They were proud to wear their union shirts stating "My Mum and Dad look after me" and "the AMWU looks after them."  The Maryborough (QLD) rally attracted around 500 supporters and included speakers from many unions and two local MPs.

From Brad & Nikki H, QLD.

"Taylah was a very enthusiastic helper, handing out fliers and stickers and even singing the odd chant at the top of her voice. No megaphone was needed!" Paula said.

Her Dad Warren said that he wanted Darcy to understand the industrial relations changes and to see the size of the crown for herself. They stood near the corner of Swanston and Latrobe Streets, and Darcy helped lead hundreds of people in some chants. "Darcy thought that was pretty good… the crowd roared and cheered for her. She won't forget that day in a hurry," Warren said.  

"I'm here for the same reason everyone else is here, to stand up for my rights at work. But especially to stand up for Atlanta’s rights, for when she enters the workforce," Tanya says.

Bernie says, "James Hardie are the dark side of employers with no heart. They take away your rights and take away your life. They’re non-caring and reprehensible. People will be totally at the mercy of employers like James Hardie under the new laws. I consider it a privilege to be standing along side the unions today."

"We're all on the minimum wage already," Rahail says. "We can’t take any more pay cuts. And we’re with small companies and we could get the sack in a second under the new laws. It’s the insecurity we’re worried about."

"It's not my rights I worry about so much as my kids' rights when they join the workforce. It just can't happen to our country."

In August, South Australia's Industrial Relations Court found that Deanna, then 15, was being paid 25% less than her award pay entitlement under her AWA, and that the AWA abolished her annual and sick leave.

Sadly, experiences like Deanna’s will become all the more common under the Howard Government’s radical industrial relations proposals, which allow AWAs to be offered to any worker at any time.

The hotel worker was forced to sign an AWA which left him $8,000 worse off after 16 months' work. "There was no choice, there was no negotiation," said Chris, an LHMU member.

"It (the AWA) gave me no penalties for weekend and night work. I wasn't paid casual rates, but they varied my hours and they could stand me down at any time if there was no work."

Under the Government's proposed workplace laws, Chris' experience will not be unique. Any Australian worker can be put on an AWA at any time. An AWA need contain only 5 minimum conditions - this means take home pay rates can be cut, and conditions like penalty rates, redundancy, weekend rates and break times removed.