Picketers to rally amid rumours of job cuts

UNIONS will flex their muscles outside City Hall on Saturday as up to 1000 picketers rally against cutbacks to the state’s public service.

The Queensland Council of Unions last month vowed to resist the job cuts when it launched a 1000-day campaign to amplify pressure last month.

Branch president Chris McGaw said a lack of answers about where jobs would be cut had only steeled members’ resolve.

Rumours of up to 100 jobs to be cut from Roadtek Toowoomba next week have employees on edge.

Ergon Energy staff are also tense as whispers of up to 600 statewide job cuts filter through the workforce.

If the suspicions are unfounded, little has been done to restore the confidence of workers who believe they are on the chopping block.

“This will be the biggest rally in Toowoomba since John Howard introduced Work Choices (in 2005),” he said.

“Workers are worried about their jobs, like they were with Work Choices, and they will stand up and be counted.

“There will definitely be at least 500 people there and we’re expecting up to 1000.”

A bus load of Dalby union members will be among the marchers.

“Anyone from the community can come and show support,” Mr McGaw said.

“We’re losing jobs left, right and centre ... it all adds up.”

The rally begins at noon at the Village Green on Ruthven St.