The Australian Council of Trade Unions’ executive has passed a motion in favour of same-sex marriage, opposing a plebiscite and calling for Malcolm Turnbull to allow a free parliamentary vote on the issue. It also passed a motion opposing the Community Development Program, a welfare program with work obligations the union believes discriminate against Indigenous Australians. The ACTU executive is meeting in the Northern Territory this week before the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off. The motion opposing the CDP authorised the ACTU to use all means at the organisation’s disposal against what it called a “racially discriminatory” program. “Unions have pulled together to oppose a policy which is not only racially discriminatory but also attacks rights at work, places downward pressure on wages and downward pressure on wage-paying jobs.”

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2016 08:45 UTC