Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Labour Day

Mr CHEESEMAN: Finally, I would like to reflect on the meaning of Labour Day, a holiday we recently celebrated. It commemorates, of course, the hardworking stonemasons and their strike in 1856 when workers on building sites across Melbourne downed tools and marched to achieve an 8-hour day without, of course, loss of pay. This direct protest action by those working men led to the 8-hour day as we currently know it, and I wish all trade unions good work into the future.