While the Queensland Council of Unions has announced its latest industrial campaign around wages, it seems seriously out of touch with the mood of the broader struggle unfolding across Australia. It did briefly acknowledge the global economic downturn linked to the US and Israel’s war on Iran, but only cursorily. For many workers, the crisis is no longer only about wages. It is also about war, inflation, housing stress, insecurity, and the wider political forces shaping everyday life across the country.
“Australian Unions will argue for a 6% Annual Wage Review increase for the country’s 3 million lowest paid workers as Trump’s war continues to tear into workers’ living standards.
When wages fail to keep up with rising costs, people have no option but to cut back on the essentials like food and doctors’ visits. This should be unacceptable to everyone. Unions are fighting to make sure our lowest paid Australians aren’t left short like they were during the post-Covid inflation spike but they ignore the International struggle of workers everywhere.
In Sydney, Denis McNamara, long-time militant with the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) told a May Day crowd: “We are being dragged into yet another war by United States imperialism and Israel. Meanwhile, the government can apparently find money for AUKUS nuclear submarines, but not for social spending.” Green Left Weekly 5 May 2026.
Please, union members, don’t forget that Cuba is in the thick of the fight against US imperialism right now!
Union Aid Abroad provides assistance to Cuba.
Head-in-the-sand economism reigns in Peel Street at the QCU.
Locally the Queensland Council of Unions leadership refuses to properly acknowledge the campaign against starvation and genocide waged for the last three years by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin nor the efforts by the Australia Cuba 🇨🇺 Friendship Society challenging the US blockade aimed at bringing Cuba to its knees.
Unionist for Palestine and JFP’s Sam Watson from the Global Sumud flotilla have drawn attention to the struggles in recent days.
Unionists need to discuss and support these campaigns.
Workers of all countries unite!
Ian Curr, 25 May 2026.
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