Tuesday, July 15, 2008

ACTU: wind up ABCC

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the widespread powers of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), including the right to interrogate workers without them having legal representation, denied them basic rights.

She was speaking as Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) official Noel Washington faced a possible six-month jail sentence for refusing to give evidence to the ABCC about what he saw and heard at a meeting of workers last year.

"A union official will be brought before the courts for what crime?" Ms Burrow asked.

"For refusing to dob in his mates when they met on union business outside of work and after hours.

"If Noel Washington is jailed, Australians will be shocked."

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