Budget measures likened to throwing ‘crumbs’ to workers who are demanding a pay rise, not a tax cut

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Thousands of workers have shut down part of Melbourne’s CBD, saying the federal coalition can keep its slated tax cuts for low-and middle-income workers.

Wednesday’s march was part of a nationwide “Change the Rules” union campaign to demand better pay and work conditions.

The latest action comes after the federal budget on Tuesday unveiled a tax offset of between $200 and $530 for workers earning up to $90,000 a year, from July.

But the Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary, Luke Hilakari, likened the measure to throwing “crumbs” to workers.

Sally McManus (@sallymcmanus) 100 000 people on the street in Melbourne to protest inequality, insecure work & low pay #ChangeTheRules #Budget2018 https://t.co/ZNBGEWzfoR via @theage

“The $10 tax [a week] relief for poor and working people is just not good enough. They can keep that $10,” he told reporters.

“What we actually want is a large pay rise. We don’t want a tax cut.”

An estimated tens of thousands of workers began marching from Trades Hall to Flinders Street Station, disrupting traffic and public transport.

Bureau of Meteorology employee Cameron Henderson said he and his co-workers were “starving” for a fair pay deal.

Cheryl Critchley (@CherylCritchley) Never seen so many people on the streets of Melbourne.#changetherules pic.twitter.com/5pEu6kNA7T

“We haven’t had a pay rise in nearly five years,” Mr Henderson said.

“Over that time, CPI’s gone up 10% and we’re being offered a deal that would see us remain at 10% CPI until the end of 2021.”

University of Melbourne employees earlier staged a rally in support of academic and intellectual freedom, and against a plan to put academic and professional staff on two separate workplace agreements.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said workers would keep fighting increased casualisation, low wage growth and inadequate job conditions.

“At the moment, profits are going up and so is productivity. But wages aren’t,” she said.