Tens of thousands of Australian trade unionists have marched through the city of Melbourne to protest against the government's labour laws.
The demonstrators later held a rally, where union leaders called on workers throughout the country to join a general strike in two weeks' time.The confrontation between the government and the unions came to a head last month when a private company sacked fourteen hundred dockers, using legislation which the unions say is designed to curb their powers.
The government backed the company, but the Australian High Court this week overturned the sackings and ordered the company to take the men back.
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