Abolish the ABCC

Why do workers who build this nation have less rights than other Australians?

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Construction workers fought hard to remove the Howard Government and its extreme WorkChoices laws at last year’s election. However, more needs to be done for a fair workplace relations system for our own industry.

Right across Australia, construction workers are still under attack from Howard’s IR laws, as the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) continues to use its draconian powers.

Over 50 ordinary men and women have been forced to attend secret interrogations by Howard’s ABCC enforcers. If they refuse to answer questions – about issues like what happened at a union meeting – they can be jailed for six months.

Many more are being threatened with $22,000 fines and loss of pay if they stop work for any reason – even over safety, in what is one of Australia’s most dangerous industries. These powers are bad for construction workers and bad for the industry.

Howard-employer scare tactic
Labor Party leaders were panicked by Howard’s and employer scare campaigns during the election and pledged to keep the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) until January 31, 2010.

So, 150 enforcers are employed, and 33 million taxpayers’ dollars are spent annually, to continue this intimidation of ordinary construction workers.

ABCC inspectors have no qualmsabout the tactics they use. Their aim is Howard’s agenda — to reduce support for unions and union membership on construction sites. They harrass construction workers at their job sites and with phone-calls and notices at their homes.

Howard’s construction laws have been condemned by the International Labour Organisation five times, for breaking conventions Australia has ratified. They offend every principle of fairness for working people.

The Rudd Government should not wait until 2010. They should give construction workers and their families back the same rights as other Australians by abolishing the ABCC and the laws that support it now.

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