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Your Rights At Work: Worth Cycling For
Narelle Sinclair is so worried about the Howard Government’s industrial relations reforms that she
has organised an industrial relations reform protest bike ride to Canberra. Narelle an RTBU
member and bus operate from the Brookvale depot is no stranger to organising bike rides to raise
awareness and funding. In May 2005, Narelle organised a bike ride from Sydney to Melbourne to
raise money for CanTeen, a national support organisation for young people living with cancer.
When asked why she had decided to
organise a bike ride to protest the
Howard Government’s industrial
reforms Narelle said, “I have
become more and more anxious
about the proposed reforms to our
industrial system. The real issue is
that I am afraid that if the Howard
Government is successful in
dismantling the industrial system
who will them protect or conditions
and who will ensure there is a fair
safety net in place for Australian
workers”.
Riders will be leaving Parramatta
Park at 8:00AM on Saturday 19th
November and concluding the in
Canberra on Tuesday 22nd
November 2005 where a petition
will be delivered to the relevant
politicians at Parliament House.
Narelle told rail and Road, “I am
hoping to get as many people as
possible to come an support our ride
for workers rights. We already have
forty union riders registered to ride
to Canberra but there is always room
for more riders”.
“I am really excited about the ride
and hope that we will be able to
highlight just how concerned
workers are about losing their rights
and conditions as a result of the
Howard Government reforms. All
those participating are so concerned
they are prepared to give up their
own time and energy to undertake
the bike ride to highlight just how
important this issue is for all
Australians”.
Riders come from a number of
unions including the RTBU
Brookvale, Burwood, North Sydney,
Port Botany and Willoughby Bus
Depots, , Electrical Trade Union
(ETU), Construction, Forestry,
Mining and Electrical Union
(CFMEU) the NSW Police
Association, the NSW Teachers
Federation and the NSW Fire
Brigade Employees Union (FBEU).
Federal member for Parramatta,
Julie Owens will also be joining the
bike ride to show her support for
workers rights. We also have a
number of people who do not want
to ride but will be assisting the riders
by being part of the support crew for
the ride.
Officers from the RTBU’s Bus and Rail Divisions at the RTBU Planning Weekend
If you are an RTBU member and
would like to participate in the bike
ride or assist by being part of the
support team please contact Narelle
to registerer your interest or to get
more information by email:
NarelleSinclair@bigpond.com or
call her on her mobile 0438 119 304
and leave a message with your
details or contact the RTBU Bus
&Tram Division on (02) 93197277
Rail and Road - August/October 2005 19