Workers faced with fines of up to $28,600, possible jail sentences, no right to silence, secret police investigations and a ban on industrial action. This is not life in a third world dictatorship, but the daily life of Australian building workers in John Howard’s Australia.
In August, 107 building workers faced court for the first time. They face fines for allegedly taking industrial action in February this year to defend a sacked workmate. The case came as the result of two years of safety disputes on the Mandurah Rail Project in Perth. The builder repeatedly cut corners with safety and demanded excessive of hours of work. A union safety audit uncovered 80 breaches of safety laws, but nothing was done.
On February 24 safety delegate Peter Ballard was sacked because of his vocal complaints following a series of workplace accidents. Fellow workers took action to demand his reinstatement.
While the case was resolved and work resumed, the Government’s enforcers, the Australian Building and Construction Commission, decided to prosecute 107 of the workers who now face penalties of $28,600 each.
The draconian law they allegedly breached, the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act, was quietly passed last year. It meant workers questioned by the ABCC have fewer rights than murderers or rapists. There is no right to silence and not answering a question could land you in jail for up to 6 months. Any meeting not authorised in writing by all employers on site is illegal. Workers who take part can be fined.
The case will restart on November 1. Meanwhile the workers are seeking to build a united national fight against these unjust laws.
What you can do to help:
• Attend the Penrith Community Meeting and help get rid of these unjust and unfair laws.
• Send a protest email to the government: www.cfmeu-construction-nsw.com/tafightfor107.htm
• Enrol to vote and get rid of these laws at the next election: www.aec.gov.au
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