Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural.
It is manmade and can be overcome and eradicated
by the actions of human beings.
Nelson Mandela 14 October 2012
‘Let them eat bread’ demonstrations photo opportunities: Sydney CBD 10.30am Tuesday 16 October
PLUS Adelaide and Brisbane
City workers and shoppers will be offered free bread and jam at an Anti-Poverty Week breakfast demonstration by shopping centre cleaners and their supporters in Sydney this week.
Cleaners will host the breakfast in Martin Place at 10.30am on Tuesday, the day before International Anti-Poverty Day - the day when we are all encouraged to recognise and help reduce poverty.
Louise Tarrant, National Secretary of United Voice, the cleaners’ union says “Australia’s shopping centre cleaners have plenty of both poverty and hardship despite our great wealth as a nation.
“At the ‘Let them eat bread’ breakfast cleaners will talk about life when you earn only $17.05 an hour and about the hardship endured by cleaners who look after the assets of one the world’s richest banks.
“The Commonwealth Bank Group owns and manages more than 30 shopping centres across Australia.
“Sadly, the Commonwealth Bank has come a long way since the days when it was The People’s Bank.
“Most Australians would find it disgraceful that despite its enormous profit of $7.1b the
Commonwealth Bank refuses to act to overcome poverty within its own ranks. It is refusing to take any responsibility for the poverty wages and unrealistic workloads of the cleaners who contribute to those profits.
“That’s not good enough. The bank can fix this injustice. We believe it also has the responsibility to act, as Nelson Mandela said, to eradicate poverty within its financial empire,” says Louise Tarrant.
On Tuesday the ‘Let them eat bread’ breakfast demonstration will be held in Sydney at Martin Place from 10.30am to 11.30am.
‘Let them eat bread’ demonstrations will also be held on Tuesday in:
- Adelaide – from 8.30am to 9.30am outside 96 King William Street - contact Carolyn Smart 0439 933 229
- Brisbane – at 12 noon outside 240 Queen Street - contact Susan Butler 0428 189 130
timeforcan.com
No comments:
Post a Comment