Members out in force for Labour Day/May Day celebrations

IEU members and their families joined Labour Day and May Day celebrations in significant numbers across Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Events were held during the long weekend of 3-5 May in Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville.

Bundaberg and Ipswich events will be held on Saturday, 10 May 2025 after being delayed due to a clash with the federal election. There is still time to RSVP for these events – click here to RSVP now!

IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said Labour Day and May Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of union members past and present and their contributions to the wages and conditions workers enjoy today.

“Union members have made an enormous contribution to Australian working life,” he said. “Stretching back to the origins of Labour Day – in Queensland, the 1891 Barcaldine Shearer’s Strike – union members have been the driving force behind fair wages and working conditions.

“The past three years, in particular, have seen union members secure the most significant enhancement to rights at work in over a decade.

“Secure job protections, the right to disconnect, union delegate rights, better access to flexible work, paid practicum for teaching students and paid family and domestic violence leave for all workers are just some of those enhancements.

“Labour Day and May Day is all about celebrating the difference union makes.

“It was great to see so many IEU members and their families attending this year’s celebrations,” he said.