are standing up for justice and fairness in our workplace and communities.  I'm rallying because the vision John Howard has for this country is not the sort of future I want for myself and my family. Rachel Davey WA

These new IR laws I believe take back workers rights over 100 years when workers had little or no rights at all Glenn Motley

I feel saddened to see the erosion of all the hard fought conditions that generations of good hard working unionist have fought for being taken away by this right wing government. John Howard has taken so much from so many. Now is the time to show him PEOPLE POWER    J.Edney NSW

Walmart staff didn't get a pay rise over in 10 years, John Howard wants U.S. conditions for OZ workers, My niece worked in a cake shop Thursday night and all day Saturday for $5 an hour for 3 years without a payrise. I am joining the rally for my grandchildrens future. B.D

Whilst I am an older worker with an ongoing position, I am concerned that these conditions will not be available to the majority of younger workers coming into the workforce. As a union member all my working life, I believe we need to be a collective to stay strong and have a bargaining position with this new legislation putting all our working conditions at risk. Fancy being sacked because the boss is hung over and doesn't like you! A definite possibility in the 'new' world.
The future situation was put very succinctly and I wish it was my quote " the sky won't fall in, rather it will be a rotting away of the floorboards" suggesting a slowly deteriorating workplace for all.
these are the reasons I will be attending the day of action. For our children's children; even though I don't have any I remain concerned about way younger people will be abused....we see the shonky employers every day in the work I do (there are also many good employers out there).
Sarah VIC

Because UNIONS are about bringing people together, Howard's AWAs are the exact opposite. Shouldn't the Federal Government be aiming to bring people together?
UNIONS are a valuable component of the democratic structure of our society because they encourage people to stand up and defend their rights.
UNIONS are worth fighting for! Gavin Sanders NSW

A contract with no pay increase for five years? What does your IR contract say John Howard?
Where are your new incentives to work hard and plan for better things in Australia for the next generation? Loma Bridge NSW

To ensure that Australia remains a decent caring country where business and the economy serve peoples needs NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND. Ian Turner NSW

The Federal Government has weakened the rights of our most vulnerable workers.  Every week I see workers in my country town struggling with their employment rights.  Work Choices made it even easier for bosses to abuse vulnerable workers by lowering their pay (taking away penalty rates) and threatening their job security.  Country workers are particularly affected by the changes to the unfair dismissal laws.  There are few employers with more than 100 employees, so therefore there are few secure jobs.  Howard and his mob "just don't get it" - they have no idea what life is like on the ground. Helen Collins VIC

I'm rallying because I want our country's children to have better working conditions than I do.
I'm rallying because John Howard has lost touch with ordinary Australians, he has consistently lied to us, he has stripped us of our working rights, our financial rights and our basic human dignity.
John Howard is the most ruthless politician Australia has ever faced, he is deceitful and will lead this country into an ever widening poverty gap between rich and poor.
Let's get him out while we still can, and show him that he's the one that 'doesn't get it!' Name withheld

When I came to Australia 32 years ago from Ireland I had a choice of jobs.  I had come from a regime where if I told a prospective employer what school I attended he could use that as a reason not to employ me.  John Howard has effectively taken us back to that time and beyond.  I am afraid for my future as an employee and for my children's future employment chances. SM

For two years I worked as a fencing sub-contractor, solely to a company that often sub-contracted itself. Costs and income were not secured and occasionally I would be committed to completing jobs that were uneconomical. I would be regularly stood down if no work was available. Job safety was often compromised, but because it was my responsibility as the sub-contractor my sole client did little in the way of encouraging improvements in work practice even after visits from workcover. I would worry about being noticed by workcover myself as infringements may have been issued, and potentially a loss of income due to the costs incurred to meet what should have been basic safety standards.
It was, in hindsight, free labour and capital, not a system of free enterprise. Without negotiating skills, or an overall market understanding I compromised my safety and my families well-being.
I quit the client and the job after accepting that my conditions were not going to improve. I was lucky to get a job in a unionised industry, that offered good conditions. If the job had not been available I would have been committed to making the most of what were a bunch of bad possibilities.
Why am I rallying? to minimise the growth of such an employment structure. To ensure I have strong, experienced, informed representation in negotiations. To ensure I am not reduced to the lowest common denominator. I am rallying for a fair go for all. Eugene NSW

Mr Howard has wiped out in minutes a fair system for workers that has taken scores of year to attain.
It is a very short-sighted action as,if wages don't keep up with the cost of living, and if the unfair dismissal laws are not upheld, there will be many more people seeking government assistance in the way of housing, health, education, pensions etc.
Lower wages and more people on the basic wage means less super put aside and less savings, so, again, a greater reliance on the government pension in an ageing population.
I would have thought any government would have preferred the business sector to shoulder some of this financial burden in the way of higher wages, overtime rates, higher super etc so that the majority of workers would end their wage earning days with some savings and a roof over their heads so they don't have to rely soley on government hand-outs! Amanda Finch NSW

I teach at an Indigenous school and for me personally the IR reform will not affect my pay in any major way because I am skilled and confident so negotiating with employers is second nature, but my kids, they are already discriminated against and lack any belief in their own work. Many unskilled people, indigenous or otherwise, think they are worth little, and will negotiate a contract to suit, despite the fact that often their work is flawless. I march for all the people who don't believe in their own worth, which with the way many are already being treated makes up a large proportion of the population. Gilroy Finau Hatcher QLD

I am 60 years old. In my work I have travelled extensively overseas. I used to take pride in the fact that Australia was regarded as a leading nation in the fight for social justice. In particular, in USA I'd take joy in taking the high moral ground by saying "that would never happen in Australia." because we were the land of the 'fair go'. Not anymore! I am ashamed of what Australia is becoming. Now the tables are turned. My overseas colleagues are the ones saying "what's happened to Australia? we wouldn't do that here". As far as I'm concerned Howard, Andrews, Ruddock, Hockey and their cronies are unAustralian and history will judge them harshly. That's why I'm rallying, to express my disgust at these people's bullying and cowardly behaviour.
Tom Sinclair VIC

I am, and always will rally for my right to provide a decent living for me, my wife, and most of all my two young girls.
Darren TAS

Pretty soon we will need 2 or 3 jobs just to pay the rent like they do in America!  Mr Howard, we ARE NOT the 54th state of the USA.  Our forebears must be spinning in their graves with what you are doing to our country. Robyn Townsend TAS

I am rallying to oppose Howard's vision for Australia.  His path is that of the USA where 15% of the homeless are in full-time employment!  This is not the country I want for me.  It is not the country I want for my kids.  It is not the country my father fought for in World War 2.
I am rallying on 30 November to say I want a fair Australia.  I want to live in a country that ensures a decent living standard for all; a country guided by socialist principles ensuring our great wealth is distributed among all the citizens according to not just effort, but also need.  A country where the corporate citizens are indeed citizens and treat their workforce as people rather than commodities.
I am rallying to inform my fellow citizens.  I am rallying to send a message to our elected representatives.  I am rallying to empower people to actively participate in the political process so our politicians formulate policy reflecting the will of the people and not their personal ideologies.
Michael Johnson NSW

I will be at the rally because I am appalled at what John Howard is doing to this country, economically and socially; and especially his intentions regarding the rights and entitlements of workers.  Val Marsden WA

The rights and entitlements that workers have negotiated over more than a 100 years has been stripped away by the new industrial relation laws. One way that employees could place pressure on their employer to consider their concerns was the ability to take industrial action as a collective group. This had become part of our democratic right, but under the new legislation unions and workers will be fined for taking such action. This legislation only makes employees scared to speak out individually about abuses of power and excessive demands placed on them by their boss. The only purpose it has is to increase profiteering and decrease the earning capacity of low level employees, who have limited scope of negotiating on  contracts or understanding their terms. Unions were established to protect workers' rights. The current Liberal government has diminished those rights. Peter Dal-Ben VIC

It is hugely ironic that John Howard has portrayed himself as the battlers' friend. In reality he is the enemy of the worker, and intent on changing Australia into a stratified society of, on the one hand, privileged bosses wielding almost absolute power over employees' wages and rights, and on the other, obedient staff who accept through fear whatever pay and conditions they're offered. Howard has a warped view of how Australia should socially be structured, but it will not prevail. All power to the workers in their campaign, especially on their Nov. 30 day of protest. Also, keep your memories VERY fresh about Howard's anti-worker legislation, and vote the Coalition out of power next year. Bill Jennings QLD

I am rallying to protect the rights of all workers. The government seems intent on making this country have a large group of working poor so that it can bully them into accepting unfair conditions, while allowing the uncontrolled increase in corporate greed to destroy our way of life and the environment as well. Peter Smith NSW

I Need My Rights !!! B.C.Mottram NSW

These IR changes will destroy the conditions that workers fought for over the last 150 years. I owe to those who came before me, and to my children, to fight for our hard-won rights and against the exploitation of the workers of this country by the economic rationalists. John QLD

I am against the Howard Governments extreme IR laws. Workers have the right to have collective bargaining arrangements and be rewarded for their hard work. AWA's are a backward step and strip away the workers entitlements that have been fought for over many years. Why change a system that has served us well. Chris Doran
QLD

In my job I feel threatened every day that I will lose my job as a result of Mr Howard's workplace reforms. I work in a call centre for a phone company and I'm afraid that if I don't sell enough broadband applications I will lose my job, I'm not naturally the best at sales and afraid now that I will lose my job as I do things honestly not dodgy stuff. Thanks Mr Howard Ben NSW

I am rallying because though i am in an industry deemed illegible for workchoices (and with a court order deeming them not eligible for 5 years) i am still being paid, under a new contract i had no option but to sign, according to the new rules until i win the battle to not be! If i can be so effected by the new laws how would someone be coping in an industry that they are aimed at. I have never felt so disempowered in my life. Brett Davis NSW

As a secondary teacher of students many of whom work, I have been asked to look over the contracts they have been asked to sign and I hear about their workplace conditions. I am concerned that there are too many arbitrary decisions made by employers and the students have little or no understanding of what they have agreed to and no bargaining power anyway. Name withheld

I want to see my children and grandchildren have access to the same kind of collective bargaining resources that have helped me and thousands of others to survive and cope in the workforce.  Nobody should be left to struggle alone in an often intimidating environment. Anne McCarthy NSW

In my role as a Union Delegate and Official, I am seeing first hand, through visits to many council depots, the damage being done by these so called workchoices. We really do have to put a stop to the rot. People are suffering at the hand of our own Government. SA

I'm rallying for job security - because my friends and I need to know whether we'll have a job next week, and next year. Without it, we can't plan our lives. Katherine Clifford
VIC

My 21 year old son has been treated appallingly in several different jobs and lost the jobs (casual) unfairly, sometimes because he's been asked to do something dangerous.
Erst Carmichael NSW

I am concerned that my children will be exploited in their future work places under these laws. I am also concerned that in my own work place should the budget become tight those workers on higher increments will "no longer be required". These laws do not encourage performance. I also disagree with the abolition of an independant tribunal.
Leonie VIC

I was at a previous job, and would've been sacked without three warnings, which I based on personality differences (of course there is two sides to every story).
Without the protection of the Tribunal, I would've been fired, no doubt. Instead I had the courage, and the law on my side to refuse to step aside.
I ended up working there for 2 and a half more years, and ended up being in the good books for my hard work, which is what it always should be.
Taking away rights and enabling employers to fire possibly by personality disorders flies in the face of what people are hired for in the first place, how you work.
You can't always get along with everyone, we need rights to make sure that you cannot fire without a reasonable explanation. Matthew P. VIC

Liberal party values de-value people and there lives. It makes big business profit margins more important than the way we live and our place in the world.
The people who don't earn huge wages are the ones that will be hurt. We'll march forever because there's nothing right about people being paid less for the same work or feeling afraid because they can be fired without reason.
If you can be fired without an explanation, this make it impossible to contest. What if your boss decides he doesn't like your background - doesn't like you because you're black or Asian? You can be fired for that 'reason' without your boss being legally wrong. This injects a racist loop hole which de-values people and equality that we aim for.
Stefan Raabe VIC

I am rallying against the draconian IR laws that the Howard Government has passed. I want to make it very clear to the decision makers that erosion of the rights of employees is not acceptable. A workplace where employees want to work and enjoy working there is a workplace which has increased productivity because the employees have the well-being of the company at heart. An unhappy workplace is a recipe for decreased productivity, high absenteeism and increased stress levels. The Howard Government is and has created unhappy workplaces.
The Howard Government's IR policies are undermining his stated aim of making Australia competitive in the world market.
The well-being of people and the economy are interconnected. Look at the total cost of the current IR policies on Australian Society.
The Howard Government is constructing an Australian Society to serve an unsustainable economy. What Australia needs is an economy structured to create the kind of sustainable society that Australians want! There's a big difference between these two approaches!! K. Hulsman QLD

Because the Howard Government have been wrongfully allowed the power to interfere in industrial related matters under the provisions of the Australian Constitution 1900. The provision in the AC1900 states in Chapter 1 Part V Cl:51 (xxxv)Conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes extending beyond the limits of any one State:
This is a totally different meaning to what Howard has leglislated thru parliament.The above sub-clause means on a re-active basis only.
But if his government can use the High Court judges to  interpret a provision which clearly states the federal government's restriction in this area, then we are open prey to more extended powers granted through the judges in the High Court on any Constitutional issues put into controversy by any fed. government. Constitutional issues should be judged by 12 electors, not any Howard appointed judge/s. Any change or amendments to the AC 1900 should be referred to Section 128 of the AC 1900.
Geoff Teague WA

My wage has depleted due to loss of penalties. My income fulltime is no longer capable of covering rent. I will have to bankrupt to survive, or stop working. What sort of policy is that? Mike ACT

I want my sons to have a better working life than I have had, not a worse one! If my sons have to spend 50 years in the workforce, like the rest of us, I want them to have some influence over what happens to them there.
Joanne Sullivan VIC

I'm Rallying because I don't trust the Howard government.  They are taking away the most basic protections from the most vulnerable workers.  They say they don't intend these laws to hurt anyone, but then again they said they had proof of weapons of mass destruction prior to the war in Iraq and we all know what a disaster that has turned into.
Graham Ramsay ACT

Howard's arrogant government has lost it's way. It can no longer claim to govern for all Australians (not that it ever did!). Those in the mortgage belt, including many unionists, who voted for the coalition last time on the promise of low interest rates now realise that the lies Howard told are being repicated in the changes to workplace law we are now suffering. Ray Hingst QLD

To let John Howard know that I wont tolerate anything less than equality in any relationship. My rights at work need to be protected so I can maintain an equal footing when dealing with an employer. Without employees a business cannot operate. If you value your employees and treat them with respect your business will thrive. In a country as rich as Australia there is no need to create an underclass of working poor to increase the wealth of the ruling few.
Toni McPherson QLD

I'm rallying because when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. Ann-Maree NSW

Why I am rallying on November 30? I am rallying because we are now on the really slippery slope to perdition with this inhuman, unfeeling, uncaring government and I would urge all who have a sense of community to not only attend the rally on November 30 but vote them out of existence at the next Federal Election and do not vote for the Liberal Party or National Party candidates at the upcoming State Election both here and in NSW, because if we have State Conservative Governments and a Federal Conservative Government then all workers rights will disappear for good. VOTE LABOR get rid of the ROT!!! Ed Smyth VIC

Because John Howard has casually discarded the wisdom of greater men than he. He has thus abused the working conditions of the vast majority of Australian people and by his neglect advanced the interests of the few. He and his government are traitors to those who have fought and worked to make this country great. He is renowned only for his dishonesty. We DO understand you Mr Howard. Very well indeed. Reg Boyle NSW

Because the Howard government has lost touch with the working Australian and has lied to Australians for long enough. I refuse to have all the hard work done by myself and many other Australians to get better conditions for my fellow workers changed on the stroke of a pen. I am also doing it for my kids so they have a fair future in a democratic society as generations before me have fought for. Brendan Hummerstone TAS

Of course I am rallying for this cause however the idea of sitting in the MCG while doing so is extremely interesting and exciting. How come the MCC allowed it and how did the campaign afford such a magnificent venue for such a worthy cause. I am rallying for my children to have an equitable remuneration and working conditions for their labour. Barbara VIC

I am rallying on November 30 because the WorkChoices legislation as it stands will lead to greater inequality and less social cohesion in Australia. Philip Comer VIC

I will be rallying because I believe that oppression of one section of the Australian community by another, as is being encouraged by the present IR laws, will lead to a fractured society, anger, and ultimately to violent reaction.  I do not want to leave such a legacy for my descendants. Shirley Pitcher WA

The proposed legislation places priority on economic outcomes for business not people. 
To allow business to stand-down workers during non-peak periods and effectively to entrench casualisation as the "normative" employment option will, in my opinion, undermine the financial and emotional security and well-being of Australian families and individuals. 
The profits companies make are made for them by the people who work in the business. 
What kind of economic policy directs and allows companies, in contemporary Australia, to treat our most important asset, people, as a liability.  These attitudes extend and entrench the climate of fear, generated by the "campaign against terror", in the work place.  
The "fear of losing your job" has historically been an effective instrument of social control.  In a democratic, multi-cultural Australia and, in fact in any country, the denial of work-place-rights is not part of the social contract and must be vigorously rejected. Freda Watkin VIC

Work Choices seems to be about Employers having more choices about employees working conditions and employees having none!  This legislation will change the culture of the workplace in ways that will be ultimately damaging.  These laws undermine job security, leaving people feeling unconnected to the workplace.  I cannot see how this can be good for job security and consequent productivity.
I believe these laws are designed to undermine the collective power of employees, crippling the union movement and reducing the working standards for all.
Natalie Twine QLD

Give me my Labor Party anyday to return my quality of life and stop Petrol prices are up, mortgage repayments are up and AWA's make it difficult for people need a permanent job to qualify for a loan. Health, education, food - the cost of all these staples have increased, while our pay stagnates and in many cases goes backwards under the IR laws. Bullying & harrassment has to be tolerated daily as there is no one who will address it.  MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS GONE! RO

I am sick and tired of people that  don't have to worry about increases in interest rates and threats of job security telling us how to do our jobs. We have all had training for our jobs and value our contributions to society without these politicians who have everything handed to them on a plate destroy our livelihoods and families because they think they have the right.  I didn't do years of study for someone else to tell me how and when to do my job and then take away everything that I value with the stroke of a pen. LEAVE US ALONE, without us you people in Canberra are nothing, sod off. David Coombe SA

My working life is finished, but I was glad to be represented by a strong union from the time I started teaching in 1971. The union ensured that my working conditions were fair, but more importantly, enabled my colleagues and me to provide the best possible education for the kids we taught. My first campaign was one to guarantee that all teachers entering classrooms would be profeesionally trained. From then on the union worked with us to keep class sizes down, to provide adequate prep and correction time, to develop great programs, to provide valuable professional development. I am really worried about future workers who will miss out on the support and security I enjoyed in my career. Kerry Echberg VIC

John Howard's government claims to represent the Australian people, yet his IR laws clearly only serve the interests of business, and not the overall Australian people. He either doesn't understand, or chooses not to want to understand that there's more to life than money. I believe our quality of life as Australians will suffer badly if his un-Australian laws remain. Both they and he MUST go.
Peter Smith NSW

I will be protesting at the campaign on November 30 because while I worked on a construction site in Darwin 2005 as a permanent full time employee I was sacked without notice while I was off work due to a sporting injury. I made an attempt to get my job back at the industrial relations commission with no success. My employer failed to even register the work place agreement and I should off been covered by the Federal Award but I was not. My employer systematically ripped off all the employees on the site. Travel, district and other allowances were not paid to employees on the site. The income protection insurance was cancelled and another policy replaced the original one with inferior conditions. Now I am left with a permanent injury that prevents me from returning to my usual occupation. My income protection payments were stopped at 52 weeks and they should off been paid for 104 weeks. This happened to me before the new IR laws came in and I would hate to know how hard working Australians will be treated now in similar situations. Reggie VIC

I'm rallying on Nov 30th because I don't want to live in a world where workers are treated as expendable. People need jobs, families need money and it shouldn't be a big ask to be treated with some respect and decency. We left the feudal system behind for a reason. Our society developed beyond the system of a hierarchy of peasants and noblemen. Taking a step back only hinders our progress and obliterates the work of centuries. I don't want my children to grow up in an IR law ruled country.
Kate VIC

I am rallying because I think these laws hurt the most disadvantaged members of our community, all in an attempt for Howard to win favour with Big Business. When will large businesses sacrifice a little profit so a family can have food on the table? We need to look at our priorities as a society. I am fortunate that I have not been directly involved in AWA's yet but I worry for those people who have got a raw deal. LW

John Howard only reinforces the distance he and his party are from the workers of Australia by his statements that we don't know what we're rallying for.  We're rallying to protect ourselves and future generations from regressing to the past.  Our forefathers and foremothers fought long and hard for the rights we have/had and I'm not going to let them down by not doing my bit today. Lynette SA

Myself and my family are going to the rally because this is just not an attack on our rights at work, but on the Australian way of life.This land has enough for all to live prosperously not just the few.The egalitarian society that this country has been for 100 years is just being taken from us.By going to this rally we will keep up public awareness of this issue.Its hard enough to make ends meet now with higher interest rates,fuel,food costs etc than having your pay lowered buy bosses who look at these laws as a good way to save money, therefore delivering it to their own back pocket. Steve Garcia NSW

I'm rallying because John Howard and his Liberal Government are totally out of touch with the Australian people. They are destroying our long fought for rights as workers and it's impacting dreadfully on all Australian families. It is (and has been for quite a few years now) painfully obvious that the Liberal Party is only for and about big business. Large business companies and multi-national conglomerates are laughing in their collective pockets. Factories, service centres etc are closing down (leaving only a minimally staffed administrative office in Australia) and jobs are moved overseas.
These particular companies AND the Liberal Government are happy to profit from the Australian workers and taxpayers but not to offer us employment, fair pay or fair working conditions. The new IR laws are just the next stage in destroying our once great nation for the benefit of a small percentage of already wealthy individuals and large for-profit companies. Tina Clausen QLD

I am 71 years of age and retired but in support of those who do work, I will be there, as I was last year to rally against the IR laws which I totally disagree with.
The government seems to want to turn back the clock, for reasons I am unable to fathom.
After the hard fought-for rights of workers in the 20th century, why should the ideology of our Prime Minister be permitted to change the face of working conditions in the 21st century. Power be to the Unions and let common sense prevail! Name withheld

To stand for the world I want. Not the world big buisness wants and certainly not the world that John Howard, doing its bidding, would have us have.
In my world, people work to live. They work to afford a home to live in, food on the table and to provide for their children. And, when all that's done, to spend time with family and friends.
In my world, workers and employers enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship which gets the job done and makes money. My world recognises that the gauge of a healthy society is not economic indicators but community well-being. These new laws will give us the exact opposite.
Amanda Kane NSW

My daughter has a disability, how will she get a job, how can i be sure that she wont be taken advantage of or have her rights protect with the new laws????? Name withheld

Unfair cuts to pay, overtime rates, erosion of workers' rights in general. Lata VIC

I am protesting to keep the rights that my grandfather fought for so that my kids and grandkids have a fair go. 
Sure Johnny you would like to think we don't know what we are protesting about my son has just worked hard for 4 years in an apprenticeship and was put off.  He has a casual call-in job now and is expected to use his own car for work deliveries and pick-ups etc with no extra pay, otherwise he doesn't have a job.  He has no super cover and cannot afford to keep one going himself.  You little Johnny are allowing this to happen, workers are not allowed to have rights in your eyes.   We are rallying John Howard to let you know we know what we are rallying about lower wages, higher fodd prices, higher petrol prices, mortgages going up, childcare fees going up and we damn well know what you are doing to our country.
Don't you get it - How can we go to work when our wages will barely cover the cost of fuel and/or childcare - not to mention we have to eat and educate our children on top of that. 
Step out of your bubble John Howard and start helping the people that gave you the power you are abusing and using against them. Leanne TAS

As a Exserviceman and a Granddad I feel democracy is slowly being taken from Australians with out the majority of our people knowing If we keep traveling down this path my grandchildren will be working  3 or 4 part time jobs as they do in the USA, and will be working for Asian wages A house as we know it to day will be for the rich, trailer parks or there equivalent will be the norm, not the exception Our future generations will not be able to get home loans because they will only have part time work and small wage to exist on It is not for mywife and I  that I rally against the work reforms it is for my grandchildren and every other child. Name withheld

It is not the business of civilised governments to promote the predatory and exploitative advantage of the few at the expense of the quality of life of the many. That is not why we elect them. Rather, it is the business of government to give effect to the democratic principle of One Person:One Vote. When our elected representatives, as at present, betray that principle in a cynical attempt to deliver up a fearful and powerless workforce to the local agents of global greed, it is time to bring them to heel. I owe it to myself, my family and my society to oppose the government's Industrial Relations legislation and to be seen to do so. Bill Nethery NSW

Our small non-profit company, with 16 employees, had been working on an EBA for SEVEN painful years.  With a change to the Board and some fresh blood on the union's negotiating team, we suddenly started to make some progress late last year, and by March 2006 the negotiating reps had finalised a document to be taken back to staff and management for a final decision.  It wasn't a good agreement from the workers' perspective, but we were so tired of the process that we were prepared to accept quite a poor wages outcome in exchange for some certainty over our conditions.
But that's as far as our EBA ever got. Howard's IR changes came in at the end of March and suddenly some of the things (such as a backdated pay increase) that both parties were ready to agree on became illegal.
Now the workers are fed up, and they're demanding a much better outcome from the EBA.  In response, the Board has hardened its position too.  We'd been on the verge of signing an EBA, but Howard's IR changes put an end to our "agreement", and his legislation is propelling us towards an all-out industrial dispute.
Howard's laws have replaced negotiation with conflict, and now we're all losing out. Chris Chaplin VIC

Because these laws are completely unfair. John Howard is a criminal who cares only about short monetary gain, and seems incapable of seeing the cost to people now, in the future, and future generations, and the environment and society as a whole now and in the future.
If people take to the streets in a peaceful manner to demonstrate opposition to his plans he calls them extremists.
Who is he and those few people close to him actually representing? What is his motivation? Jimi Smith QLD

I am retired and so am no longer in the workforce. I'll be rallying for my children and grandchildren's sake.
Frank Catt NSW

I'm rallying because l don't believe that one person should have the power to make radical changes to the IR laws simply because of their own personal views. It wasn't broken (has stood the test of time)so it doesn't need fixing!
Gerard Borg NSW

Ill be rallying to prevent the Federal government from giving employers open slather on wages & conditions & setting us back 50 years,we must vote out the Howard government if we wish to maintain our living & working conditions Robert Bell NSW

Basically Australia is no longer a place where a fair go exists. Due to liberal policies that favour greed of the corporations. As an educated, professional middle aged female I feel vulnerable to the loss of fairness, I see an ever widening gap between my earnings and those of our fat cats, the disparities between the lowest and the highest paid are too great. There is a chasm opening up in Australian society and its being dug vigourously by John Howard. My son has no protection from unfair workplace practices where employers fail to provide award level rates and don’t acknowledge workers rights to additional pay for overtime and shift work. My own experience is that employers do not see 'workers', even professional workers as having equal rights to access benefits derived from their work. A fair go brought me here and kept me here - John Howard does not respect the very people he claims to represent. as a professional person I find his approach downright irresponsible to the community that is or was Australia. Juliet Albany WA

There is nothing fancy about the new IR laws. They are simply a very effective way to  reduce the wages, working conditions and bargaining power of almost all employees.  They are wrapped up in  bare faced lie called "work choice " in which of course no person actually gets to choose any option apart from the offered one.
I find it particularly dangerous for a range of other reasons.
1) This Government seems to have effectively destroyed a balanced Industrial Relations court. There is no legal  way to combat this situation.
2) They have developed a formidable "legal" structure to back up its ambitions with sanctions and arbitrary difficulties to any collective action
3) They are forcing the unemployed, single parent pensioners and disability pensioners to be desperate work seekers forced to accept any work offering under pain of loss of benefits. This will put even further pressure on current workers.
4) And finally the depressing of workers wages will almost inevitably cause a  very dangerous recession when  effective demand is reduced with the systematic lowering of wages.
This government has to go before its actions irrevocably damages the life of millions of people Joe VIC

These laws are an affront to existing workers, those to come and to all those who have struggled for equity in the past. Frank Sunners QLD

The majority of businesses are driven by self interest of the owners. That's what business is all about. With more and more businesses and previously public organisations becoming publicly listed the focus towards profits for shareholders becomes stronger and stronger. The majority of people do not have the skills or bargaining power to negotiate individual agreements with employers and it is important that the interests of employees is considered just as important as the owners and shareholders interests. There is no profit without the workers. No one is removing the support of business groups such as The retail Traders Association and the Chamber of Commerce from employers. We do not need to remove the support of unions and collective bargaining from employees. Rochelle
WA

I am rallying for my sister and brother, who will enter the work force in two or three years.
I don't want them to be going into an environment where their rights will be trodden all over.
They don't deserve it.
I am rallying because young people don't deserve to loose their rights and work in American-level conditions.
No one deserves that. David Barrow, 20, NSW

I am rallying to protect my rights at work and the rights of others, especially those who feel they are not in a position to speak up for themselves or who need that moral support. Catherine Shepherd NSW

I'm attending the rally to let John Howard and his cronies know that my rights at work, and those of my family, children and friends are worth protecting.  I want him to know that for every person who attends the rally, there are at least 5 - 10 other people that support the fight, but can't attend.  I want him to know that I will stand up for what I believe in, and not be bullied into an unfair system.
Kath QLD

This legislation goes against everything I believe in and everything workers have fought long and hard for -- that is, a decent and fair working life that supports a balanced family/social life. I do not want to live in a society that worships economic growth at any cost. Otherwise, what's life all about?! John Howard has got to go!
Rachel VIC

To protect less fortunate employees than myself.  To protect our nation's culture.  And, of course, to protect our children. Gillian Cowie NSW

I work as a Care Support Worker caring for people with disabilities. If penalty rates, overtime pay and shift allowances are cut it would be not worth my while to work, and these people would lose a valuable service. Valentine Whittaker TAS

I am rallying, because as soon as the first raft of IR laws were introduced, my employer at the time opportunistically dismissed me from my "permanent" full-time position ON THE SPOT, without warning or notice, with NO FORUM WHATSOEVER to defend my position (which was very strong). He has thus far refused to pay out my entitlements for holiday leave, accrued over 50 weeks of continuous service, citing my "new contract", which I didn't even sight, let alone sign. In fact, I wasn't aware that I was under any new agreement. Luckily for me, I'm a single person who is debt-free. What do families with mortgages and responsibilities do? Name withheld

At a time of massive increases in profits, it is the working person who is being asked to bear the cost of business risk;  there is increasing poverty and an increasing gap between the well-off with secure employment prospects, and the individual who lives with increasing insecurity and lessened rights, particularly the right to belong to a union, and the right to strike, as well as the right to collective bargaining for employment. Name withheld

Because as the saying goes "bad things happen when good people do nothing".  We have become so individualistic in our thinking, and that has been encouraged by this Government.  Now they have even legislated for our IR Laws to ensure that thought process continues. Well, we now need to show them that their approach for our society is coming to an end. Megan NSW

Time and time again commentators and even government ministers have admitted that the only reason we haven't seen a huge rush by business to implement their "new entitlements as employers" under the IR laws is because we are in a climate of skills shortage and low unemployment. What happens when the power balance shifts, when the economy experiences a downturn (look at the Stern report, look at the cyclical nature of the economy, the Reserve Bank raising to slow economic growth etc). This is when employers will show their true colours and employees will have no recourse for a fair deal. "Operational" difficulties can cover a range of options, standing workers down with no pay, Australian workers deserve a fair deal and this had been hard fought and negotiated over many years.
One only has to look to the United States to see what these IR laws look like down the track. Not only are workers now open to exploitation, lack of security, reduced pay rates and no negotiating power - the safety net of welfare is being consistently undermined as well. Howard is getting his wish and turning us into the southern United States - although some would argue the Americans see us as southern mexicans! Jana VIC

Simply because I have a social conscience, quite unlike Liberal persuasions, and I am sick and tired of the divide between rich and poor becoming ever so widening. It is bad enough as it currently stands. Further erosion of hard fought fair rights for over a century shall only increase the divide. I want it to stop for generations coming through and I am a single childless man. Eddie Boschman NSW

I am rallying because I do not believe that any person can fairly bargain with an employer in a single person capacity when the the employer has the option of simply saying "sign the contract or I'll get someone else who will". The "choice" changes from what conditions are in the job but is there a job or not? I want my children to have at least the benefits that I have been able to enjoy and not see them forced into harsher working conditions. The many employers who may do the right thing are not the worry. It is the uncrupulous minority that workers need the protection from that a fair and just industrial system gives.
Garry Douglas NSW

Much has been bandied around about reasons for opposing the government's legislation but as the fifth generation of my family to belong to a union I would be a traitor to my heritage and my family if I didn't stand alongside my union brothers and sisters to oppose these draconian measures put into law by the Howard Government. No thank you Mr. Howard I am not going to help you make the destruction of Worker's Rights the legacy of your government.  Jeff Haines NSW

These laws will make the working life for my wife much more difficult when she returns to work after caring for our kids.  We will both face a less certain and much less fair future under these laws and what will be left for my children when they reach working age?  What seems likely is a large part of the workforce relying on tips when the minimum wage is forced down when the economy is doing it tough. No redundancy.  No certainty.  No fairness.  No thanks. Name withheld

I have worked under an IWA that stripped the rights away to negotiate pay, shifts to be worked and excessive overtime. Annual appraisals were carried out on worker performance which was assessed by people not qualified to do judge others. The work place was destructively competitive between employees and management were bullies. I rejoined the AMWU and proud to be union. My conditions of employment have improved and I have a quality family life. Never again will I sign anything other that an collective EBA. Mick Bingham QLD

I am rallying on November 30 because the Federal Govt 'just doesn't get' that the workers of this nation are not prepared to lose 100yrs of struggle to maintain the fair and equitable working conditions for all wage earners. We are also not prepared to let the Federal Govt further undermine our right to spend valuable time with our families and to maintain a decent standard of living Eileen Redmond QLD

I am rallying on November 30 because the removal of recourse to an unfair dismissal claim for workers in organisations with less than 100 employees leaves many workers vulnerable. In organisations with more than 100 employees, the employer can dismiss a worker and claim "operational" reasons. This means that employees have no recourse if they are dismissed for reasons other than poor performance. The blatant unfairness of this diminishes us all. Steph Francis VIC

All I want for myself and future generations, is fair pay and decent  conditions. We must support the Labor Party, and not allow the Howard government to send us into the dark ages by taking away our rights. I will be attending the rally to protect the rights which I, and our fore fathers have fought for. Mick Fiolet VIC

I wish to make my opposition to Howard's new IR laws which have effectively decreased take-home pay for so many of those workers forced to sign new AWA contracts. At the same time, the cost of living is escalating and will get worse as drought affects food prices. I believe that a worker should be paid for overtime (an employer penalty for depriving families of time together and adding to stress).  I believe that most industries should pay extra if they want workers to work on public holidays.
I his protected environment Howard has no appreciation of the struggle of ordinary people - and his paternalism is offensive. J.Bossard NSW

I'm rallying because who do the Howards and Andrews's of the world think they are - that they can get away with murder? It is our right to have decent work conditions and income. Come out in numbers and show them! Lies Zuidland SA

I am rallying against workplace reforms because the Liberal party is an elitist party based on the principal that the worker is a second class citizen, and anyone of standing in the community because of their financial status is worth looking after to the detriment of the working class. Bernard Woodlock VIC

Because WorkChoices is changing our society for the worse. The new laws are creating an environment where we live to work, not work to live.
Underpinning the wins of the Australian union movement has been the ideal that work should not dominate our lives and should be as fair and just as possible. The removal of standard hours of work, penalty rates and allowances and the right for workers to stand together collectively is under threat. We have to rally to show we won't accept this or the ideology of the Howard government.
Juliana QLD

I want my children and grandchildren to have the same industrial rights I have and not to be forced to accept low working conditions just to get a job. This Legislation takes away my rights at work and is designed to drastically lower the working conditions of the Australian people. Shame, Howard, shame! Leonie Grant VIC

To provide a Fair Go for the workers of the future.  The economy is booming as is.  There is no need for such radical changes. Sarita Yen VIC

Its a sad fact that the current Government has an arrogant attitude to the average worker believing we as a collective have been brainwashed into feeling this is just a scare campaign.   What an insult to the Australian Worker!  The conditions already lost have caused enough grief but I believe they haven't even started yet.   One more win and the basic rights to strike, meet as a collective to discuss work safety or work conditions and the basic award entitlements of holiday pay, sick pay, Long service Leave, Redundancy and penalty rates will be lost to millions of Australians for ever.  Hard fought ground will be gone.  The youth and next generation will ask us Why?  I know I am doing all I can to change the system. These rallies should show the arrogant Government of today that we are not as blind and stupid as they think we are.   Rally and shout it in the streets.   Things have never been so bad and they are going to get worse. Carmel Hanlon NSW

I object to the casualisation of work, the loss of the basic working conditions and the lack of job security that these laws encourage.  If the government wants women to have children, they'd be better off protecting our job security, maternity and care leave rights, and the security for our next generation.  But mostly, I am appalled that people are being brought into our country to be exploited by employers who lack ethics, who face no true disincentive to continue this practice.  I am saddened that with the prosperity levels in this country we are seeing more and more people lose their homes because of the rising interest rates at a time when people are in more mortgage debt than they have ever been.  These new laws do not offer any comfort to those people.  The current federal government, on so many levels has made me feel shame in my country. Elizabeth QLD

I will be rallying because I believe that Australia will become like the USA where the division of wealth is stupendous and the workers are the worst off in the industrial world. The new laws They have the lowest award wage in the world Hurricane Katrina exposed the US for what it is. I do not want Australia to become like that.
John Howard is selling Australian values  for profit big business.  Mohambry Appavoo QLD

A good industrial relations system requires a fair balance between the rights of employers and the rights of workers. Howard’s IR system skews the balance unfairly in the favour of employers rights over those of workers. KR Gardiner NT

I'm rallying on 30-11-2006 because I'm pro union (UFU) and anti Howard in general and IR laws in particular.  I have attended all previous rallies and intend to attend all future rallies. Name withheld

I will be attending the rally for the following reasons, the IR laws directly affect the workers of Australia, the refusal of the Howard government to put this to the workers is a blatant misuse of power, and a sickening act of arrogance. And though the IR laws may benefit some, I know that there are a vast number of workers who are adversely affected, it is for these workers in particular that I intend to voice my opposition on November 30. The workers have the right not be unfairly dictated to, by bosses, or government.
Colin Campbell NSW

I'm a retired union member and a continuous member since 1947 apart from a very few months in 1964 when I migrated to OZ. I've seen and participated in the struggle to get decent rights for all the workers and I think it is the DUTY of EVERY worker whether active or retired to let Howard know that we don't let our hardfought rights taken away in silence. N Wagener VIC

I lived through the Thatcher years in England.  I saw the gap between the rich and the rest of us getting wider and wider, health and housing getting worse and worse - and it all started with an attack on trade union rights. Jane NT

I am rallying because I want to be part of the movement to get rid of the Howard Government.  Along with the IR laws, I find the Sedition Laws and the Anti-Terrorist laws absolutely appalling and I don't think the general public have come to terms with what they mean yet.  People will be silenced and worse than that, they will silence themselves.  Artists, writers, filmmakers etc will use self-censorship out of fear of reprisals from the Government and this is about as bad as it can get.  We must act now and we must all bandy together to save our country from this type of government terrorism for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Christine Holmes VIC

To protest against the arrogant Howard Government unjust and un- Australian workplace laws, and as a Party member part of a campaign to get rid of that government to restore some equity and humanity to government policies before the Aussie way of life is destroyed completely. John Prior
NT

I'm rallying for not only my rights but my childrens & others that are unable to.  I'm rallying to keep our communities intact and healthy.  I'm rallying for our futures. Char NT

I have lived in Australia for over 30 years and I am very proud of my Australian citizenship - however, during the last approximately 10 years of the Liberal Federal Government I have been very disappointed for all sorts of reasons but I have managed to live with it someway.  However, the IR laws, especially the latest ruling, is absolutely outrageous.  It seems as if they are meant to put employees in their place, totally dependent on the whims of employers - I can only hope that the 'people' will finally vote the right way and get rid of the dark cloud hanging over Australia because the future looks very very grim. Marie Cimasko SA

John Howard is entirely out of touch if he thinks working people don't know why they're protesting the new workplace laws. They are rallying to protect the rights of ordinary people. Howard's new laws are divisive - setting employers and employees at loggerheads. The laws give employers the right to use and abuse their workers and cast them aside on the flimsiest pretext. Ordinary working people bear the brunt of these new laws - working all hours and spending little time together as families. Workers should be treated with respect - not used and abused simply so their bosses can increase their own take home pay to levels around 70 times higher than the pay rates of their employees. If John Howard thinks such a difference in pay scales is giving workers a fair go, he's out of his tiny mind. Linda Stewart NSW

I'm rallying to protest against unfair I.R. legislation that the Howard Government did not have the mandate to introduce. Give it a break Johnny. Rob Addington QLD

At 74 I am rallying because I've seen this all before. Getting working people so oppressed that they haven't time to do anything but work work work to keep food on the table. It is all part of the scheme to divide and rule, and maintain the belief of who has  'the right to rule'. Gay Mooney TAS

I'm rallying because it is heartbreaking to see 100 years of hard fought-for workers' rights taken away by a greedy, arrogant, short-sighted government. Believe us Mr Howard, we do know why we are rallying! Heather Bailey NSW

For the future rights of my children - my own babies and all the children who pass though my classroom. Heather Davidson NSW

I am rallying on November 30 because I have a 17 year old daughter about to join the workforce, and I  want her to be in a workplace where her rights and conditions are protected. The Workchoices legistlation will prevent this, as it limits the choices of our most vulnerable workers. I have read a book called "Nickle and Dimed"(Barbara Ehrennreich) which describes what happens to these workers in America, using the unregulated system that our 'wannabee American' government would like to impose on us. I urge everyone who is not convinced that this is a truly unjust and draconian system to read this book  and attend the rally to prevent Workchoices destroying working conditions in our country. Karen Throssell VIC

I watch helplessly while both my sons struggle to support families, with ever increasing hours at work and less and less time to spend with wives and children, with trying to negotiate reasonable pay for work done and finding that they are now just a 'purchasable commodity' and the lowest price wins the job.  I'm rallying because I have also worked with  a boss who continually extended the 'job outline', never paid overtime, and even at my age I was fearful and cautious about speaking out as it would put him 'off-side' and make my life unbearable.  I want an independent authority in place that looks after our interests at work, as John Howard's way will make the 'dog eat dog rat race' a frightening reality. Mrs Caroline Varendorff NSW

I am rallying because the Howard Government has eroded the ethos of the "fair-go".I am working class stock, not landed gentry or nouveau riche, so it is important that I can etch out a living for myself and my family. I want to be able to work within a culture than values me, and I the employer. Howard is destroying peoples's ability to be able to do this. Most of all I want my daughter to benefit from the 100 years of union struggle, to be able to contribute to our society through a valued workplace. Diane Jenkins VIC

I am rallying  because now that the High Court has dismissed the challenge to the laws,  we need to show Howard that this is an issue which will decide the next election, and to give Beazley the steel to reinforce his spine on this issue. Martin Bain NSW

Actually, I am self-employed. But I will join the Rally to support my fellow Australians. The arguments FOR the IR laws means the gap between Rich and Poor gets bigger and the business community has more control over their 'Resources' i.e. human workers. Employers and Govt make enough out of us already, how about a 'Fair Go' for all Aussies. George VIC

I will be rallying for fairness.  Fairness for my adult kids who could lose their job at any minute.  Fairness for my friend whose 'trial' period of work was caveat on not being part of a union and was thrown aside when he argued for truth.   Most of all, I will be rallying for fairness for the future generation.  I think of  John Howard's sense of order, what it means to be family and Australia's identification with 'a fair go'.  I remember the fair go of my childhood where my parents could plan holidays and take them without fear.  Where they waved their kids off into a world that embraced them into affordable universities or jobs that would value them and train them.
What it is to be human is changing.  As a species, the present government believes we should fight each other for the fundamentals.  How many winners can there be?
Rhonda Ward VIC

My father fought for Australia and died on the battlefield for the Australia he loved.  I am now retired and so the workplace changes do not effect me directly, but my children, and more particularly my grandchildren, and my father's great grandchildren, will be impacted upon in a way that I think is horrifying.  John Howard has changed the whole way this country sees itself and is seen by the rest of the world and I think it is time to reassess the Australian values that I grew up with and love.  The Americanisation of Australia is something I will go to my grave fighting.
Margarett McPherson QLD

I am rallying on November 30th because I believe in a just, equitable and sustainable society, whose government demonstrates integrity and inclusion. I feel that the current government encourages individualism (much like the American idea of the individual) and the power of the individual to acquire wealth. I believe that the stratification of society and the priviledging of wealth, Christian values and privatisation creates a fairly homogenous and stagnant society. Rather than promoting wealth and material gain, I believe in creating a society that offers opportunities to all people, especially in the areas of education, health care and working conditions. There are so many disadvantaged people in Australia who do not have a voice, it is so important for organisations like the ACTU to advocate on their behalf and fight for their rights to fair treatment at work. Emily VIC

I understand that to change these extreme repressive IR laws we have to present viable alternatives and get a Government elected who will enact them in legislation with sufficient support to ensure this current attack on Australian workers can never be repeated. I believe this is right and fair so that my children and their children into the future can enjoy life rather than being low paid, exploitable units living in need and fear.
I understand that we have to sustain our anger and rage until the next election without burning out. We have to meet together to celebrate our unity and achievements and I know that many employers have not sacked their workers and re-employed them on low paid AWAs ONLY because they are concerned about what the ongoing ACTU campaign can do if their activities are highlighted.
Brian Oates VIC

I am attending every IR protest I possibly can so the government can make no mistake about how strongly I feel about their I R laws.  I see this fight as being a fight for fairness and dignity for working Australians and to uphold our democratic right to be represented by a union.  It is about the right to collective bargaining and much, much more. This fight is for our children who will be working under these unjust laws and to honour those who fought for the rights we currently enjoy. This is a fight that goes to the core of my fundamental beliefs of fairness, dignity and a way of life we need to preserve for future generations.  John Howard saying we don’t understand why are rallying just shows us the contempt he holds us in.  We do "get it" Mr Howard. We just aren’t "buying it" . Christine Ambs NSW

I had to sign a workplace agreement to get my job at a cafe. Because I'm a full time student I usually work evenings and weekends. There are no penalty rates so I give up my weekends for a base hourly rate. The other day I had to work a double shift which had me working for 13 hours and there was no overtime pay. I was also almost sacked just because my boss was in a bad mood and the workplace agreement says he doesn't need a reason so there would be no comeback. These laws allow people like that to do basically whatever they want to their workers and if you don't like it there's nothing you can do but quit. As the cost of living goes up it is almost impossible to get by on just a student allowance so I have to put up with it. People say just get another job but apart from the fact that it's not easy to just walk into a job especially if you have restrictions on when you can work any other job I take would probably have a similar workplace agreement I would have to sign to get the job and I'd be in the same boat. Shannon TAS

I've been in the workforce 46 years now. I've benefitted from many of the changes that the union fought and won for me. Possibly the most far reaching of these for me would have to be equal pay for women and the superranuation benefits.
I believe that the union still looks at, evaluates and fights for the workers with the same vigour today, and even though I am at the end of my working life, I have a daughter who is just beginning hers. I need to fight for her rights, as well as all those other kids just setting out on their life's journey.
I hope that we have a huge turnout to get the message across that our hard won rights will not be easily swept aside.
And just for the record, I am one of those swinging voters. No party gets my vote without a good reason.
Happy rallying, Jan

John Howard says his new IR Laws will not be used unfairly by aggressive and unscrupulous employers.  Not true.  Careless employers will use them to disadvantage workers because they can and the decent, fair employers will be forced to use them unscrupulously to maintain competition and market share. Steven Dalzell TAS

I'm rallying on November 30 because I'm a young person who is yet to enter the workforce, but I want to make sure that my rights are protected when I do. I don’t want my generation to be exploited and stripped of their rights as workers for the benefit of the upper class minority. Gemma SA

I am a 60-year-old journalist; I worked for the same APN News and Media newspaper for 23 years until I was made "redundant'' on August 29 without warning and effective immediately. The company had made a $74 million profit but decided it needed to shed about 30 staff because the board anticipated a lower profit in the next one to two years. There was no call for voluntary redundancies as expected under the award. The chances of getting another job in journalism in Qld are low -- APN owns every paper bar a couple. Name withheld

A democracy is judged on how well we look after our minorities and disadvantaged groups. I am supporting the working poor who are struggling and who, unlike me, do not have the job security. Eva Youl VIC

My father went on strike fairly regularly fighting against his unfair working conditions and poor pay as a builders labourer.  My mother fed and clothed us 4 kids, god knows how, on buggar all money and we still grew up happy and well adjusted but with a great sense of right and wrong.  My father's now dead and would be turning in his grave to see that because of John Howard all his families sacrifices were all for nothing.  My mother can't believe she suffered so much to have a win then have it all taken away again.
Sue Dawe TAS

I can't understand how it is that my grocery, petrol and utilities bills have increased yet my pay remains stagnant.  In addition I am not allowed to strike or stop work to complain about this fact.  I cannot sit by and let Australia go down this unfair path. Ilona ACT

I will be rallying for the rights of my kids and myself. How is there going to be any certainty in there lives when there is the option of employers to stand them down with out pay. How will they be able to plan holidays, get a mortgage or anything when all of a sudden there stood down because there bosses come up with a excuse.By then they will already be on lower wages not much annual leave what chance are we giving our kids, so lets make a stand. Barry Jeffery NSW

I am rallying to send a clear message to John Howard and his cohorts that I will not stand by and allow the erosion of workers rights built up by over one hundred years of industrial history in which all workers received a fair go in their employment.  I am concerned about the welfare and future welfare of all working class people in Australia, especially my children who are now commencing careers under these new and unacceptable industrial laws.  Think again, John Howard; your day of reckoning is coming when all fair-minded Australians will make their make on ballot papers. Chris Sullivan TAS

In 1996, John Howard said "We will govern for all Australians".  Since then, he has become the master of wedge politics, using a variety of issues artificially and unnecessarily, except to promote his own Government's re-election, to divide the Australian citizenry.  In particular, he has deliberately set out to demonstrate to Australian business, especially but not exclusively, big business, that he is the man of the Australian business community.  He will not face up to global warming with a sensible approach but pretends to be dealing with it by protecting the various mining/mineral extraction/mining product marketing firms.  He has decided, without notice to the electorate, to make life difficult for employees by enhancing the power and authority of the employers at the expense of employees.  He has demonstrated that he is not interested in governing for all Australians but only for a select minority of companies and for employers whom he regards as his rightful constituents.  He clothes his actions in grubby double speak intended to persuade the gullible that his actions will benefit the whole of Australia.  Howard governs only for those who are well off or reasonably well off.  He is unconcerned about the less fortunate in Australian society but is hell bent on making matters worse for them (Welfare to Work!).  He is hell bent on creating an Australian underclass!  Trevor & Janice Knight, SA

Because John didn't even buy me flowers before he screwed me. David Collett VIC

I am coming to the Rally and telling my friends about it.  I want the size of the Rally to show other Australians that the Howard Government has stepped way over the line and needs to be replaced in the next election. BF

My partner is a full time worker and while her job is secure, there are others out there who's jobs aren't. Why can't it all be fair?! We also have a 6 year old daughter to support and with the cost of living today and the fuel prices it is VERY difficult. Give us a break! Essie VIC

I am what you call a thirty eight hour a week full time casual employee.  I do not get holiday pay, sick leave or public holiday pay.  I do not have a wage coming in over Christmas.  The company I work for do not believe in having full time employees so the 12 women that I work with are called full time casuals.  This company needs me more than I need them so I am on a higher hourly rate than my colleagues.  My colleagues unfortunately need the employment in this industry and therefore put up with these conditions.  Our industry is transcription (court transcripts). Tracey NSW

The liberal government is putting profit before people.  Destroying the value of our individuals.  Shame on you Howard! Jim Loftus QLD

I'm rallying because I care about my community and I believe that the most vulnerable among us will suffer from these terrible laws. I'm concerned for families whose children will bear the burden of a new level of insecurity- an insecurity that will lead to less community cohesion and a larger divide between the haves and the have-nots
Jenny Dowell NSW

Because many of the new contracts don't have pay increases, penalty rates or overpay rates when cost of living and interest rates are increasing.  I see many people struggle under the pressure, esp. those who are single parents or care for family members who have a disability.
It's twice unfair! Beatrice Lucas QLD

I will rally against the Howard workplace reforms for as long as it takes to stop the erosion of workers rights in Australia. I am a Baby Boomer and feel ashamed of the fact we are leaving the younger generation far worse off in the working arena than the previous generation left for us, equally I am angry that rights we fought for and won in the seventities and eighties can be wiped out by the slash of Little Johnny's pen. Barb Casey QLD

Up until Johnny's workplace reforms, I have always always voted Liberal. Never again.
I can't believe he has the arrogance to side swipe the things my great grandfather starved for. How dare he strut into parliament and look after his little business buddies and forget the average Australian who put him where he is in the first place.
My husband from Texas is constantly and continuously horrified at the tax Australians pay on anything and everything. We have paid in blood (sometimes literally) for all the rights we have.
What if we just waltz in and change the ministers take home pay? Hmmm- let's take away their allowances, and make a rule that if the constituents don’t all agree with a vote they make in parliament, they can be dismissed mid term, without their pension...
And speaking of which- what the hell?
He sits in his archaic ivory tower knowing that no matter what, he's sitting pretty for the rest of his life- Maybe we should get to have a vote on his retirement package-decreasing it pro rata for the grief, uncertainty and general dissatisfaction he has caused?????
John Howard doesn't get that we're rallying because we're under threat.
We see an elected representative who chooses to listen to an elite few- I will never get over his comment when he first introduced the reforms-there was a quote in the Sydney Morning Herald that never went refuted-something to the effect of: People need to trust employers; they will do the right thing....
Hel-LO!! What does he think people pay unions for???? Why does he think there are laws covering sexual harrassment, discrimination in the work place, work place bullying?? I'm not sure what Utopic planet John is on (with all his work place benefits I guess he can afford to take his pick)but he needs to do an intense refresher course on what being the ELECTED Prime Minister of a democratic society is supposed to mean.
Nepotism and cronyism is flourishing like a weed, and everyday Australians may not understand all the legal mumbo jumbo John is sprouting, but we go to rallies because we can sense our security slipping away; we can sense the attempt to insidiously silence the voice of the little people-the people who don't have a fortune to buy and sell whoever they want. The people John is targetting-hitting hardest with his condescending attitude, just want to keep the rights they have toiled for, the rights they have negotiated, the rights they have EARNT-because unlike him and his tedious little friends, we cant afford to pay some off to change any little thing we don’t like- we WORK for it!!!! MM

I want a future not only for myself but mostly for my children - The I.R. changes are eroding workers fundamental rights and with the burgeoning lack of a social welfare system - l don't want to live in a little America! M. Kerr VIC

Put in the simplest terms - the legislation is not fair. Where are the good old Australian values like a fair days pay for a fair days work, loyalty and fairness in this legislation? I've looked but cannot find them.... Grant TAS

I am rallying because I believe at 60 years of age I must fight to bring back the rights I have hard won in my lifetime, so that my kids and their kids are protected, they can feel secure in their work and not suffer under companies whose only moral guidelines are their shareholders profits. Cheryl Wallis VIC

I have been a member of the ANF for 35 years and collectively the union has done for me what my employers would never have done they have established an Award for all and will lobby for just and fair pay. RK

Because we have lost more 100 years worth of hard won rights...most importantly the right to COLLECTIVELY bargain for what is fair and just.
My 19-yr-old son has NO idea of what has been lost and he and his generation think that you just have to take whatever is offered or some-one else will. He does NOT have the strength to stand-up for himself in a one on one situation and argue for better conditions BEFORE accepting a job. He has been working part-time since he was 15. He just finished uni. and applied for a job at HMV in Melbourne. they told him the CASUAL rate of pay was $12.00 p/h! That's less than the mimimum wage. They expected him to be available 24/7 over Christmas and on weekends all for $12.-- an hour. These are just a SOME of the MANY reasons I am fighting these disgraceful, unfair, demoralising laws.
Michele VIC

For my two sons - one a high school teacher, the other a training officer at a meatworks. Their jobs should be safe, but nothing is safe after Howard's IR deforms. I'm unemployed at 61, and all the anti-ageism rules in the world are incapable of overriding that particular number, especially in today's IR climate. Joan Lockwood QLD

I am rallying on November 30th because I am extremely angry. I think that by attending the rally I can constructively channel this anger into making a positive statement, which says: John Howard I am not a part of your brave new world. I think it is based on the most base of human responses. naked greed of the have a lots already to rip all they can from the have less and have nots. Howard has crossed a line (he actually done it long ago) between having decent and civilised society and and barbarism. Extreme views? We will see in twenty years time. days like November the 30th can turn the tide. There is evidence of this in the USA and hopefully we can start that momentum here. I want to see John Howard's downfall and with him all those who support his sick, twisted and nasty little view of the world. Cheers Rob.


To let the government know that they are "on notice" and "their time is limited".  We, the workers, cannot believe that all the conditions that have been fought for over the years can just be wiped out by a sitting of Parliament.  It is not right nor is it fair.  For this reason the end of Johnny Howard is near. JJ

I am rallying because, under John Howard, Australia is now the only developed country in the world that gives workers no legal right to bargain collectively - even where they express a unanimous wish to do so. I believe that this is an outrage and a gross insult to Australia's long history of egalitarianism and its tradition of mateship. Phil Teece ACT

I have been teaching for 25 years and in that time have seen the introduction of working conditions such as non-contact time for primary school teachers, a remote area incentive scheme and Senior Teacher status to name a few. Many of these conditions were won through collective bargaining with the employer involving all teachers with little industrial action. High school teachers had nothing to gain from primary non-contact time but were more than happy to include it in our log of claims.
With 4 teenage sons to enter the work-force in the next decade I fear for what conditions of employment they will face under the unfair IR laws. I dread to think of their plight if forced to sign an AWA with their employer. Workers must be able to bargain collectively and need to demonstrate their views by attending the 30 November rally. GD

I am rallying to fight for fair labour laws for my children and their children and for a more equal society. These laws break down social cohesion and make the world a meaner place. Richard Wadsworth, VIC

To oppose John Howards new industrial relation laws and to keep spreading the news to those who are unaware of the full extent of laws. Belinda VIC

Because when any Government thinks they can strip back 100 years of workers rights to make them second class citizens, while maintaining and increasing their own advantages and those of their business friends then the next step is to close the loopholes and we have a dictatorship. The protesters understand all right and so do I, and in my working life I was a company manager and a company director. I want my kids to have a life and with this in mind Howard and his mob have to go, and SOON.
L. Downey QLD

I am rallying to say enough of this unfairness in the work place. Workers need their rights and working conditions protected - to be paid overtime, to be entitled to 4 weeks annual leave,sick leave, a fair salary not just the basic minimum wage.. We are not AMERICA this is AUSTRALIA perhaps John Howard is not sure what country he is in and needs to address this issue. Mrs Mathews SA

I want the next generation of workers, employers and business owners to remember what the conditions were like all those years ago when the worker had to struggle.  If we all remember that, then why would we want to make life difficult now and forever.  Remember, you may be well off now, BUT will your children have it as easy.  No, because already these IR laws are set to make them stumble when they first begin their working lives.  March for the FUTURE!!
Jannina Short VIC

At 17yrs old i lost 3 weeks pay fighting for 4 weeks annual leave and 17.5% loading;  then i fought for more sick days; then i campaigned for the 38 hour week;  i supported the "free" voice of the workers - Unions, and the right to protest unfair action by striking. The Howard Government has betrayed all that i worked hard to accomplish. The Howard Government has condemned itself by its own actions. George Blundell NSW

I'm a single income family with three children. I have never been so financially bad off under this current federal taxation regime. Interest rates have gone up, my weekly loan repayments have increased by about $100 per week my wages haven't! The price of fuel has gone up on average about 30 cents per litre. my average fuel bill per week has gone up by about $35 per week. My wages have not! the overall cost of living has far outstripped any wage rises I have received. Peter Bowd NSW

I am rallying for two reasons
1.To let the government know that I believe these IR laws are very unfair and make the burden on families even greater in this financially difficult time. Once again the rich get richer, Seems to be a philosophy of Liberal governments, with little regard for the average worker.
2.To protest against the IR laws to try to preserve a future for my kids , so they can be treated fairly by the employer. I believe if these laws continue the young people will be the hardest hit and employer exploitation will return with a vengence.
Let's have a voice and show Howard we will not accept these draconian laws. Thea Isles QLD

I am rallying because the 'work choices' laws put employees, particularly young people new to the workforce, in an untenable position of having to negotiate basic and fair working conditions. These laws put all the cards in the hand of the employer and make the ridiculous assumption that all employers will be fair and considerate in their negotiations. The laws also assume that employees are all on an equal level with their bosses when it comes to negotiation skills. The only 'choice' these laws seem to offer is "like it or lump it" and this is a huge step backwards for industrial relations. It is simply staggering to me that in a supposedly democratic and progressive society the elected government can have such a callous regard to its workforce. Michael Burville VIC

I believe that we need to stand up and be counted. I want to protest against the IR Laws to create a fairer system for not only myself, but my fellow Australians. Not only that, but today we need to make positive changes for the benefit of our children, our childrens children, etc. I have no doubt in my mind that changes to IR are necessary, but I do not believe that we are moving in the right direction. We need to move forward, not backwards. Allison Gallagher QLD

The Howard Government continually complains about the break down of the traditional family unit but put average Australian family's under pressure by eroding our pay and conditions. Making family's work weekends and overtime with no extra pay and taking away family time. He can't have it both ways. LOOK AFTER YOUR FAMILY Attend the rally. Stephen Griffen SA

I am not rallying to send a message to the Howard Government. I am rallying to send a message to all Australians that the only way to maintain rights for working people is to vote the Liberals out of power. People who say that they have not been affected by the new laws just do not get it. They are still covered by old EBs and they will be in for a real shock when the time comes for renewal. Employers are now planning their assaualt on workers and if the Liberals win the next Federal election, their plans will be implemented on the Monday after the election. It'll be too late then. John VIC

Im working at Christmas Island 6 weeks on 1 week off 2 days of r&r are taken up in flying i asked if i could do 6&2 knowing i would not be payed for the second week refused no loss to them actually it would work out cheaper  less flights   All i wanted was a bit more time home with my family  You wont be getting my vote johnny. Jeff Tierney QLD

Both my husband and I are jumping on a bus at 5.15am in Sale to be part of the protest at the MCG. We protested in the city along with 100,000 people, earlier in the year. Both my husband and I have very secure jobs so we are lucky. We are protesting for our children's future. The rich get richer and the average Australian becomes powerless. Mary McNally VIC

Having survived the Thatcher years in England and experienced the decimation of the union movement there I know what the possible outcomes of this unfair law can lead to.  People took their lives as they were unable to support their families, after the great Thatcher con of allowing council house owners to buy their houses, owners then found themselves out of work, unable to make repayments, thrown on the streets and houses were reclaimed.  We need to stop this totally infair discrimination against the working classes now.  Julie Renyard QLD

I want to stand by my fellow workers and union members. It is scary to do this on an individual basis in my workplace, but I can at least show support in this event. Joanne Sullivan VIC

I want a fair, just, and equal society. We all need to support each other, no matter what our status. I want to keep my country alive, and well. JF

To show my objection to new laws that will in future contribute to increasing numbers of working poor. This legislation will contribute to a poorer quality of life for Australians without wanted skills.  The Howard Government has to date been unable to prove to me that this future will not occur. Warren Robertson NSW

It's my patriotic duty!  My father, a WWII New Guinea digger, would be rolling in his grave at the arrogance of the so-called ruling class's attempts to have it all. Peter Cunningham VIC

Job security helps people's self esteem, makes them feel more comfortable about changing jobs and careers at different stages of their lives and helps the economy. Who feels able to commit themselves to having a family and taking on a mortgage when neither parent feels at all secure in their job, no matter how good they are at it?
If the government sees workers as disposable, it is logical that workers will also have trouble dedicating themselves to a job or organisation! Belinda Bold VIC

I am rallying on November 30th because I am outraged by what this government has done in dismantling the hard won rights of workers in this country. We should not be destroying the rights of workers here so that they approach the sorry state of workers in less privileged countries but instead should be fighting in solidarity to extend full rights to others overseas so that all have a human future. This government sees the wealth of the nation as the only important criterion for decision making. But this government has also lost track of what it is that really makes up our true wealth as a nation. Our air, our water, our very earth and our people are what makes up the wealth of this country and the policies of this government which threaten any of this must be turned around. If this government is not acting for the well being of the majority of Australians then we simply do not need them and must get rid of them. Dr Catherine Laudine NSW

I am lucky I have a union and a good collective agreement, however, I and my workmates will be rallying to support other workers who don't have a union (yet)or other unionists who are under attack from these disgraceful and unjust laws. We must help in educating all Australians to understand the devastating impact, to all our lives, these laws will have if this Gov't is re-elected. We haven't seen anything yet! Colin Ormsby VIC

I am rallying because society is changing in a way I don't like and I'm old enough to see the changes. Low paid workers are required to be more 'flexible', ie work and  accept instability in their working lives and there is a growing gap between those on high and low incomes. and their lifestyles which I find disturbing. It's not a healthy society that treats casual and low paid workers in this way. SL


We'll end up having the working poor like in the USA where commercial airline pilots are entitled to claim social service benefits because of their miserable pay. The Labour Party in the past has always been accused of being BIG GOVT but this beats the lot. Where is democracy when you remove the independant umpire and install your own cronies to do the dirty work of the few people who not only run this country but have their sights set on the world. A Democracy without internal armed conflict can only exist where you respect opposing views even though you may not agree with them and you use independant umpires to resolve issues. This Howard Govt's Industrial vandalism is undemocratic, unethical and is against all religious principles and is a means of bringing in 21st century serfdom where you will only have a two tier class system with the ultimate power in too few hands and could again ignite class struggles. For God's sake we had a good system, the best in the world and yes you can't have your way all of the time so why can't you accept that other people have their rights as well. Can you imagine the outcry if the ALP was in Federal Government and tried to remove State's (presuming they were run by the coalition)rights and nationalise the industrial system? God help this country. Name withheld

John Howard underestimates the sentiment against these reforms, and he insults our intelligence about understanding why we're rallying. We know exactly why we're doing it; it's a fight against tyranny. I'm conservative in my political persuasions, but I can now see through the PM's motivations - that's the end of my support. Name withheld

I am really concerned about my children.  My oldest is almost at working age and my greatest fear is that he will be exploited by employers with a much better understanding of the system than him and with these IR Laws he will have virtually no protection. On a general level these will increase the already growing gap between rich and poor in this country as the free market will determine wages and conditions rather than fairness and equity
Ken Hart TAS

I am retiring at the end of this year (2006) and the new IR laws will not impact on me but I know that my children and possibly my grandchildren will have to live with these unfair laws.  I would like them to be treated with equality and dignity at least equivalent to the conditions I have enjoyed during my working life.  I don't want my kids to have the same struggles that my forefathers had to regain old rights. Marilyn Richmond VIC

I am rallying on Nov. 30th because I don't want our working conditions stripped to the minimum as they are in the US. I believe that AWA's empower managers and employers to return us to conditions of masters and slaves. I believe in the right of workers to negotiate with employers through collective bargaining. Now that the High Court has judged the IR laws to be constitutional, we will be at the mercy of the Howard Government which is nothing short of a dictatorship. Enough is enough! Ruth Evans VIC

It's 43 years since I started work as a trainee nurse. I remember the days of poor pay, lots of unpaid overtime (still happens) and no penalty rates.
All workers should have security re employment and a guarantee of fair pay. LP

I will be protesting at the MCG on November 30 because I want to send a clear message to  the Government that I will not be silenced while my rights are eroded. I will not be silenced in defending the rights of fellow workers - i will not scared off by laws that restrict the activities of unions, that allow workers to be sacked unfairly or attempts to undermine the ability of working people to earn a decent and fair wage. I want to show the Government that I care about this issue - and I will still care about it when it comes time to vote Howard and his cronies out at the next federal election. Bryan VIC


I feel that by rallying I am letting the Federal Government know that I disagree with the current Industrial Relations Law. Also that the Howard Government are on notice that at the next election that the people, the workers are fighting back and Johnny is going!!!!! Katy Taggart QLD

I am attending the rally because I am concerned for my future job security and that of my children. I have seen many working conditions that previous generations fought hard to achieve eroded very swiftly by John Howard's IR laws. John Howard seems to have very little regard for the average hard working Australian and instead seems more concerned with his corporate "buddies" filling their fatter & fatter pockets. Corporate profits have continued to climb without the need for these far too drastic changes that John Howard has introduced and seems hell bent on going further still to the detriment of the average hard working Australian trying to raise a family. Ian Mclean SA

I am rallying because I want to live in a country I am not ashamed of.  Because I know people who have been forced on to unfair AWA's that cut their conditions and pay.
Because Australian's are being fined up to $30,000 for taking industrial action such as the 107 in Western Australia. Because Australian's can now be imprisoned for expressing their rights at work such as the right to strike.
Because I care about the impact of the changes to Welfare payments that reduce the rights of the young, disabled, single mothers and other vulnerable Australians.
Because the Howard Liberal Government have introduced search and seizure powers so public servants may go through Australian's homes and seize their possessions.
Because if I don't stand up to the Howard Government I am complicit in these atrocities. Because Howard has taken away so many of my rights but I still have my democratic right to speak out.  Because if we all stand together we can beat John Howard. Because I want to call on all Australian's to vote AGAINST the Howard Liberal Government at the next election. Zoe VIC

In relation to the John Howard IR bills. My 84 year old mother said to me, "I don't know what all the fuss is about.  When I was working that's how it was then, so what's the problem ?"  I explained that she had not worked since 1967 (and that's almost 40 years ago) and there had been advancements in the workers' rights since then, but JH is now taking it all away in one foul swoop and leaving her grandchildren vulnerable.
She came to Australia as a refugee in 1950 from very depressed conditions.  She has been a Liberal voter all the time because of the fear of Labor and its association with communism  -  she will now be voting for her grand childrens' future.
"He's been there too long, is too confident", and she sums up the general feeling that the IR laws effectively preach the words in an old 50's song  -  "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". Richard Semeniuk NSW

I teach students with a mild intellectual disabiity.  Our primary goal is to educate these young people to become independent fully functioning members of our society, this legislation makes it far too difficult for these people to engage in the workforce at all or run the the risk of exploitation because they are legally unable to seek advocacy or support when presented with a very complicated and wordy employment contract.  For what? ML VIC

I have a duty to all Australians to attempt to protect the inalienable rights and freedoms, for which we fought for 100 years culminating in the Eureka Stockade, due to workers under the principles of natural justice. Zoe Fletcher NSW

To show the Howard Govt that I don't agree with their IR Laws, to restore power to the workers and to give my 11month old son every opportunity that I had.  Workers are entitled to be represented by their union in order to gain the best possible working conditions. Katie VIC

I worry about my kids I don't want them working in an environment reminiscent of the Dark Ages with no rights and not much pay. I would like my kids to be able to work in an environment where there is respect for them as workers with a fair pay. Howard you have lost my vote
Lorraine NSW

Because I'm really pissed off at the way things are going. What does Howie want - for most of us to live on $2 an hour while the top ten percent (his mates) to live on $2 million an hour? I'm going for this, the next and the next generation to be able to live. That's all - to have human rights and dignity and an ability to simply live. Esme Tyson VIC

I'm rallying because the government has no mandate for these laws. They are post election policies.  Whilst I disagree with the government's stance on the war in Iraq and the Kyoto agreement, at least they can argue they were elected with these in their platform. This is not true for the workplace reforms. These are a distortion of democracy. AW

I am an employer. These laws suit me, in fact, they could be very good for me if I wasn't so scrupulous. 
But that doesn't make them right. And me being an employer doesn't protect my children from an unscrupulous employer, or my friends, or my family. Caitlin VIC

I'm six years retired but maintain my union membership (at retired members' rates).  The struggle to achieve fairness in the workplace was long and hard, and we can't afford to let them take back what we have already won. Michael SA

I lost my job this year, and I know many of the people I worked with or work interstate for the same employer have either left or been forced out by an uncaring major employer. Other employees are finding it difficult to manage the new rosters with split days off and no care at all for people with children. This company has the attitude of take it or leave. We must stop this unjust exploition of workers for our futures and the futures of our children and their children.  I know very well why I'll be rallying. Colleen Finn QLD

I am rallying because as a full-time student I work as a casual, and as a casual I have very few rights and no security. The workplace changes are creating a situation where people in full-time positions have similar concerns. These changes are taking workers backwards at a time in which the cost of living in Australia is becoming more and more difficult to afford. Living with financial stress is difficult and destructive and our society will only be damaged by Howard's workplace policies. Mary-Elizabeth Andrews NSW

As a mother and grandmother I find the attitude of the Howard Government repugnant.The very least I would expect of any Government in Australia is to protect the rights of employees in their working lives. To erode the basic rights of workers by forcing them to sign AWAs that remove the basic provisions that were the cornerstone of our industrial relations is so offensive that I know that unless I attend the rally in my rural town I will be complicate in this diabolical piece of legislation. It is my duty as a citizen to express my disgust with this attack on every worker in Australia. Robynne NSW

To show solidarity with my fellow Australians in an effort to preserve the standard of living our parents and grandparents fought for. Michele Munn ACT

I am now expected to attend company training sessions on a Saturday  for no pay just a day in leiu. I loose 15hrs pay and the n have to cover extra duties for the other staff when and if they take the day owing. I would much prefer payment as we all were expected to not take a wage rise this financial year. This has now cost me just over $2,000. How many more times will I be asked to give the company money. The CEO stated that he wants higher than average industry profit for this year. I just wonder where his profit and resulting bonus will come from! Name withheld

I probably have only a few more years in the paid workforce but I'm rallying for all those young people trying to get a foot on the ladder, the families, like my daughter and her husband who have to work out whether they can afford to have a second child. They have a  mortgage (increasing every time the interest rates go up) and child care fees - can they afford 2 lots?  Probably not!  So I'll be there on 30 November to help send the message to John Howard that Australian workers don't want their WorkChoice because it leaves us with no choice. Patricia Hovey QLD

I am attending the rally to protect the rights of my children and grandchildren.  Already my son is a victim.  He works in Hospitality, has worked for this company for 18 months.  In that time he has worked every  Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, plus every Public Holiday except one...for no penalty rates.  He is not entitled to sick leave, holiday pay, long service.  This is not what I want for my son or anyone else's child.  I do not accept that we have to compete with other Countries and their workers - we should be encouraging them to raise their standards - not lower ours. Lynne VIC

I am rallying as a teacher and artist, to protect free expression and the integrity of family life (in the broadest sense of that word). Howard's new IR laws threaten to destroy both. Overworked or stressed parents are less able to raise their children properly. At the same time, workers who are insecure about their income or exhausted by terrible conditions, are less likely to find the time or courage to speak out about issues that affect their communities. Our culture is damaged at every level by this attack on workers. Louisa John-Krol VIC

I am 56-years-old and I'm totally disgusted with the Federal Government and their legislation regarding industrial relations. My father and grandfathers fort to gain decent working conditions for themselves and their children. This government thinks they can take all these conditions away from working people with the stroke of a pen. Well let me tell them, these condition are not ours to give away and we with fight all the way to retain them.
Can't wait till the next Federal election .... I'm sure the majority of Australians will send them a very strong message. The next election will bring out the best in the Australian people. I am personally so pleased that John Howard he decided to stay and face the "music" .... can't wait to hear the reason he gives for losing the election. Ron Hancock NSW

I will be rallying on November 30th because   I don't want my children to grow up like the americans do, working more than one job just to pay the rent.
The Liberals, who send their children to elite shcools so that they can take over the family business, are sealing our childrens future as drones.
Mr Howard and his odd crew are dizzy with excitement with prospect of having an Australia of minimum wage slaves. Unfortunately for them but fortunately for the rest of us their extended period in office has aflicted them with a severe case of God syndrome.
They have left the voter no choice but to say goodbye to the Liberals next election by  making the IR Laws so unsavoury. The High Court has loaded the gun with a silver bullet by saying that the laws are here to stay. It will be Work choices that will convert the swinging vote to a vote against the Government.
The USA has had a wake up call from its voters, but the Libs are so dulled by their god Syndrome that they cant see it, beautiful.
John Howard you can ride this ship all the way to the rocks. When John Howard finally sees the writing on the wall he'll hand the wheel to Costello and blame him for inevitable.
In summary; Australia is finding it tough going and we, in accordance with the IR Laws will have to stand Howard and his crew down. Name withheld

I will be rallying because I have a niece who is developmentally delayed and I want to ensure that when she is old enough to work, her rights - and the rights of other vulnerable members of our community -  will be protected. Anita Hirschhorn VIC

I am rallying because I strongly feel the new IR laws will take away the rights people like my father (now 83) fought to gain in the workplace. Individual contracts are divisive and secretive and go against my ideals of a fair deal for everyone.
I teach adult migrants who will be disadvantaged if they are forced to individually negotiate their own contracts. The maintenance of working conditions, which are being eroded by the new IR legislation,  is the only way to ensure everyone can balance work and family and live with any security.
I feel really strongly about these issues and this why I am rallying Jennifer Chamberlain VIC

I will be rallying on November the 30th to add my presence to thousands of like minded people who recognise that the Howard Governments IR Laws represent the biggest threat to our way of life that Australians have faced for over a hundred years.  This abhorent legislation gets around the intent of the founders of modern Australia for an independent arbitration system and the rights of workers to be represented by their unions and to expect fair wages and conditions in return for their labour.  While Howard has not made union membership illegal he has effectively made any industrial action considered or taken by a union to be an illegal act, subject to severe penalties.  This takes us back to the Tolpuddle Martyr days.  I want to raise awareness of this legislation that will also ultimately reduce the pay and conditions of even those who erronously believe that they are able to set and maitain their own conditions.  They forget that these conditions are based on awards that are being destroyed. It will be impossible for an individual to make comparisons as to their own market value because AWA's are secret and awards (where they exist) will only have 5 minimum conditions and a legal minimum pay rate  - no skill margins, no allowances - nuffin!  All the bargaining power will be with the employer and employees will be forced into a dutch auction to get a job as was the case back in the 1860's through to 1907 and the Harvester Case.  1907! One Hundred Years ago workers finally got a fair go in the wage negotiation stakes - so 2007 is a good time to remind them that they must stick together and throw John Howard and ALL his liberal and National Party mates into the political wilderness for ever! As the old Union song goes "We're gonna roll the Union on, Roll right over John Howard, Roll the union on!" MC

My husband & I are rallying on 30th November as we have 14 grandchildren & #15 on the way. Those children do not have a secure working future in this country thanks to John Howard & Kevin Andrews. My grandparents, parents & my brothers worked hard throughout the years in unions to help the workers gain security & a Fair go & John Howard has destroyed all their hard work. Margaret Hains NSW

Howard represents democracy gone mad, he has turned into a dictator. Australia is losing its sense of community. By concentrating on the individual everyone becomes selfish and no one cares about others. Liberal democracy has got to go. The high court decision does not ratify the IR changes it made them allowable, but they are definitely not moral or right! Loraine NSW

Nephew: Carpentry apprentice, is now required to provide a medical certificate for 1 day of sick leave.  When it was explained that it is impossible to get a Doctor's appointment on the same day, not to mention the $50.00 fee, he was told to go to the Hospital emergency department.  He has never abused workplace entitlements.  This new requirement is across the board.
Nieces: Retail industry workers, are all required to work shifts including weekend and evenings without penalties and for a very low hourly rate.  They are all employed on a casual basis despite being long term, regular employees, which excludes them from holiday and sick leave. Name withheld

I am rallying because the revised IR laws strike at the heart of a 'fair go' deserved by all in the workplace - a place where employers now have the balance tipped too far in their favour. The title 'Work Choices' is demeaning and its incremental implementation is sneaky & clever in the extreme. I'm not sure that that part is understood well. Ben Stone VIC

When I was growing up my family survived on a single income. My mother's nursing income was sufficient for her to raise two children whilst paying a mortgage. Try doing that today. Wages are so low and housing and living expenses so high that there is little chance for professionals to exist on a single income, let alone the battlers. These new IR laws add further pain by scrapping penalty rates and decimating any notion of job security.
I was once apathetic to political issues, but having watched you strip away workers rights, push for user pays services and destroy the last vestiges of community, I can no longer avoid the inevitable. You and your government have to go.
 To be honest John, (that is what they call you right, but it's hardly true) I don't know how you sleep at night. 
Adam Barbary VIC

I am rallying on November 30 because I feel as though I would be letting myself, my daughter, and more vulnerable people down if I didn't.
The Howard Government's industrial relations laws and philosophies are unfair, immoral and a huge backwards step.
While I am in a relatively "secure" job with "good conditions", I feel concerned for my working conditions in the short, medium and long term, and for the future working conditions of my teenage daughter and her peers.
Combining work with family and meeting everyday living expenses have both become much more difficult under the Howard government with the erosion of pay and conditions, increasing hours of unpaid work, increasing difficulty in justifying time off to meet family and caring responsibilities, and the increasing costs of daily living - how much harder is it going to get unless we show the government and the rest of the Australian public what we believe in? IH ACT

I'm rallying because if I don't, our generation stands to be the first generation in the history of the Australian Labour movement to pass on an inferior set of working conditions to those which it received.
I'm rallying because I clearly understand that the Federal Liberal government does not have my interests at heart but instead represents the interests of big business and multinational corporations. How else can they explain their expectation that we should "compete" with countries where there are no effective labour standards?
I'm rallying because the practical effect of the politics of individualism which the Liberal Party holds so dear is to "divide and conquer". In the face of this there is only one response: "United we stand, Divided we fall!"
David Vroland VIC

It is terribly important that we don't lose protections for working people. Those protections have been fought for for hundreds of years, and gained only after extensive struggle. The stability of our democracy depends on those protections.
With the Work Choices legislation, once we get an economic downturn, we'll see a tremendous increase in unemployment, and an ever-increasing underclass, as we see in the USA. Rene Buhler NSW

John Howard belongs to a collective in the Liberal Party. Members of Parliament know the power of the collective voice and yet the liberal party now, has enforced legislation that denies, in my view, conditions that had taken us from Dickensian England to a reasonable state of respect and sharing in the 'common good'. I despair of a government that treats me, a citizen, not a client or a customer but a citizen, as that naive as to think all employers are thinking of the public good when the government obviously has forgotten that that's their reason to be. Name withheld

I am recently retired, but feel so strongly about this issue that I will be there to show my support.  I am rallying for my children's future and their children's future.  I just cannot stand by and allow the divide happening in Australia as company executives are being paid millions of dollars and ordinary workers are treated like disposable commodities.  I certainly understand the issue Mr. Howard.
Sue Beazley VIC

Workers before us (our Fathers and Grandfathers) have made enormous sacrifices in the workplace to ensure safe and secured jobs not only for them, but also for their offsprings. We therefor have a moral obligation, not only to honour their sacrifices, but to build on their achievements to improve the quality of life for us and our offsprings.
Neil Joseph NSW

Because this fight is far from over!  I am fighting for the future of all australian employees. Amy Thornton SA

I am rallying on November 30 because I will stand for what I believe in. I have just finished a 4 year bachelor degree and I am one week from beginning my first real job. In this new job I expect that I can have the right to fair pay, and fair work conditions and it is utterly disgusting that these would be stripped from me and every other Australian worker when it is seen as a bare minimum in decency and fairness.
I have a theory that the Howard government has produced these new IR laws in an effort to shift the burden of administering workplace agreements so that they don't need to be involved. It has shifted the power to the employer and has consequently taken it from the employee. I feel that it is just a cost-cutting mechanism. I should do more research but from what I know, that is my theory as to why the government would allow such discrimination against employees.
Johnny come and work in a common aussie job and then tell me if you think you made a good choice with your IR laws. I challenge you. Forfeit your quarter of a million p.a salary and 'little' bonuses and tell us if you think your work conditions are still fair. WE challenge you. And whatever you do, do not tell us we don't even know what we're rallying about. Most of us may not have a degree in economics or politics, but we have certainly gained an education in common sense, fairness and decency. Its clear you lack that.
Honestly you'll need to make alot of changes to your policies if I'll ever vote for you.
C'mon Australians, as individuals we are small, but as a group, boy we can really make some noise! Leah WA

Successive Governments have done everything possible to make our Manufacturing Industries have to go offshore to be able to compete with Imports.
They are supposed to be governing for the people.
Most businesses in Australia employ less than one hundred people, These businesses can now sack anyone without giving a reason,Therefore unless you are prepared to take a pay cut, give up your leave and agree with everything your employer says and keep quite about any problems you can be sacked at any time.
Which means that you have no permanancy of employment so you can not plan anything,IE: buy a car, House or take a Holiday.
It will also destroy Family life as you will have less time to spend with them and when you do have holidays you will have no disposable income to do anything.
If they think it is so great let them apply it to themselves, Or put it to a Referendum instead of turning the working people into slaves. Tom Large VIC

I'm retired, but throughout my working life I enjoyed the benefits of hard-won conditions and rewards workers before me had fought for and gained.
I want my daughter and her contemporaries and the generations which follow them to enjoy the same rights my generation took for granted - until recently, that is,  when we see them being eroded before our eyes.
Phillippa Dimakis NSW

For exactly the same reasons I went to the rally last year:
- I don't like having my terms and conditions of employment eroded.
- I don't like having my work-life balance choices eroded, irrespective of what John Howard says.
- Again, despite what John Howard says, I do get it. If we are indeed the clever country that he goes on about, we don't need these 18th and 19th century measures that he is incessantly rabbiting on about. We need 21st century measures to consolidate and expand on the advances Australia made in the 20th century. Peter Fisher SA - Andrew Southcott's electorate

Because I am personally against 'large company values' (Individual and the human rights are not recognised or respected through these laws).  and I believe these new laws encourage them. We must fight for our future and our kids future. Emma WA

Because Howard sees the working people of this nation as the servants of its business owners. Because he is happy to see the earnings of the majority of employees being subject to cuts while business leaders receive multi million dollar incomes. Multi million dollar incomes that are rising. Because his actions show that he believes that employees should be grateful to those who employ them. And that it would be ludicrous for employers to be grateful to employees. Because his actions show that he believes that employees should 'know their place'. Bob Newman QLD

when i was a child, my family migrated to australia to get away from the tyrannical policies of thatcherism. 17 years on i find myself a union delegate campaigning for the rights of workers, the same rights my parents brought me to this country to guarantee a better future and which the howard government threatens to destroy. it would be cowardly not to stand up and be counted. vigilance is all, but when the time comes, you have to pop your head above the parapet and take determined action. that's why i'll be out there! MM

To make clear the widespread opposition to WorkChoices. Ray Goodlass NSW

To show John Howard and the Liberal Party that the average Australian WORKER does not agree with the workplace relations changes he's brought in and that we'll do anything to change them to protect the next generation of workers coming into the workforce from employers who are more than willing to use them. Dayton Knight

I'm afraid. The changes made by this government are already impacting on the lives of people in this country. I can see growing insecurity. We matter, and our need to be able to trust that we'll get by is vital. John Howard's direction leaves more people vulnerable to unforeseeable change in their workplaces. This in turn leads to fear of standing against unfair conditions. These moves are increasing the divide between rich and poor, and value certain groups in our soceity above others. I stand against this. As a student of history, I learned how slow and painstaking the path to workers rights has been, and many have died as a direct result of the lack of recognition of those rights. Many still die at work, or as a result of their employment. John Howard is 'privileged'. He has no bloody idea what he's doing to people! Robin Eadha SA

I am rallying because I believe the new I.R laws are unjust, although I am near the end of my working life I believe we need to take a stand for the future for our children and for the people who have worked so dam hard in the past. Max Herbert QLD

I am marching for two reasons. 1; I was sacked from my position and offered a 15 hour per week job because I wouldn't sign the bosses AWA and 2; because John Howard is the worlds most untrustworthy politician in the history of politics. Bernie McClafferty QLD

I'm rallying for fairness. I want to let the Federal Government know that I won't stand by and let fellow workers conditions -and jobs- be dismantled without good reason. I urge all workers to get out there and be heard on Nov 30! Marie-Anne VIC

I want to work and live in a cohesive community where people value their own and others' contributions to the common good.  I think the new industrial relations laws force people to compete rather than cooperate and make it difficult to achieve a strong sense of community undertaking shared work.  Their attack on wages and leave entitlements also reduce the amount of time workers can spend in their communities and with their families and friends and are likely to lead to growing health problems.  These unjust laws must be repealed. Lyn Rainforest ACT

Because the benefits of the wonderful economy that we all suffered to build over the last thiry years are all being given to a small section of the populace at the expense of further suffering by those who did the work. Like many others of my generation, I suffered through those years; recession, periods of hard work interspersed with unemployment, and the abuse of the mean-spirited welfare administration. To see the benefits going to a mere handful while working people suffer is just the last straw. To add insult to injury, my postgraduate research into unemployment policy has drawn inquiry from a recently formed commission openly seeking arguments to justify lowering what they would refer to as an insertion wage; the inference here being that a worker is 'inserted' into the labour force like some sort of spare part. It is quite intriguing that the stories that underpin labour policy have no more solid foundation than does the tale of the Three Big Pigs - Time we got rid of the little bad wolf. Bob Crombie QLD

John Howard's hypocrisy. Is he on an AWA? Len Williams
NSW

Workers have a right to job security..Its hard to plan a future without it.... Linda Hannah QLD

As a teenager, i fear for the future. i don't like the new IR laws because i know that i don’t have the bargaining power to ensure i don't get exploited at work. Anna NSW

I'm 55 and my daughter is 25.  She has inherited poorer industrial conditions, fewer industrial rights and a weaker trade union movement than I have enjoyed throughout my working life. I want to do my bit to reverse all that and to make sure my daughter's as-yet unborn children are able to enjoy the benefits that a strong labour movement brings.  They deserve decent work conditions, leave entitlements and time for the family life that Howard would deny them. Anna McCormack QLD

I am rallying on November 30th because I believe that the Howard Work Choices Legislation unfairly targets workers who are vulnerable, I believe that the legislation has increased the percentage of workers who are vulnerable to any changes that the employer chooses to make.
People who work shift work are being penalised because of there being no requirement to be paid penalty rates for unsociable hours worked. Often these people are paid the lowest base rate.
People who have family committments are being forced to bargain individually with employers from a position of little or no strength and have to take what is offered.
When a company is sold, employees are being offered their own jobs at reduced rates of pay, or there is no job for them.
Employees of small to medium sized businesses face the very real possibility of being sacked with no recourse to appeal. This is disgusting. John Howard's legislation is a throwback to the 19th century. This must be stopped.
This is why I march!!! Pat Branson WA

I'm rallying because I cannot tolerate the idea of a war criminal and brown-nose such as Howard trashing the gains working people have taken decades to win in the interests of his mates in big business. CJA

My family needs the protection of predictable working hours, a predictable income and a predictable parent. They need me to be reliable and available. I work to provide for myself and my family.
The IR laws have cut across all these needs and values. They were not mandated because they were not part of the election platform of the Coalition. They are the result of a capitalist ideology gone beserk with power.
I will oppose ideologues of whatever political persuasion who override the needs of the whole electorate in favor of a minority. Christopher Monie VIC

For collective rights and the good of the community rather than individualist policies that encourage greed and divisiveness and put people in competition with one another. Bronwyn ACT

I am rallying because I wish Australia well.I wish it to become a vibrant place where justice, fairness and mutual trust prevail in all spheres. Our present government seems to do all it can to centralise power and control and to de-humanise Australia in the process. This is absolutely contrary to the future we want for our children, grand-children, and generations to come. It is time for Australia to wake up from this bad dream! BG

I want Australia to go forwards, not backwards. I want to stand up for my rights at work, and the rights of my family, my friends and my kids. I think howard's law is bad law. Bad for me, and bad for Australia. I believe in collectivism over individualism and I want to stand in solidarity with other members of our community to oppose these unfair and unjust laws. Leanne Shingles VIC

I am a train driver with Queensland Rail and up until the work choice laws I enjoyed the QIRC umpiring workplace issues. At no time was John Howard given the mandate to implement changes to the State and National industrial relations laws. My award and subsidiary agreement will no longer exist after 2008. Today management is referring to our collectively bargained agreement as a "Reserved State Agreement". It is quite obvious that even in my protected work environment equality between workers and management will be eroded. I say Shame!!!! CP QLD

I will be rallying because the Howard IR laws are harsh, oppressive and unfair and I want to see them repealed.
At a time when CEOs are receiving remuneration 70 times that of the average worker, it is grossly unfair that the the Howard government should legislate to further widen this gap.
All workers will effectively become casual workers with the stand-down provisions of this legislation. Employees will effectively become casual workers with the added disadvantage of the employer being able to terminate the shift at will and without notification. Imagine travelling for an hour and a half to work after paying for a child to be in day care and then being sent home after one hour to suit the employer's convenience.
This legislation must be repealed. That is why I will be attending the rally. Bob Fawcett NSW

I am rallying because I am sick of hearing our Prime Minister preach democracy while he himself is trying to set up a dictatorship with his Industrial Relations policy's. At the same time as trying to reduce workers take home pay, he allows CEO's to be paid millions of dollars a year, in some cases more than lower paid people will earn in their life time.
In closing, where will he be getting the money from to pay all these people unemployment, when he has reduced taxes coming in because people are earning a lot less money. DY

John Howard has changed the fundamental nature of our society from being one where people looked after each other and supported each other and no one was left behind into one where it's every man woman and child for himself.  When the current economic boom slows we will see the real impact of this fundamental shift in values as workers outbid each other to the bottom of their wage scale.  Howard's government is about governing for the benefit of corporations in the belief that the Tooth Fairy or the equivalent being from industry will hand out largesse to the workers. This has never happened in the past and it is not going to happen in the future. Australian workers are being screwed just like a frog that's swimming happily in an ever in a pot of water sitting on the stove. Name withheld

Australian workers are not used to 'negotiate' and even if they were used to negotiate they can't. For a lot of workers there is no safety net that will give them basic rights. Whilst a lot of employers are   fair and ethical others are not. Workers should have the right to retain conditions which were fought over hard - we ought not to go back to the 'middle ages' Name withheld

I do not wish to be a servant, at the beck and call of my master. I would much prefer to be an employee with guaranteed rights protected by Law. Howards laws will not provide me or any other worker with this protection. David

I am rallying because I want to be counted.  I am opposed to the stripping way of the basic, hard won rights of workers under the new IR laws. I reject the idea that workers are mere fodder for business and industry. Name withheld

For the sake of my children and grandchildren that they will receive justice in the workplace and not the fate that John Howard would give them C


Because I believe Workchoices gives employers too much power over employees, and facilitates employers taking advantage of employees. In such a properous nation, employees should have dignity and fairness in their working conditions, and not have to sacrifice their quality of life for a company to make another dollar. The profits made by large companies are ridiculous. Less profits, better quality of life for employees. Sooz Clifford WA

I will be at the rally in Hobart to send a message to this Government that these laws are unjust and unfair and will hurt working families. This is about the kind of society we want to live in, one where everyone has a fair go and not 'dog eat dog'. Our Grandparents and Mothers and Fathers worked and fought hard so we could enjoy decent working conditions, and everyone receives the benefit (not just union members), we must make sure our children enjoy nothing less than these. We 'get it' Johnny and we don't like it. Alison TAS

John Howard’s government has lost touch with working people, petrol, food and mortgages are up and growing as we speak, and what does he do to working Australian families... take them back 100 years to the bad old days when bosses ruled with an iron fist. Whatever happened to a fair go. You will lose mine and many Australian workers votes next year Mr Howard, you are too out of touch with real Australians. Ken Martindale TAS
 
I'm just at the end of my working life and I don't have any children. But I think of young people starting out to work, and the people who English is not their mother tongue, and they have to negotiate their working conditions, with their possible employer, who may have trained for years in the art of negotiating. It's unfair and unaustralian. M Hughes
NSW
 
I am rallying because ordinary Australians voices are not heard in the current climate. The recent High Court decision re the IR Laws shows how workers, present anf future, have been abandoned by our own government and community. M  Gardner NSW

Well what can I say. I'm not happy with what Howard wants us to cop especially these nasty IR laws.
Now he says, after the High court decision about the same laws, that we still have nothing to fear. Well  wasn't that the same thing he said after the silly voters gave him a majority in the senate? Joe SA

Because the Howard Government is the greatest threat to Democracy, Freedom and the International Reputation of this Country Internationally that we have ever faced.  Not to mention the greatest threat to the Australian People, he has put us in danger, tried to tare us apart with fear and reduce our standard of living, in fact he goes against every common decency and sense of fair go.  If this was any other country in the world there would be full scale revolution in the streets.  The US has woken up to George W.  We need a Government of the people for the people not of the rich for the richer.  Workers, Comrades, Brothers and Sisters - no more - this is our Australia for us and our Children - take it back now. Brett Edgington, Ballarat Victoria EUREKA!
 
I am rallying on the 30th of November to protect my working conditions and those of my children. Who is watching what the employers are doing to the workers? Employers know that to overcome the workers they need to divide and conquer. Is the government prepared for mass unemployed citizens and third world conditions in Australia? S. Usher SA

I want to preserve the right to join a union, engage in collective bargaining and preserve the industrial rights of my children. These industrial rights have been hard-earned.
The Howard Government's victory in the Supreme Court over the state governments and unions make it even more important to protest and overturn the Howard Government at the next election. Then we'll see if Beasley will live up to his promises. Ron

Dear fellow workers, Over the course of any one week I work with people in the health care field who put in hundreds of extra hours, over and above there working week, caring for people with mental illness.

Most of the people I work with are not well paid, and most do not have the benefit of a university degree. However, what they do have is a sense of community - an Australian community who have fought for their rights, and their children's rights, to earn a fair wage for a fair day's work. Yet these very same people right's have been trampled on. Why? Is it because we have a Prime Minister who has lost touch with a sense of community, and of looking out and for each other?

The new IR law targets ordinary people who can't afford private health care, yet work above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to caring for others. I thought that was the kind of country we all wanted, and we protected their rights to work. I guess I was wrong.

I will be there on the 30th November. I am proud to be union, proud to be working for the public health system, and proud of my fellow human beings in standing up for the rights of others. Wendy Wolf TAS

When it is time for my son to join the workforce I want to know that he will have a decent and fair system of entitlements. It's up to me to stand up for our current rights at work. Things like sick leave should not be up for sale. Lisa NSW
 
150 odd years a go which is not a long time the workers said enough is enough and the Union was born. Men women and children died because they had appalling work conditions. You never go backwards and I for one will also be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow for my fellow workers. Just ask little John how is his mortgage repayments going, does he want a couple of Shell coupons to help fill his car. No  we all fought hard and long for the conditions we have. No bastard has the right to take them off us. Remember big business makes there millions on the back of the workers. Name withheld

I am rallying because ordinary Australians voices are not heard in the current climate. The recent High Court decision re the IR Laws shows how workers, present and future, have been abandoned by our own government and community. M  Gardner NSW

I'm rallying because John Howard can't be trusted to look after workers rights. He always gives us those sincere looks and says trust me. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing and has proofing to a man that will always look after big business first. Howard is a con man! So I will be rallying on November 30 and working hard next year to rid Australia of the Howard Government!!! Russell Gardner NSW

These laws are about lowering wages and reducing/cutting conditions and protections for average working Australians.  The work choice offered by these laws is: work harder and longer for less while we can use you, and goodbye with nothing when we don't.  They are an outrage for average Australians, aimed to create the conditions for the rich to get richer and the average people to get more desperate and compliant.  NO THANK YOU JOHN HOWARD!!
R Williams NSW
 
I want to have job security, not to feel like I am under constant threat of losing my job or entitlements.  If we don't fight for basic entitlements and rights now, the working class of tomorrow will not have any chance of making a decent living wage. Rebekah Bailey VIC

I will be rallying on 30NOV06 because the last phase of Industrial Relations "Reforms" introduced by the Howard Liberal Government, i.e. the Work "Choices" Legislation, has created an IR environment which shifts the balance of power between employers and employees far too much in favour of employers.
Unscrupulous employers will take full advantage of every loop-hole or ambiguity to take domineering (many would say bullying!) control of the workplace. They will aggressively assert their desire to take command control of the workplace to the severe disadvantage of employees. There will be no fair negotiation over the terms of employment, because of the huge disparity between the bargaining positions of a corporation and an individual.
Workers will not have sufficient strength to negotiate a satisfactory outcome. The end result will be to return employment law to the master and servant style of some two hundred years ago.
Creating greater "flexible" working arrangements simply to protect profits at the expense of wage-earners will redistribute wealth excessively in favour of capitalists and employers. The redistribution of wealth will have a significant impact on the quality of life of all workers (when employed). It will affect the provision of services, costs for workers will increase, and ultimately it will result in the dismantling of community services and infrastructure and destroy the sense of community and the common or public good that all fair-minded human beings cherish and is expressed in the Australian notion of a "fair-go".
Howard may talk the talk, but he fails miserably when it comes to walking the walk!
I do not want to live in the sort of world that Howard would like to create. There is an urgent need to restore balance in the IR environment worldwide and in the international economy. It is time for all decent human beings to join together to demand change as to how our economies are organised. We need sustainable growth in economic output to match population growth, but to move to a carbon limiting economy. Economies need to be organised not solely to maximise profit, but for the benefit of all human beings and the environment! Ian Brodie NSW
 
It is straightforward really.  The legislation gives the upperhand to the employers who already have the upperhand in negotiations.  The idea that we are getting the right to choose is apolitical lie.  I want the right to collectively bargain, that is how Australia has the standard of living that other nations envy and that is the system I want my children to grow up in and contribute.  Playing to the short term goals of employers at the expense of the greater social good is sending us towards an American Industrial system and look at the mess they have over there. Vincent Lagana NSW
 
A person who is gainfully and honestly employed should be able to expect to have fair consideration for their efforts.  Late nights, weekends, public holidays are times when most people can enjoy some personal time and should they be asked or required to work there needs to be additional consideration made for the effort and inconvenience.
To remove these 'penalty rates' you are undermining the very idea of personal and family time.  One long term effect of this is it will further erode the time families can spend together as employers and large companies force people to work longer hours.  Putting a freeze on wages goes against the needs of the free market that John Howards seems to admire so much and will only harm lower income earners.  Recent events show that John Howard cannot put a freeze on interest rates or inflation.
These workplace arrangements seem to be incongruous policies for a government that aligns itself with a party named 'Family First'.
Having people forced to work longer hours for greater company profits but receive no share of the wealth is a harbinger of a return to early industrial times.  This will further create the divide between the 'Haves' and the Have nots'.
John Howard keeps saying these laws are good for creating employment.  Having a full time job, (or more), is of no benefit if the employee merely becomes part of the 'working poor'.
John Howards goals maybe reduced unemployment and greater 'productivity' but this rhetoric fails to address the point that achieving these goals will be for the benefit of large companies and 'wealthy shareholders' at the expense of the lower income workers. This will be to the detriment of our society as a whole. Adrian Rosse VIC

The IR laws are damaging the lives of many Australians and if this federal government have their way we'll ALL be  "the working poor" before too long.
I believe in trade-unionism, collective bargaining and the right to a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.
These laws have put all the "negotiating" power in the hands of employers, leaving many people very vulnerable to exploitation.
Lisa VIC
 
I will be rallying on 30th November to let the federal government know that workers do not agree with the changes to industrial relations.  They are all loaded in favour of employers.  I have been working and paying taxes for over thirty years and never once in all that time have I ever heard employers agree that workers deserve a raise in pay.  Employers have always bleated that this will cost jobs - it never has.  Now employers are going to be able to stand down workers if business is going a little slower - virtually casualising all jobs.  I will be at the rally with bells on and I hope it is the biggest rally yet!
Marilyn Astley VIC
 
I've spent many decades helping to improve working conditions for myself and hoping it will benefit the working conditions of all Australians.

Like many workers before me I've tried to make our lives at work more bearable and more profitable. To have John Howard wipe out that hard work with the stroke of a pen is outrageous and I won't stand idly by and just let him get away with it.

For my kids and my future grand kids I think it is absolutely vital that we all stand up on November 30 and tell the Liberals we've had enough! Ben Grotegoed SA
 
I am rallying because the forced unpaid overtime aggravated a heart condition and with the hospital system the way it is I've found it impossible to get adequate monitoring or treatment so naturally am concerned about long shifts, lack of breaks and possible dismissal for taking leave.
But on a broader sense I am sick of the majority in our community being treated as "economic units" and treated so poorly just to prop up the lives of a few highly wealthy who want to live in their luxury mansions but expect everyone else to live in squallor. I'm sick of seeing constant high income tax cuts at the expense of our hospitals, schools and community facilities and people living without adequate housing and young people with disabilities living in nursing homes.
But all this forced long hours, no right to have control over working hours and so forth as well as kicking those who are down (that is those who are earning mega bucks) has really broken down our community and friendships which is what makes things nice and lowers the crime rate.
Also it's pretty obvious that strong re regulation is needed as employers have just taken advantage of these laws.
That's why I'll be rallying DJ
 
I will be at the a rally in Hobart to send a message to this Government that these laws are unjust and unfair and will hurt working families. This is about the kind of society we want to live in, one where everyone has a fair go and not 'dog eat dog'. Our Grandparents and Mothers and Fathers worked and fought hard so we could enjoy decent working conditions, and everyone receives the benefit (not just union members), we must make sure our children enjoy nothing less than these. We 'get it' Johnny and we don't like it. Alison TAS

Because John Howard is determined to rid this country of every Union.  I am old enough to remember how my father and my grandfather fought to establish Unions in the UK and this country. When I was a child we lived with the bare necessities and although my father was a good tradesman his wage was a subsistance one.  My husband was in the Seaman's Union and because of the way the Union fought for decent wages we were able to afford a reasonable life style and educate our sons properly, which we wouldn't have been able to do if the ship owners had had their say on seaman's wages. Getting rid of unions and bringing in these IR laws is taking the working man back to the days when my father and grandfather fought side by side with other union members and I don't want to see my grandchildren having to go through life as they did. There is plenty for everyone if it is shared out equitably, which is not what John Howard wants. Iris Ashton QLD

To protest the Draconian laws that have been introduced by the Howard government, taking workers rights back 19th century. Everything that has been fought for over the last century is now disappearing and we  are not only losing condition but losing the independent umpire which is being replaced by the most unfair "Fair Pay Commission.
What has happened so far is bad enough but if the Liberal government is returned to power in the next state or federal election then we can expect even further cutting of workers conditions. Janine Cross

Because the Howard government continue to erode our fundamental rights. It is time to tell them that enough is enough. Enough is enough in removing our rights in the workplace, enough of the war in Iraq and enough of the racist attitudes towards minority community groups.
Time to go Mr Howard. Michael Puckridge ACT

Purely and simply for a fair go for myself and everyone else.
Martin QLD

I am disappointed as I will be unable to attend. Your rally coincides with my son's wedding! I am absolutely livid about the Howard Government and the employer groups wanting to trample over the hard-won rights of employees. Even well-educated adults have difficulty negotiating their work conditions. Young people have no chance to work out a fair contract with their bosses. I am particularly worried by the Court decision this week which is effectively eroding States rights and giving more power to this frightening Federal Government. Good luck with the rally. HG

I feel that this Government wants an underpaid underclass to provide cheap labour for their business mates. I have just visited the US and Canada. I kept on meeting people who were earning between $4 to $6 an hour. These countries are full of the working poor. This is the depressing model that John Howard wants for Australia.
(P.S. One lady from New York who was single was paying US$16,000 a year for Health Insurance. I wonder what will happen if medicare is privatised ?) Neil Brotherton NSW

Not only for my own generation but more importantly my childrens. My 16 yr old daughter works part time in a supermarket w/ends and after school she has had to sign a awa and gets 7.72 regardless of times worked or work involvement per hr! even finishing not until sometimes 3/4 hr over the hr still only gets paid up to the hr!! one thing though is now really anti Howard and his puppets!! wish the voting age was 16!!!! united we stand ! Howard Smith TAS

It may not have happened to everyone yet but the door has been opened for the workers of this of country to have wages and conditions abused.I will be rallying to let the government know that this is not "Australian" and it's not on. Stuart Wittrien NSW

I do not believe the IR laws are balanced.  Workers lose out every time to the employer. Roslyn Bono QLD

I'm all for a fair days wage for a fair days work. I'll be at the MCG come Nov. 30th to send the Howard Government a message that it has become arrogant and cocky. United we stand, divided we fall!! Chris VIC

I am attending the rally as a union member TWU ,although I am over 50 and nearly finished my son`s are just about to start work so I will be marching for them, how could you trust a boss with your sons and daughters lives the only way is to fight for them now while we can . thank you. Daniel

Inaction by the majority will allow changes by the deceitful minority - Howard - for another minority - big companies. I want my daughter to grow up and earn a living for her life, not for big companies, their shareholders and their political buddies. Zoltan Petri NSW

We have worked hard all our lives and fought hard for the rights we have.  I don't want to think that my children and grandchildren (in times to come) will be working for $12 per hour 24/7 because of the IR reforms.  I would like to know that they have a secure future and that they won't live in fear if they work hard that they might lose their jobs at any time.  Howard's family won't have to worry when they are continually giving themselves pay rises worth more than my children earn in 12 months. Kelly Ann

I am a 65 year old retired nurse/adult educator.  A grand-daughter of James Boyle, a coalminer who was killed during the Miners Strike of 1922 (South Shields, UK), I have always been a union member - for my own industrial protection, my family's and always in my Grandfather's memory.  My Grandfather, a returned, decorated Petty Officer from WW1, went on strike with his mates when the mine owners dropped miners wages to what they were receiving in 1913, locked them out and brought in scab labour -sounds familiar?  I will be rallying for working women and men of Australia, and for my Grandad.  Lest we forget. Molly Rowan SA

Because I believe in fairness and justice. Not everybody is capable of negotiating a wage for themselves. This system is un-australian. Deborah Downes SA

I will be rallying because Mr Howard has gone too far. How dare he take away the rights of workers. These rights are hard one rights, fought for by ordinary people who have sacrificed a great deal over many years. These are our parents and grandparents who along with various unions have helped to give us the quality of life we enjoy today. If Mr Howard had his way our children would be working in mines as soon as they could hold a pick and shovel and work 14 hour days. I very much fear for my children and their rights at work. AM

Because I believe everyone is entitled to a 'fair go' and this is the Australia I want my young children to grow up in. I have a 'safe' Public Service position but feel for the countless employees who don't. John Howard has proven himself to be untrustworthy and a liar. CD

Because I refuse to stand idly by while this ideologically driven government destroys the very values it purports to cherish: Solidarity, a fair go for everyone and the belief that every worker has the right to be treated decently and fairly. Brett Martin TAS

Because this is about freedom of choice and quality of life. It's about human rights.
I can't be there because I'm now bedridden. Would someone please carry my name on a placard or label, so I could be there in spirit? Clytie Siddall SA

Because we bitch and moan when tings aren't good but we don't often do anything about it.  there are so many things screwed up in this world.  And we think "I can't make a difference".  But we can if no one did anything, if no one fought for change, the world would be a very different place.  The only thing that has ever bought about change is people standing up, banding together and making their voices heard. Kerrie VIC

I'm rallying because the new industrial relations environment scares me.  I'm a good worker who only asks that I am provided with some certainty in return for my hard work. Don't the employers understand that productivity is increased if people don't have the constant fear of being sacked or downsized through no fault of their own. I am thankful that the ACTU is there to look after our rights and give us hope for a brighter future.  Keep up the good work. Margaret McDonald, NSW

I am rallying on November 30 because John Howard and his anti-worker, anti-family, and unaustralian industrial relations legislation must be challenged by all fair and decent Australians. John Holland QLD

To express my disgust at the assaults on workers and my loathing for the vicious Liberal dictatorship. Paul Gill NSW

As a high school teacher, many of my students are at the stage of finding their first job.  How on earth are they meant to know what is a fair work condition and what rights they should be entitled to in the workplace?  How is a young, inexperienced person meant to face up to a prospective employer and say "What you're offering isn't acceptable" when their only real choice is either take the job or look elsewhere? The most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community are the greatest sufferers under this un-Australian legislation. What happened to the "Australian Values" of 'Mateship' and "Helping out those in trouble" that John Howard talks about every ANZAC Day?  The only 'Values' in Work Choices is 'Every man for himself' and 'Exploit the Workers'. Perhaps the true name for the AWAs should be UWA - UnAustralian Workplace Agreements - as they totally disregard all that Australians have worked hard for over the past 150 years. David Ponsford VIC

John Howard wants to change Australia from a fair go country to a country where the rich and powerful gain the majority economic benefit whilst the poor & defenceless have to increase productivity with little to no benefit to them. If I don't make a stand we will never get back the wonderful country we grew up in. Joe Endean NSW

I am rallying to diminish the stagnant policies of Howard, which are undemocratic uncaring and unaustralian.
I am rallying for Australian workers to organise themselves and operate collectively and manage collective bargaining
Peter Macpherson QLD

Because our hard won workplace relations have been ruthlessly white-anted by politicians serving corporations whose only interest is the bottom line.
Profits before principles and privilege before people. Name withheld

To ensure the working conditions that our ancestors fought for(sometimes to the death-let alone blood sweat and tears)are maintained.  Australia has forgotten, we've become complacent & inevitably we take for granted what we think are generous perks  given to us by our employer, RUBBISH! These working conditions need to be maintained and improved; not only for my child and for all Australian children; but for all current workers. It you don’t fight you lose, and I am not prepared to lose without the biggest fight to help make Australian as a whole a better place to work. Castro-Parry VIC

Having come from America 19 yrs ago and having worked for 17 yrs in the healthcare industry there, THE LAST THING WE WANT IN AUSTRALIA IS AN AMERICAN STYLE WORKFORCE! If these Industrial Relations changes are not overturned, we may as well hoist the bloody American flag over Canberra. TP

I am rallying because these new IR laws are amongst the most unfair laws ever passed in Australian history.  They are also an outrageous attack on every Australian workers rights and conditions which they have fought hard for for many years. CB

The rights and entitlements enjoyed by workers today did not eventuate by chance. They exist because of the dedication and sacrifice of our parents and grandparents.
Do we want to be the generation that let this proud record of achievement in improving workplace equity slip?
What will tell our children as they struggle with no job security, no penalty rates and low rates of pay?
Future generations will judge us on how hard we fought Howard's unfair legislation.
It is every Australians responsibilty to tell Howard that we, as a country, still support a fair go for all. Ben SA

I am rallying to protect and improve working conditions for future generations of Australians. Sean QLD

I am rallying because I want this Government to know I don't agree with their unfair IR legislation.
My kids have their whole working lives ahead of them. I want them to have jobs that are secure and don't involve explotation or unsafe work practices. I don't trust big business and I need my Government to look after their interests. Karla Ries ACT

To bring balance back to the employer-employee relationship. Business owners are the ones making the big money and the workers make very little by comparison. The new laws exacerbate this problem. Lars Bendall QLD

In recent times, various sources have observed that the gap between rich and poor is gradually widening.  It would be almost universally agreed that this is undesirable.  However, one of the major impacts of "Workchoices" will be to tip the Industrial Relations scales very much in favour of the employer, who in the corporate world, answers to a board whose primary goal is to maximise returns to shareholders.  John Howard's legislation gives the employer unprecedented power to achieve maximum profits for "rich" shareholders, but at the expense of the salary, working conditions and family life of the lowly worker.  The aim of any reasonable government should be to address such inequities in society, not exacerbate them.  That, in a nutshell, is my message to John Howard, regardless of whether or not I am able to attend the November 30 rally. Name withheld

Because it is a attack on Workers Rights & if we don't stand up for what we believe is wrong than the future is bleak. Peter Shorten VIC

I'm rallying for fair conditions at work and respect for all accordingly to Australia's tradition.Teresa Espinoza

I am rallying because that I don't want to lose any hard fought conditions.  People seem to forget or have become so comfortable that people have actually been killed by authorities to win these conditions.  I'm not happy with some little pseudo-yank imposing his will on me.  I don't want any decrease in the ability to keep my family.  There are other issues, such as how do people go on holidays if their pay and conditions are cut.  This must have an effect on the hospitality and Tourism industry.  I would like to see the coalition smashed electorally as it was in the recent Queensland State Election. John Qld

I am rallying because I feel that worker's rights are being undermined in a deliberate attempt to marginalise people in the community and reduce their ability to collectively influence government and social policy outside of the dominant market driven exploitative paradigm. Threats to workers rights, ABC and the environment are part of a narrow focused ideology which ultimately leads to a degraded society. "Private affluence, public squalor" as the late J.K Gailbraith said. T Dix TAS

Because NO government has any right to take away all the security that the workers of Australia have fought for over the past decades. Howard's government has to go!
Lorraine Constantinou NSW


I am rallying because, I believe that The Howard Government has bought in this law so that they can use it to sack people who disagree with them, when bringing new bills and laws through. Yes it affects the little people, but it gives so much control to the government in power...to be able to pass through any thing they want, and sack those who stand in their way. I find it very scary indeed. Lisa NSW

I am rallying because these laws give employers far too much power, and make employees virtual serfs. As I understand it, they defy International Labor Law, and are as much about undermining the power of the ALP as the power of the unions, in a bid to establish Coalition dominance for years to come. In this sense; they are highly undemocratic. I also understand - although the Howard Government has been desperate to obscure that fact - that they will have a devastating affect on many employees during the economic downturn which is just around the corner. Sue Bushell ACT

I want my kids to have a fair say in demands made by their employers, fair recompense for additional demands, and a fair degree of security in employment. My kids have the right to expect reasonable financial certainty and a future filled with opportunities that all Australians would consider fundamental. Ross Williams VIC

Even before the 14/11/2006 decision of the high court I was going to the rally because I believe that these IR laws are unjust and unfair. Now that the High Court has deemed the IR laws in their entirety are legal, we need to get the Liberal Government out and replace them with a government that will use this landmark decision (what works for one will work for the other) to change these laws to give workers a fair go. Garry McLeod SA
State:South Australia

100 years of struggle. The new Government Industrial relations laws purportedly make our economy more efficient and save money. The Federal Government has spent $55 million on a television, radio and newspaper blitz and it will also be spending somewhere in the vicinity of 489 million dollars in the next 4 years including 160 million for government and private sector lawyers to complete the massive legislative drafting process. (The Age, Thurs 3 Nov 2005)

Below is a list of conditions and rights that most of us enjoy in our working lives. They are just some of the achievements of the Australian Trade Union Movement:
Annual leave: Was not achieved until 1941, when after a long campaign, the union movement gained one weeks leave. 
Annual leave loading: A common benefit in most European countries, was achieved in the 1970s.
Sick leave: Started to appear in awards in the 1920s. Up until then, if you were sick, you went to work, or you went without pay and even faced dismissal.
Long service leave: Was won in Victoria in 1953.
Maternity leave: A 1979 ACTU campaign, followed by a test case in the Arbitration Commission saw unpaid maternity leave, and the job security that goes with it become reality. It is interesting to note that Australia was one of the last industrial nations, East or West, to have maternity leave. We are still one of the few nations without paid maternity leave.
Equal pay for women: Until 1949 women's wages were only 54% of the male rates. They were then upgraded to 75%. In 1972, after a long campaign, Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value was finally achieved. Employers opposed women receiving the same pay as men, and many still do. The sad reality is that pay for women is still lower than that for men. Workers compensation: First came in WA in 1902. In 1985, after many years of campaigning, a new scheme was launched in Victoria which had 3 distinct arms:
(i) Injury prevention - many employers more responsible for the welfare of their employees. (ii) Compensation. (iii) Rehabilitation - helping injured workers to recover, and rejoin the workforce if they can.
As you can see, many significant improvements to working conditions have taken place over the last century. They have not come about by accident. They have been achieved only after long campaigns and, sometimes, bitter struggles. On most occasions, employers and governments opposed the reforms. Non-union members have also benefited from these changes.  (Source: Victorian Trades Hall website)
These achievements stand in stark contrast to the so called reforms being fostered the federal government I would advise no one to forget how long and hard people campaigned for them and that none of us take them for granted.
I won't slave for beggar's pay, likewise gold and jewels but I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools. (Ship of Fools by the Grateful Dead - Lyrics Robert Hunter Music Jerry Garcia). A Davies VIC

I am rallying on 30 November to win back rights to a living wage, protection against unfair dismissal, and conditions such as secure working hours and paid leave that are essential to balance work and family. These rights have been taken away by Liberal, National Party and Family First politicians and I want to let them know that they will not have my vote at the next elections. I also want to impress on all politicians that the rights of working people are not there to be traded away to business interests. They are essential human rights. Business is greedy and is never satisfied with what it can get from others. It does not share its gains with the general community unless the people and parliament make it. JE SA

Safe conditions. Job security. Fair pay. A future. Anne Wardle TAS

Apprentices at age 16 years being asked to sign AWA's that offer them 2 cents extra an hour to sign away their sick leave entitlements. Shift work /Penalty rate hours not included in AWA's. I know of people working midnight til 8 am for no extra pay or conditions.  SK

I am rallying so that the Howard Government knows that workers need to maintain the rights Australians have fought over 100 years are maintained and so that my sons will get a "fair go" in the workplace.  It is UNAUSTRALIAN to deny workers the rights to  unions. Mary NSW


The rights of individual workers are being undermined and all of us are at risk of eroding what historically we have worked so hard for.  This is a human rights issue. It has the potential to have negative repercussions for the health and wellbeing of families, communities and Australian society as a whole. Loretta Smith VIC

I have worked long and hard to have a great work lifestyle balance which works well for my family, self and employer.

I have witnessed some monumental achievements workers over the years thanks to those that have stood up for what they believe in.

I want my family to reap the benefits of these achievements and have the opportunities that have been given to me over the years.
Kathy Stokes NSW

I am rallying because I believe in a society where the maximum amount of people attain the maximum amount of benefits in that society rather than an economy based on enriching the few at the expense of the many.
I believe in a free society where people can organise as a collective rather than Howard's divide and conquer economy. I also believe in a society where all members of that society are treated with respect and not an economy where people are  economic units to be exploitable.
J Kosky VIC

I am not happy with the Howard government's new HR laws. I work in a university and have seen the impact on campus businesses (the introduction of VSU) and the HEWRRS which have been affecting all who work here.
Management are increasingly feeling the need to corporatise the Education sector department by department. Recently in my department the introduction of uniforms has been passed down. I and many of my colleagues have been opposed to this, however the strongest management argument which has toppled us has related to funding for departments which have a more corporate image. I object to the corporatisation of the Education sector and the increase in management powers over their workers. We deserve a voice, have fought hard for its inception and will not let it get silenced by a flawed government. A Dalman

I am rallying on November 30th because our way of life is too good not to protect.
I am rallying because I want to stand up to the conservative notion that you have to be low paid to be competitive.
I am rallying because the conditions we have EARNT over the last 100 years should not be able to be removed at the stroke of a pen. I want to show John Howard and his cronies inside and outside the Government that I will not tolerate their attack on my way of life. I want to be part of the MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIANS who will not stand for it.
I want to rally for those who can't make it to rally today because their boss won't let them, because John Howard's laws make it easy for the bad bosses to say no. I want to rally for those people and make their voices heard at the rally.
I want to rally because when I have kids I want them to know that we stood up for our way of life and we won.
I'm rallying to show John Howard that he has done the wrong thing and to be part of a movement for change - a movement to restore our rights at work, which are in essence, our human rights to prosper as citizens of Australia.
I am rallying because it's the right thing to do. Marcus SA

I am rallying against laws that tilt the balance of power in all employment relations squarely towards the employer and treat workers as mere elements of capital, not human beings.  These laws effectively deny most workers the right to bargain by introducing immense inequalities into the process.  This will inevitably lead to unfair and inhumane outcomes for ordinary Australian families. Evan Walton VIC

I'll be rallying again because after this week's high court decision makes it even more important that ALL Australians stand up for the rights and conditions gained over decades to ensure these rights and conditions are passed on to another generation of working Australians and their families.  With time I only become more incensed with the arrogance of the federal coalition government that they feel empowered to decimate hard won conditions of employment that maybe even some of their parents and grandparents gained to put this country at the forefront of industrial relations and replace them with a system that will set millions of Australian workers of all types back decades. MJ Tas

Australia is changing and I will have to come to every protest on the IR reforms in order to ensure that our family's, but especially our children's work rights will enable them to live decently with fair wages, conditions and job security. It is not fair that the labour force bares all the risks of doing business. Lea Campbell VIC

To stop the long term erosion of working conditions through the introduction of AWAs. Ross Hall QLD

I'm rallying on November 30 because i want to get rid of these laws, and get rid of Howard. I'm sick of a Government that serves big business rather than looking out for the interests of ordinary people, and that is deliberately creating a bigger divide between the rich and poor. WorkChoices, Welfare to Work, the War in Iraq, VSU, enough is enough! This government wants to silence dissent, but I, and millions of other Australians, will not be silenced. Emeline WA

My wife was coerced (FORCED) into signing a AWA.
Result = loss of $10000 a year. Duncan QLD

Howard I am rallying on the 30th November as I believe your new IR laws are incredible attack on basic rights. I believe that EVERY employee has a right to pursue an unfair dismissal, not just individuals who work in large companies. I think that EVERY worker has the right to attend rally's, without facing a potential fine of $6000. I believe that EVERY worker has the right to collectively bargain, and your IR legislation removes this right.
I think believe EVERY worker has the right to organise, and take part in industrial action, and the IR changes makes this virtually impossible. I also believe that every AWA that has been signed has ultimately left the employee with less rights, and a smaller pay packet before signing. Jodie Hopstaken VIC

I'm rallying because the Liberal Govt keeps turning the clock back.  Let's go forward! Julius NSW

I am rallying because I have witnessed the destructive measures of the I.R. laws. Workers in the Hunter have been sacked for no reason, penalty rates have been undermined, workers have been forced to work weekend with no extra in their pay packets and women are the big losers as they try to fit in childcare around inflexible working hours or manage household budgets with less take home pay for themselves or their partner.Along with increased interest rates, they are now relying on charities to make ends meet and they are feeling very demoralised.
Carmel

I'm sick of the Liberal government eroding citizens' and workers' rights.  They have really ruined this country.
Clare Douglass ACT

I am marching because the new IR laws detract from Australians working conditions, are not socially just and when good people do nothing bad things (like this) happen. Nick Dunstan VIC

I want to send a loud clear message to Mr Howard that hardworking Australians are no longer going to allow him to rob us of a decent living. We all work hard to eke out a out a decent living standard for ourselves and our kids. Sadly, this country under John Howard is being downgraded - mickey mouse apprenticeships, lack of university places, lack of funding for research and development, and loss of pay and conditions for workers, plus sky rocketing interest rates on huge mortgages.  And sadly a lot more. So Mr Howard I am marching for my children and grandchildren.  After yesterday's High Court decision I am even more determined to do everything in my power to ensure that you lose office in the next elections.  Believe me we are over you and your miserable government.  Lynne NSW

I will be attending the rally to support all workers everywhere. Howard is pushing his ideologically driven laws on people and has the nerve to state that all those workers affected 'just don't get it'. All the talk of 'productivity' and 'choice' is just insulting. Howard needs to know we understand the implications and don't like them. Jo NSW


I'm rallying to ensure my children have work options that include a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.  This includes overtime, sick leave and other Union negotiated conditions.  I don't want my children and their children inheriting slave labour conditions and competing against imported slave labour as they are now.  I support Union negotiated conditions for all, immigrants, residents and citizens of Australia - they should all be at the rally beside me! Janine VIC

When I was working my second ever part time job, I found I was being paid under award wages. I found out what my rights were and confronted my boss, knowing that if I was sacked for complaining, I could get unfair dismissal.
I was working at a small business so if I did the same today I would not have any remittence without going through the legal system. The simple fact is that I would not have approached my boss. I needed that job and I had no money or time for the legal process.
Now that I'm a high school teacher I want to help my students. I don't want them to go out into a world with so little protection. Emma Carter VIC

This country used to be a place where if you worked hard you could get ahead.  Successive governments have ignored the living standards of the workers by bit by bit taking the chances to get ahead.  The RI Laws are just the final nail in the coffin.  It's been done by stealth, with the "for the overall good of the people" line - the creating of a new underclass of "working poor" is not for the good of the people.  And despite claims to the contrary cutting people's pay, allowances, overtime has not resulted in anymore permanent jobs than would otherwise be created by industry growth.  It's called 'hegemony' - a powerful minority enforcing a condition/state that is detrimental to a less powerful majority while telling them "it is for their own good".  We're not that stupid - Mr Howard! Name withheld

I am rallying because I, and people I know and care about have been hurt by these unfair laws.

This push by the Howard government to strip us, the workers, of our rights is just unfair, and if they can't understand, then we have to keep telling them until it sinks in! Daniel NSW

I will be rallying in Brisbane on November 30 for democracy! John Howard and his mates think they can now do anything since they have a majority in both houses of parliament... Well they're WRONG!!! I'll be there in Brisbane on November 30 with other decent hardworking Australians to voice my opposition to Mr Howard, his unfair IR laws and his arrogant government!!! Karl Bock QLD

So I will be able to say that I did something.  Nothing comes from doing nothing. Tim Dymond NSW

I am rallying for a fair and decent Australia that looks after ordinary working people, not just the rich.  I'm rallying to stand up for our rights to work together through our unions.  I want our economy to work for us - people should always be at the centre. Marj O'Callaghan, VIC

My ancestors fought and some lost their lives fighting for the right of every man woman and child to have the right to be treated with decency, respect and an honest fair go.
Now that I am an exceptionally proud father to two of the most honest, loyal and brave little mates any bloke could ever have been blessed with I have a duty bound obligation to stand up to the mark and fight to see that their rights as free and loyal subjects under the Australian flag shall never be jeopardised and that is precisely what these IR laws are set out to do, "turn mates into dogs fighting for any scraps bigger and better than the next dogs got". Yeah, I’ll march, I would even lay my life down for my mates, especially my boys, something I certainly wouldn’t do for the likes of the Howard led coalition.
Come on Big Kim, I know my vote is not the only one you are getting, so go hard mate. Larry Foley QLD


I don't have an option! This Government has the potential to ruin Australia and the way of life our forefathers fought wars for. I can foresee employers putting off workers before any given Christmas, and re-employing them after the New Year by stating that there was not enough work for them. This is the all the employers way! Garry O'Day

I am rallying for a reason dear to the hearts of all people, including, according to his own words, John Howard; freedom and the care of the less-able. Freedom of association, to negotiate collectively with management on an equal basis and to look after those intimidated by management. Hoog family

I am rallying because I want those employers who are thinking of taking advantage of the Howard IR Laws to realise that there is a significant proportion of the population who will label them as 'Unfair Employers' unworthy of support in the marketplace.
I am rallying in support of those workers who have had the courage to tell us how they have been treated under these terrible laws.
I am rallying against a government that only serves the wealthy 10%.
I am rallying against a government that has overseen a steady decline in the country's infrastructure.
I am rallying for the type of society I want to live in. A society that is fair, where all Australians can share in the country's wealth. Geoff Piggott TAS

While I wont be able to rally as I'll be overseas I'm doing my bit to spread the message to the people I meet.
Its atrocious that the high court sided with the federal government and everyone should understand the implications. Even of the new changes that are designed to "soften" the blow.
Workers need to stand up and I wish I was there to be a part of it. Sherri Hayward NSW

I am rallying to help bolster the campaign against the draconian IR laws. After the minority judges in the High Court were overruled, only a change of government will stop them. Michael Bradley NSW

Through family and friends who have been given AWA's at their workplaces, I have first hand witnessed the disgraceful outcome of the Howard Governments new I.R. laws.
These AWA's have reduced the take home pay of people who can least afford any reduction to their take home pay, people working in the lower paid contract cleaning, security, child care industries.
Some of the AWA's I have seen have taken away overtime rates, night shift and weekend penalties, and set a flat hourly rate regardless of the requirement for the employee to work nights, weekends, or public holidays.
The employee can be required to work whenever and for as long as the Employer wishes without any extra remuneration other than the flat hourly rate, with refusal to work for any reason viewed as "gross misconduct" and subject to "disciplinary action being taken by the Employer"
The Howard Government and their I.R. laws reduce the rights and conditions of Australian Employees to a standard which could be viewed as being one step above "slavery", the only difference being that the Employees do get some form of payment for their labours, and as yet are not being physically beaten.
I will be rallying, not only for my future, but for the future of my children, friends, and relatives.  These I.R. laws MUST be thrown out. Phil QLD

Because I want to be able to look my children and my grand children in the eye when they ask "Mum, what did you do to stop John Howard's Industrial Relations Laws?"
Lorraine Watson NSW

It is important to protest at every opportunity against laws and government decisions which undermine working conditions. The new IR laws are not only unjust but have created an environment where workers have no job security or job safety. The Howard government has shown that it has no respect for Australian workers, nor does the Howard government value a skilled and safe workforce. I will be rallying with other workers to again remind all politicians of our determination to oppose all attacks on workers rights. D.Moon VIC

Because John Howard has lied again, there was never any mention of this in the lead up to the last election. Because he knew he would have lost the election. These draconian self serving laws need to go, along with those that created them. I am ashamed to be an Australian. What ever happened to a fair go for all? The diggers who fought for our working rights and freedoms must be turning in there graves. Rick NSW

To protect conditions for my children.
Michelle VIC

I am rallying because the workers who are at the bottom of the heap are losing their rights and benefits while those who are further up the food chain are continually benefitting more and more. What makes these people richer? The sacrifices of the poorer. Name withheld

I am keen to participate in a community action aimed at highlighting the matters of concern to working people and their families and sending a clear message to our incumbants that - WE KNOW! Trevor VIC

I am rallying to oppose the worst IR laws Australia has ever seen. These laws mean that many workers have less take home pay and no entitlement to be paid penalty rates or public holidays. The laws also mean that there are limits on taking industrial action, which is supposed to be a democratic right of workers when they are trying to improve their conditions and wages. The laws have imposed individual contracts on vulnerable employees and undermined collective bargaining. I encourage you all to take part in this massive community rally too! Cathy Smith ACT

As an older worker who has seen our country’s leadership change a number of times. This present government has shown the least regard for the ordinary worker than any other leaders in my memory. There appears to be little concern for those who keep our country functioning, and make it the best country in the world for all Australians. John Howard would appear to be recreating the split society of the 17th and 18th century with a ruling and business class and the rest there to support their aims and wealth. We must stop this madness and get back to creation of equity for all with the backbone workers of the country having at least a collective minimal set of working rights. United we stand divided we fall. John Howard is trying to divide and conquer and repress the average worker using his bulling tactics as was done at the turn of the 19th century. He appears to have "Small mans syndrome" and must make up for his physical inadequacy by attacking those more physically intact. A loss of acknowlegement as being an integral part of Australian society and not just cheap labour for other to make money. Howards direction is unsustainable in the longer term. For these and many more reasons I will be Rallying. Michael SA

I'm rallying because these laws are fundamentally unjust. They pit workers against their employers in an unfair one out situation. They do not provide workers with any choice, but to accept the terms that their employer imposes.
Most importantly, I'll be there on the 30th to protect the future for my children.
Wade Noonan VIC


Because I want to send John Howard a message that his laws are unfair and unaustralian. I want to live in a country with a living wage. Allison QLD

I will be attending the rally on 30 November with my family.

I am appalled by the incredible range of powers that John Howard and his government have handed to employers in the employment relationship and the systematic destruction of employee rights. Employers don't need more powers! They have always done very well with the ones they had!

The path that our country is heading down because of the ideological bent of this Federal Govt is a frightening one. There will be enormous social division and inequality, unhappiness and discontent arising from the impact of Workchoices.

Given that the High Court decision has sanctioned the use of the corporations power to regulate the employment relationship, making us all "commodities" in a "market" instead of people in a society, we have to fight for the kind of country that we want to live in.

The only solution is to remove the Coalition Govt at the election. The ALP needs to take heart and fight to win back our country - presently hijacked by a wolf in sheep's clothing. Simone Berenyi VIC

I am rallying on 30 November 2006 to show the Federal Government that I do understand the implications of the WorkChoices legislation and I don't like it.  I want a fair and equitable workplace for all employees and future employees (i.e. my daughter).  The WorkChoices legislation favours no one but the employers. 

Industrial relations should be a win/win situation for both employee and employer - not a one way street for either party. CN


I am rallying for not just husband and myself but for our children's future. I have seen the basic rights of workers eroded by an arrogant government that takes from the us while passing pay rises for themselves. I also remember Howard saying his government would not become arrogant... well wake up Howard you're government has become arrogant and so aligned with the business interests we have been forgotten-the workers of Australia. Our ancestors fought for our rights and you want to erode them! JE

I will be rallying because with these laws John Howard has torn up an essential part of Australian society. Our society has not for many generations let the interests of the powerful completely override the interests of ordinary people and that what these laws do. I will rally because that is not the society I want for my future and the future of my family and friends. Bob QLD

I'm rallying because the Australian electorate needs to be jolted out of their apathy (generally) and specifically about the IR laws. If they see thousands/hundreds of thousands of people rallying against the changes I hope they start thinking about the implications for them.
Jenny Hunter NSW

To demonstrate that any legislation that erodes basic workers' rights IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, IS NOT ACCEPTED AND WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED. Andrew Crow VIC

These changes will force us along the path of the US. Howard is creating a new class of citizen, the working poor, and I don't want my children's generation to accuse me of just letting that happen Ruth TS NSW

I will be rallying on November 30th to remind Howard that the people of Australia do not agree with his policies.

We want collective bargaining power, we want fair and reasonable conditions at work, the right to strike without being treated as criminals (like the building industry now are), the right to be paid a decent wage with adequate breaks and reasonable rosters.

There are so many things to rally for relating to workplace relations and only a little box to write it in. Basically I will be rallying for a fair workplace for all and the right to maintain our current level of work standards. Rachel NSW

To send a message to my community; if you can't change bad laws, change the government that made them.
Kathy Sullivan NSW

To encourage our Federal Government to reverse its oppressive Industrial Relations Legislation.  Figures released today indicate that many private company executives are earning 50 times what is earned by an employee on the average wage.  I think this situation will worsen as a result of the new legislation.  I am particularly fighting for the rights of single parents and employees with disabilities. Bernadette O'Connor NSW

My husband and I will both attend the rally even though we are retired. When I started my career women were on very low wages and with the help of the Unions we were granted equal pay along with 4 weeks annual holiday, leave loading etc but our fathers and grandfathers with the Unions help achieved much, much more... As parents and grandparents I'm worried my children and grandchildren will have to start from scratch and fight for all these conditions again, and Mr Howard we all will fight and win! In your own words Mr Howard what you and you cronies are doing is un-Australian so how about giving us a fair go. Bev Turbit
NSW

The political philosopher (and liberal thinker) Isaiah Berlin said "Freedom for the wolves means death for the sheep." WorkChoices involves a very limited form of freedom and a distorted type choice. It gives free reign to the wolves. Even if I am not mauled myself (and there are no guarantees of that) I do not want goods and services that are subsidised by the low wages of people with much less bargaining power. Mary Leahy VIC

I'm rallying because even though I work in a large company and our benefits are quite substantial, many of my friends work in smaller companies or for small businesses and do not want to see these hard working people lose their overtime and other benefits, or their right to fight wrongful dismissal (without having to pay to do so). Adrian Miles VIC

While I do not have children and am in a secure job I will be rallying to ensure that all workers in this country are treated fairly and with dignity.  The people of this country have fought for decades to achieve fair rights - for women, for indigenous people, for sweat shop works, for all.  It has not been perfect but it has seen to be worth the struggle to get it right.  We cannot let future generations of workers be treated as profits are far more valuable than individual lives. Karen SA

I am rallying on 30 November for the rights of all Australians to be represented in the workplace, to be given fair and proper reason for changes to their work, including dismissal, and so that justice will be exercised on all issues pertaining to workers rights and conditions. Bronwyn Jewell QLD

The Federal Government are only interested in increasing the rights of companys and there managers to screw ordinary workers to increase there profits. The result is workers NIL companys PLENTY.This is the greatest country in the world and Howard and Co are determined to turn us into a third world country AVW

I view with alarm the dimunition of workers' rights.  The bullying of workers facilitated by the Federal Government' IR laws is something I cannot tolerate. DM

Because all the conditions in my EB are gone after years of fighting for a fair go down the drain. It is Howard who is just not getting it. He is sell Australia jobs overseas giving oversea people training that should be going to our young people. Putting our young in a worse position that the previous generation. How can they buy homes and have children if they are in debt for education and then not give them a decent wage and conditions for the years of study. They go overseas! Why Mr Howard? Protesters vote and so do the people who are too scared to protest or can't afford to protest. I will be representing my work mates and family who will vote next year. Christine Harney

I will be rallying because I want the 'choice' to collectively bargain my pay and conditions. Peter McCrudden NSW

I am rallying because of the unfair advantage Howard has given to employers over employees. His plan will ruin the kind of Australia that makes it special, and will widen the gap between the haves and the have nots. There is no evidence that these changes he is making will make a better Australia, and there is no evidence that enriching the multicorporates or business owners will make Australia a better place. It only puts money in their pocket at the expense of those who actually worked for it. And with more and more multinational businesses in Australia, the money most certainly will not be used in Australia to make it a better and smarter country. Lets level the playing field and make employers come with reason to a bargaining table without the pressure of a government forcing the way things must happen. Where is the democracy in what Howard proposes? If I choose to have my union negotiate with the business, why not?
My father was a miner in Broken Hill and I know what it is like to spend weeks out bush trying to get food to feed a family of six mouths while the unions were trying to strike a better deal for the miners from the rapacious greed of the mining companies. Are we going to let all that effort and tears and self-sacrifice  go to ruin because of a greedy BCA membership? Frank Basten NSW

The reason I am rallying against John Howard's Laws is that these laws set our working conditions back decades.  We will have no rights when it comes to unfair dismissal or bargaining power against employers who want to pay as little as possible for as much as they can get. C. Collins QLD

Because John Howard is so removed from the real lives that everyday people live (that's those whose last name isn't Murdcoh or Packer, John) he thinks only of his extreme right wing values and lives in a fantasy world of 1950's make believe. (that would be a Perry Como 1950's not a rock n roll 50's too!) He may never understand but he will see thousands who don't think as he does. The future generations deserve better than the way he has arrogantly treated 100 years of worker struggle. Neil Degney QLD

John Howard's agenda to destroy the union movement is clearly demonstrated in his draconian legislation which will continue to impact on all Australian workers in deleting so many hard won benefits from employment agreements. The Australian value of a fair go for all is being eroded before our eyes. The most vulnerable members of our society will be the ones most seriously disadvantaged. Wendy Delaney NSW

I am rallying to protest against the Howard Government's Industrial Relations unfair laws.  I will NOT be voting for his government at the next elections. I do not want to see the Americanisation of our lifestyle where we shall see more destitute families trying to make ends meet financially.
David Pisani NSW

I am rallying on November 30th to demonstrate my anger and dismay at the Howard governments attack on the working men and women of Australia.
I.R. laws = class wars Peter Wilson VIC

To send a message to John Howard and his Liberal cronies that I taking a stand for MY rights at work - that I want to protect all the rights that have been hard won by Australian workers, and the families that depend on them, since Federation and the years before that. I don't want the workers of this country to descend into the kind of system that existed in the pre-industrial revolution period. I won't be a slave to corporate power and greed. Name withheld

I don't know if I will be marching.  I don't understand why it has to be on a weekday.  I have no gripe with my boss.  I may ask for holiday time, I don't know.

I am able to negotiate my own terms now because I am hard to replace.  But this might not always be the case.  And if I go it will be for those that can't negotiate effectively for themselves for one or more of the glaringly obvious reasons.  Or for my kids.  Or for my neighbors kids.  Or all.

If I don't march, I'll still support with my vote, my tounge and by donating.  If you're like me and may not actually physically turn up, I urge you to still do something else about it.

We all know Howard's government doesn't listen.  We voted him in because he promised good times, not because we like or believe in or him.  But it has begun to go wrong and it is only going to get worse.  So stop thinking about your short term future. Stop being frightened.  Stop cowering.  Do something about it.  And even though nobody is trying to get Howard out now (like Whitlam) which should be the focus of all this I believe, make sure your vote counts next elections?  But whatever you do, don't vote the same party into both houses?  Come on.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.  It should be illegal.  Fair dinkum.  Get real.  Come on Australia, let me be proud of you lot again instead of shaking my head and wondering how we became such a pack of fools.  Marc Lucke NSW

I'm rallying because it is clear to me that there are fewer protections for Australian workers under the Howard Government's new IR laws. About 18 months ago, my defacto partner almost lost her job due to cut-backs in her organisation, but because she was able to challenge her employer through a hearing at the Industrial Relations Commission and with the help of her Union, she kept it. If the same scenario were to arise now with Howard's employer-biased laws, she would now be looking for work and we'd be under significant financial pressure. Mike VIC

Dear John.
Why don’t you come and walk a mile in my shoes?
As an OH&S rep I don’t want to see our safety standards reduced to something on the level of a third world country.
I have been witness to a workplace fatality and yet I see company's doing all sorts of things to reduce the safety of their employees on the ground of cost. Anyone who might complain of an ohs issue can be sacked under your "unfair dismissal laws". Do you consider that fair? Name withheld

I will be rallying Nov 30th because I am tired of this government dictating these unfair IR laws to me. I refuse to be punished with lower wages, removal of penalty rates and unfair termination by a government that was elected to act in the best interests of the people of this country. These laws are not in my interests nor my fellow employees and I plan on letting this government know that its doing a bad job of representing my interests both at this rally and at the next election. Kelly Crawford WA


Various sources have accurately observed that the gap between rich and poor in our society is ever widening, and most pundits would agree that this trend has many undesirable consequences.  One of the most alarming outcomes of the “Workchoices” legislation is that it puts unprecedented power in the hands of the employer, whose primary objective in the corporate world is to maximise returns for shareholders.  John Howard has effectively given the green light to erosion of the salaries, working conditions and family life of the working poor as a means of putting extra dollars in the pockets of shareholders, who by virtue of their share ownership, are already considerably better off.  Surely it is the role of any responsible government to address such unfairness and inequity in society, not exacerbate it.  John Howard must be brought to account for this attack on workers' rights and held responsible for its future implications. Justin QLD

John Howard is happy to reduce workers wages and conditions to the world's worst but supports CEO who set their own salaries to the highest in the world! Ross QLD


As a professional firefighter I enjoy one of the most prestigeous and well regarded jobs in this country (unlike our politicians but that's another story). I am well paid, have excellent conditions and enjoy a level of job satisfaction the envy of many.
However, it was not always so and importantly not one of those good conditions, the good pay nor even the job satisfaction was given to me or my predecessors by our employer. They had to, and I have to continue to fight my employer for every extra cent I earn, every leave entitlement, every improvement to my superannuation or workplace safety provisions.
This fight has been conducted with vehemence, dignity and, above all, a belief in the rights of workers to a fair go by my union.
I am rallying on the 30th of November in remeberance of all the comrades who went before me and in support to those battling hard now in every union who are, as I am, ashamed of my country for allowing such a dishonorable and divisive takeover of the national industrial relations system.
I want my children to be able to negotiate for their wages and conditions knowing they are not just chattle for the boss to use and dispose of as they choose.  Andrew Sefton NSW

I am rallying because John Howard forgets too often about the heart of our country and thinks too often like an American. Don Morgan TAS


In the 1950's I lost my job as a teacher because I got married. The latest IR Laws are leading us back to those times when workers had very few rights and women in particular bore the burden of discrimination. AC

I will be rallying because I believe the IR laws adopted by John Howard's government are unfair and strip workers, especially people who are most vulnerable, from rights to be treated with dignity, justice, and as partners of employers.  The bill is misnamed to imply workers have choice, but in effect it is the employers who choose whether to use AWAs or not.  The loss of the ability of workers to address the power imbalance between individual workers and employers by the abolishion of rights such as to bargain collectively is a great shame.  
Heather Morton WA

I am rallying on 30 November because I think AWAs are unfair because both parties to the AWA (ie the employee) don't get the opportunity to get legal advice before signing. I can't see how it can possibly be a fair deal when only the employer gets to decide what is a good deal.
I also believe that this country can never achieve greatness when so many employees get their pay rates reduced, have no access to paid overtime and penalty rates etc.  If people aren't paid correctly how can you expect them to be interested in how good a job they are doing?  I believe in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and do not think this is going to be the norm of rmost workers. We do not want to end up like America where even on 2 and 3 jobs people cannot make ends meet because their base wages are pathetic. Wendy Weber ACT

The Howard govt has taken away the rights of millions of hard working Australians. I want to let them know that stinks.  Deb NSW

I am disappointed that members of our nation's federal cabinet fail singularly to show a shread of empathy for the working conditions of Australians earning less than $100,000 pa.  If earning respect from government ministers is about the amount of money one earns, then obviously the size of my bank account is never going to make ministers  listen to my concerns about the erosion of work place rights.  Instead I feel treated with contempt by your vitriolic remarks in the press and put down by the way you minimise the genuine intention behind the concerns of the working public.  Why are you so frightened about in providing workers with fair and equitable rights in their workplace?  On November 30, Australians will assemble across the nation and give you some feedback about your lack of empathy and disregard.  Here is plea to John Howard and his cabinet ministers.  Please put your remarks on hold and listen to the workers of Australia, because despite what you might think we are far from stupid and what's more we have something quite profound to say.
Al Adams TAS

I am rallying to fight for my rights as an Australian and my rights at work, the rights of all workers, the rights I want to pass on to the next generation. I am also rallying in the hope to bring down this dictatorship and the sheep that follow blindly. Gary Murphy

I am not rallying for my rights, I am more concerned for the younger people coming into the workforce.  I have first hand proof of many instances where young workers have already been exploited because of their lack of rights regarding working conditions - no-one seems to be there to support them against ruthless employers who are already abusing their power and are exploiting the young workers because they are not able to defend themselves and are intimidated by these brutish bullies!!! Dina Barton, VIC

I am a small business owner. I will be rallying because I believe the Federal Govt's WorkChoice legislation is un-Australian. It undermines our way of life, will ruin families trying to buy a home without any job security & makes us a lackey to so-called global "market forces", which is a farce Janet Lavis, NSW

To bring some kind of common decency to the workplace. Nobody in this country should have to work under intimidation, nor fear for standing up for themselves or their "mates" at work. R Kennedy NSW

I'll be at the rally because I have teenage kids who are about to begin their working lives. I want them to grow up in a country that values fairness, not the dog-eat-dog mentality of the United States. We are Australians, we should be proud of the good things about our country and fighting to protect them. Peter McCallum, QLD

Workers rights are human rights. Many have already been lost under this government and the more are in serious jeopardy. There must be a loud, public and ongoing protest by citizens against this government - they cannot be trusted nor entrusted with these fundamental rights. They must go. L Rolley

Because I want my family and my friends who have young children or who are planning to have children in the future to have the following:
1: A fair and comfortable lifestyle!
2: Time to spend with each other!
3: A secure job!
4: Access to equal or better conditions of employment than their parents have or had!
5: The right to join a union or other professional organisation if the individual decides to do that!
6: Pay that covers increases in the cost of living!
7: The right to collective bargaining so that 1 employee in the organisation doing exactly the same job as another employee in that organisation have the same conditions of employment!
Andrew G, TAS

I am rallying for many people I know who cannot attend the rally. I am rallying because these laws fundamentally undermine the working rights of ordinary Australians (not that top 2% working as CEOs). I am rallying because I'm bloody sick of the lies, scare mongering, and greed of "Honest John". Emma G NSW

Our grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers & mothers fought hard for the rights we enjoyed at work and I'll be damned if I'll sit by and watch Howard and the Liberals take it all away! Cliff & Caryn Rance WA

I don't want to see Australia descend go the same way as the US where minimum wage earners struggle to survive. I don't want the Howard government to impose it's totalatarian rule over the states. I don't want to see everything Australian workers have fought for in the last 100 years thrown away in vain. Lewis Ives, QLD

There is no way we are going to avoid Work Choices (read worst choices). I want Howard gone as there is no way we are going to get a fair deal at work with the Coalition in government. Jonathon Troy NSW

John Howard has will continue to take away every right that has been won by the Unions for us and won't stop until big business says he can stop, can you ever see that happening? Kim Kena NSW

Who wants to go back to the dark ages?
Who wants to be be the canary at the bottom of the mine shaft?
Do I want my kids to be working for buckshee while house ownership becomes unaffordable and rents and food skyrocket?
Kicking Howard out is absolutely necessary - but the fight for workers rights will always be necessary and will have to continue until we have a new from of government that works in the interests of all working people. Glenn Humphreys NSW


Because these laws hurt working families.We need fair workplace laws for all workers not bigger baseball bats for bad employers. Charlie Donnelly VIC

I am rallying to protect the basic rights which Australian workers have bargained for over the years to give us a quality of life in the workplace. Imbalances and bosses who have favourites belie the true essence of the ordinary Australian worker who suffers at the hand of the rich few. We need the line to be drawn in the sand so all parties know where they stand. We will still achieve the same outcomes by working together knowing all parties sitting around the Industrial table are equally represented. This is not the case with the Howard government's power struggle to defeat the workers' right to union representation.  Greg Tosh

On November 30, I will be rallying to fight for the 'Average' Australian work. The Worker who has a mortgage to pay and families to feed. I want these IR laws abolished. They give all the powers to the employer regardless of if you do the right thing by them. How can John Howard strip away 'our rights' as fellow Australians in a few months. When these were fought for over 100 years. How can he sleep at night. WorkChoices = NoChoices Kylie Porter

The extreme ideologues are not good for Australia and are unfair in their non-consultative way of imposing their will.
Let all Australians have a say directly by referendum on key Australian concerns such as labor relations. Denis Hyland

I want my 4yr old daughter to have the same fair working environment and conditions when she enters the workforce that I did.  Conditions that were hard fought for by previous generations.  A workplace where there is a fair balance between employee and employer.  A workplace where her rights are protected and encouraged by government, not stripped to the bare essentials in the interests of business and to hell with the worker.  I am angry and my vote at the next election will reflect that anger. Megan Biok NSW


I am rallying on November 30 because I disagree with John Howard’s new IR laws.  As a mother with a young son, I am extremely concerned about his future rights at work.  Its tough enough to get a job these days without now having the added pressure of finding a job with good conditions.  Australians have worked hard to secure the conditions we have now and for what.  For John Howard to come in, with his government ministers pay packet and bonuses as well as the prospect of a pension for life -(and of course this is a much bigger pension than any of our working Australians will ever receive) and take our fair rights and conditions away from us. John Howard why are you trying to ruin the Australian way of life? Come on Australia - Lets vote him out!!!!! Leanne New NSW

Because the Howard Government flagged further changes to the IR laws, including the right to stand down workers without pay. The IR laws strip away 100 years of protection for working families. Ejaquet

To mourn the loss of an Australian identity under this power hungry government. To mourn also the deterioration of social justice by this mean spirited Government.
To show our disgust at the changes which have so completely skewed the power balance to the greedy and those unwilling to look at their staff as human beings instead of profit making devices.
We have the potential in this country to have a generous heart - to show the difference when people are treated well - a potential being systematically destroyed by those without vision, the selfish, whose only vision has a bottom line. Kevin Bates

Because I am scared. Scared of what will happen to my children and my grandchildren. After yesterday's High Court decision, what can they expect from this or any next generation Coalition Government. I am now retired and so is my husband, but what can we expect when it comes to health, will we be fobbed off by this "Couldn't Care Less" Prime Minister and his cohorts? Helen Ball

I have a strong background with unions as my late father was a member and office bearer with the, then, Moulders' Union. When he died in 2000, in his 96th year, he was still receiving union newsletters/literature and still interested. He fought long and hard during the 30's, 40's and 50's for the Federal Awards which the Howard Govt has trashed and when I march or go the rallies he is there with me in spirit. I know he'd be spinning in his grave at the inequity of this legislation. AC Tan

I am rallying on November 30 because John Howard's workplace changes have the potential to change the way in which employees and employers relate and engage with one another. We had seen many years of stability in workplaces across the country, with the exception of a few disputes created by the federal government.

I am rallying because the government needs to change, the 'WorkChoices' legislation needs to be repealed, and business doesn't need unlimited power when it comes to workplace arrangements.

I am rallying because people on the Disability Support Pension are affected by average weekly earnings, and this legislation will affect their pay, when average weekly earnings fall.

I am rallying because the protections around discrimination have been weakened by the Howard government's workplace changes

I am rallying because I believe in a fair and just Australia, and this government is changing the direction for the worst.

I am rallying because I am a union member and proud.
Dean Price NSW

I am joining the rally because I believe that every working Australian has the right to have a "a fair go" and deserves protection from being exploited by unscrupulous employers and business who believe profits are made by slamming down wages and conditions and treating their most important resource, the workers, like commodities. James Cox

Because I am worried that the new laws will mean my children and other kids will be exploited at work, and will grow up feeling that the fair go is dead and gone. Catriona Jackson

I am rallying to fight for the same workers rights that my father fought for many years ago. These are the rights of job security (not to be stood down when it suits the employer), fair pay for time worked (Penalty rates, shift allowance, holiday pay etc)the rights to form a union, take part in union rallies and so on. John Howard MUST GO. Alana

I am rallying on the 30th November 2006 as I am concerned for my two young adult sons as they start their working lives with minimal protection in their jobs in the future. What hope do they have in buying a home or unit in the future when they can be sacked at the behest of their employer. We must fight for the future workers of this country. J Dowling

To protect the rights which our fore fathers fought and rallied to achieve for the average worker.  Which John Howard in a couple of sittings at parliament took away and is still taking away making the average worker a slave to the boss. Raux2006

Because even blind freddy can see that these IR laws are wrong!  They hurt the very people who make this country what it is, the working class Australian family. 

My employer is not prepared to talk to unions and has not paid overtime for the last 3 years (it's only just been reintroduced as they admitted it was illegal).  They also haven't paid leave loading for the last 3 years.  We're all on common law contracts, but they now want to encourage staff onto AWA's with incentives.  I for one don't trust them at their word. Name withheld, ACT

I am rallying because these laws are stripping away the basic rights of an employee that will ultimately affect the Australian way of life.  In turn, a gap between the rich and poor will widen leading to higher crime rates and a breakdown of a great civilised society. I also have grave concerns for my children who could potentially be the working poor. Paul Spanner Qld