May Day push on cost of living

THE Bendigo Trades Hall Council will call on State and Federal Governments to address rising living costs this May Day.

Also known as International Workers’ Day, the BTHC and their affiliates will gather for a breakfast and march this Sunday to demand a living wage for all, increased public housing to meet demand and an end to the gender pay gap.

“Those demands will be formulated into a Megaphone petition which will launch on May Day itself. This will go out to all levels of government to put pressure on the government to alleviate the cost of living,” said Luke Martin, BTHC secretary.

Mr Martin said the union organisation would campaign for a five per cent wage increase across all awards and a living wage for people receiving government welfare payments.

“People who are currently living on $43 a day just cannot survive. We found evidence during COVID where they had increased payments, people were able to get ahead and better themselves, so we know that sort of thing works,” he said.

BTHC vice-president David Fox said Australia’s future was “not looking very good”, despite being “the jewel in the crown of the whole entire world at one stage”.

“We’re talking about affordable public housing because we’ve got a generation that can no longer buy a house. No one can, to be honest with you,” he said.

“Women are still disproportionately worse off, especially when it comes to superannuation because during the time you do take maternity leave or any other types of leave, you aren’t able to receive any superannuation contributions.

“The time a woman retires now has been put up to 67 years of age. They’re going to probably have half the earnings in their superannuation compared to what a male would, if you’re lucky.”

The May Day march will step off outside the Trades Hall on View Street at 9.30am, with unionists and other community members invited to join.