Thousands of workers who took to Sydney streets for May Day want the NSW premier to back away from privatising the state's $30 billion electricity infrastructure.
There were many messages the May Day marchers, numbering almost 7,000, wanted the NSW government to hear but the loudest was a warning to new premier Mike Baird to: "Stop the NSW power sell off".
Paul Lester from the Electrical Trade Union (ETU) was among those who gathered outside parliament house on Sunday in a show of solidarity.
As the unionists marched their way through Sydney, with bagpipes blaring, Mr Lester's war cry was insistent: "Mike Baird is his name, privatisation is his game.
"We all know what you're about, come next May we will throw you out."
Mr Lester said the march had garnered the best turnout the union movement has seen in years.
"We want to show Mr Baird that no, we do not want power privatisation," he told AAP.
As treasurer Mr Baird supported privatising the state's $30 billion worth of electricity infrastructure and has flagged, since becoming premier, that he would be seeking a mandate on the issue at the next election.
Among the other issues highlighted at the march were the recent watering down of workers' compensation and the push to privatise TAFE.
The march commemorates the events of May 4, 1886 when trade unionists calling for the eight-hour day in Chicago came under fire, with four demonstrators killed.
Share
