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TENS of thousands of workers will march on Melbourne today, calling for fairer work conditions and better pay.
As many as 150,000 people are expected to join the CBD – and in cities around the country – as part of a national push to increase in wages.
The change the rules campaign specifically for "a minimum wage you can live on", "the protection of penalty rates", "pay rises that keep up with the cost of living", "equal pay for equal work", "an end to big business and big banks "and" better job security ".
Another element to the protest is the rejection by the middle clbad of exorbitant CEO salaries.
As reported most recently, Australia's highest paid chief executive is almost 435 times the average full time worker's wage.
Among Australia's top earting CEOs are Domino's Pizza's Don Meij, who's taking in $ 36.84m, Westfield's Peter and Steven Lowy, who's doing $ 25.9m and Macquarie Group's Nicholas Moore, who's earns $ 25.19m a year.
The Melbourne rally is expected to dwarf a similar event staged in the city in which 100,000 people attended. It will include Lygon Street, Victoria Street, Swanston Street and La Trobe Street.
Trams will be stopped from entering the city center by 9.30am until shortly after midday. Pbadengers are being urged to use trains instead of trams and additional Public Transport Victoria staff will be on hand to badist.
Victoria Police will also be in force as protesters march along Russell and Latrobe Streets en route to Federation Square via Swanston Street. It is expected that protesters will disperse shortly after gathering outside Flinders Street station.
ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said today's action is about helping people out of a rut.
"Our wages are going backwards, families are struggling, too many people are stuck in insecure work," she said.
"But the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have dismissed the union claims.
"Scratch the surface and the ACTU's campaign is really about putting power into the hands of big unions, disempowering employees, and removing their choices," said CEO James Pearson.
Thousands of protesters are also expected to gather in Sydney, Darwin, Wollongong, Cairns and Townsville.
Are you attending? Do you have photos or videos to share? Email: [email protected] or Twitter: @ro_smith
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