03/05/2018
This long weekend we celebrate the achievements of the Australian labour movement.
Most Victorians worked up to 14 hours a day, six days a week. No sick leave entitlements were given and employers could sack employees at any time, without any reason given.
However, that all changed on 21 April 1856 when Stonemasons and building workers around Melbourne stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day.
Thankfully, their protest was a success and they are noted as the first organised workers in the world to achieve an eight-hour day with no loss of pay!
With the cooler weather upon us, some of us from the office are making the most of the May Day long weekend by going away camping. Whatever you are up to, we hope you enjoy the long weekend and travel safely.