Newman lashes out at union bosses

Date
    August 4, 2012


Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has come out swinging against union leaders, calling them wealthy Labor operatives who are organising strikes that will hurt workers’ hip pockets.   

Mr Newman’s comments on Saturday came a day after a dozen irate school cleaners stormed the state government’s headquarters in Brisbane and two days after unions vowed they would hold a statewide day of strikes in September.

The union officials organising the strikes had large salaries, expense accounts and cab vouchers, Mr Newman said.

‘‘These union officials are also Labor Party operatives,’’ he told reporters at the launch of an anti-graffiti task force in Brisbane.


‘‘They’re not going to lose a day’s pay if people go on strike (but) the hard-working workers will.’’

Mr Newman said Friday’s action was led by the same man who paid people to protest against him before the election - United Voice secretary Gary Bullock.

‘‘He’s anti Campbell Newman. He always has been, he always will be,’’ the premier said.   

‘‘He won’t lose a day’s pay if people go on strike.

‘‘He’s on his fat union salary, with his expense card, with his Cabcharge vouchers.’’

Mr Newman also attacked Queensland Council of Unions president John Battams.

He said the union leader should declare that he worked on the Labor campaign at the last election before every press conference.

‘‘Don’t pretend to be some impartial person, because you’re not,’’ Mr Newman said.

Mr Bullock said the premier obviously hadn’t seen Friday’s protest.

He said one member present was an 80-year-old female teacher aide who thought Mr Newman’s government was far was worse than anything she’d seen when Joh Bjelke-Petersen was premier.   

‘‘They are angry. This isn’t me needing to whip them up,’’ he said.   

Mr Battams said he’d worked on the 2009 Labor campaign - not the one in 2012 - and the premier should stick to the issues.

‘‘He would have plenty of associates who represent employer associations who are in the LNP,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m sure he doesn’t question their motives.’’   

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/newman-lashes-out-at-union-bosses-20120804-23mjw.html#ixzz22cAULYCH

Queenslanders voted for someone without policies, experience or even a faint clue of how to run a state so now they are getting everything they deserve.
The banana benders made their own bed now they can lie in it and the same will happen to the rest of Australia if they vote for Abbott.
The hard liners in the conservative parties are trying as hard as they can to send this country into another Great Depression with their fear and hatred campaigns and clueless populist rhetoric.

Perhaps the unions wouldn't have to go on strike, if it were not for Newman, with his slash and burn.   

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 5^th, 2012 at 7:53am:


Newman wouldn't have to make these tough choices

These are not tough decisions for a conservative - it is their SOP (standard operating procedure) it is just what they do.

Dnarever wrote on Aug 5^th, 2012 at 8:08am:


If you think it's easy for anyone to make a decision that leaves men and women without a job, affecting their families as well, then you have no idea. I bet you've never even run your own business, so you probably haven't got a clue what I'm talking about.

adelcrow wrote on Aug 5^th, 2012 at 8:17am:


Well, as you like to say about Federal politics, there is a LONG time until the next QLD election and plenty of time for things to turn around.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 5^th, 2012 at 8:15am:


Showing how tough they are and belting the unions in the process - they all do it and enjoy themselves in the process.

adelcrow wrote on Aug 5^th, 2012 at 8:35am:


... how enormous the amount of debt Bligh left behind is.