Qld: May Day under attack ; Newman's War on Workers

A BILLBOARD blasting the Queensland Government's decision to move the Labour Day holiday to later in the year has been erected along one of Brisbane's busiest roads.

The union billboard, which has been placed on Coronation Drive, along the Brisbane River, reads: "May Day 2013 will be in May, Newman ... Leave May Day in May Newman, it is simply not yours to give away!"

Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Simpson said the state seemed determined to "smash 120 years of Queensland tradition" by moving the Labour Day public holiday from May to October from next year.

But Mr Simpson said Labour Day celebrations dated back to the 1890s.

He said unions would continue to commemorate the day with rallies and marches across the state in May to "remember those who fought for and in some cases died for the working conditions and rights we enjoy today".