ACTU President Ged Kearney said Australian Unions stand in solidarity with Hong Kong workers in the fight for democracy.
"Australian Unions strongly condemn the Chinese Government for suppressing freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in Hong Kong," Ms Kearney said.
"We further condemn the police for their violent attack on unarmed participants and the brutal suppression of peaceful protest."
Since the peaceful assembly outside the Government Headquarters on September 26th, thousands of people have joined and supported the assembly.
Tensions have been building in Hong Kong since the government announcement in August that candidates for the position of Chief Executive would have to be vetted and approved by a pro-business, pro-Beijing committee.
The protests, originally organised by the students' federation and the Occupy Central coalition, have drawn increasing numbers of supporters. The mainland government has harshly condemned the protestors' demands and the "illegal" protests.
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) has declared "we cannot let the students fight alone" and called for workers to strike in support of 4 demands: the immediate release of all the arrested, an end to the suppression of peaceful assembly, replacing the "fake universal suffrage" formula with the genuine political reform workers have been demanding, and the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying.
"It is a stark and sobering reminder that democratic freedoms cannot be taken for granted," said Ms Kearney.
"Around the world, governments are seeking to suppress the rights of ordinary workers.
"Workers' rights are human rights and trade unions worldwide need to be vigilant. Even in Australia we need to guard against the erosion of human and worker rights to which we are currently being exposed by the Abbott Government and conservative state governments.
"The HKCTU has been the backbone of the democracy movement, before and following Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule. Their courageous action deserves the support of trade unions everywhere," Ms Kearney said.
Media contact: Carla De Campo 0410 579 575 or Kara Douglas 0418 793 885
Action by Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)
From LabourStart
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) - the only independent union in China - has called for workers to strike in support of the democracy movement as mass civil disobedience actions come under heavy police attack. The Swire Beverages (Coca-Cola) union and the HKCTU unions of school teachers and dockers are striking and will be joined by other member unions.
Tensions have been building in Hong Kong since the August 31 government announcement that candidates for the position of Chief Executive would have to be vetted and approved by a pro-business, pro-Beijing committee.
The protests, originally organized by the students' federation and the Occupy Central coalition, have drawn increasing numbers of supporters. The mainland government has harshly condemned the protestors' demands and the "illegal" protests.
On September 28, the HKCTU declared "we cannot let the students fight alone", and called for workers to strike in support of 4 demands: the immediate release of all the arrested, an end to the suppression of peaceful assembly, replacing the "fake universal suffrage" formula with the genuine political reform workers have been demanding, and the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying.
The HKCTU has been the backbone of the democracy movement, before and following Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule. Their courageous action deserves the support of trade unions everywhere.