ABCC asks ACTU intervene

It's hard to believe and somewhat pathetic, but it seems the ABCC are getting desperate. It was revealed today that the watchdog's commissioner, John Lloyd, has written to the ACTU requesting it intervenes in a construction site dispute in outer Melbourne.

It's alleged that CFMEU members at the new Melbourne wholesale fruit and vegetable markets are running a picket at the site, apparently ignoring Federal Court orders. Whether this be true or not, such a move from the ABCC shows they will go to any lengths to prevent workers taking industrial action, including groveling to the union peak body!

Here at Ark's Tribe we can only surmise that the out of favour Mr Lloyd has lost his direct line to Gillard and is trying his luck elsewhere. Check your letter box Ark, you may just have new mail.

Employers shed crocodile tears

Commenting on the release of new legislation today, ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said rather than pretending to be disappointed, business groups should be honest and admit that they stand to gain from the proposed laws that threaten innocent workers with six months jail.

"The Australian Building and Construction Commission was introduced by the Howard Government to favour the property industry and to undermine the rights of construction workers," Mr Lawrence said.

"The new Building Industry Inspectorate and accompanying legislation will retain much of the coercive powers and unfair treatment that existed alongside the Howard Government's WorkChoices.

"Under the proposed new laws introduced into Parliament today, workers who are not accused of any wrongdoing still face a jail sentence of up to six months if they fail to attend an interview or answer the questions of the inspectorate.

"This could prevent workers on building sites from speaking out when when a situation is unsafe or unfair, and could lead to lower safety standards in an already-dangerous industry.

Business groups should also cease misleading the public with wildly exaggerated claims about the nature of the construction industry, Mr Lawrence said.

He said there are more than 900,000 people employed in Australia's construction industry.

"These workers are driving Australia's economic recovery and are the key to implementing the Government's stimulus package: they deserve more respect.

"It is highly misleading to say special laws are needed for the construction industry to deal with alleged violence and intimidation when these issues are criminal matters, unrelated to industrial law and outside the remit of the ABCC or the proposed new inspectorate," said Mr Lawrence.

Unions vow to fight unfair laws

Commenting on the announcement by the Federal Government that it would introduce new industrial relations legislation for the construction industry into Parliament tomorrow, ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said:

"Unions are determined to improve workers' rights and to ensure workers in the construction industry have the same rights as all other Australian workers.

"It will be good to see the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) abolished, as the Government has said it will do.

"The removal of unfair, higher penalties for construction workers is also a step forward.

"However it is unacceptable for the Labor Government to retain discriminatory laws including the use of over-the-top coercive powers against one group of workers.

"Unions are fundamentally opposed to the continued use of coercive powers against workers - even for a five year period and with the new safeguards that are proposed.

"The only people that will win from the retention of unfair laws in this industry will be the big building developers and construction companies.

"Our short term fear is that workers will continue to be subject to laws that are just unfair and unreasonable.

"Our long term fear is that these laws will stop workers on building sites from speaking out when a situation is unsafe or unfair.

"According to official figures from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council, prior to the introduction of the Howard Government's discriminatory laws for the construction industry in 2004, there were 19 deaths on building sites but in 2007 this had risen to 33 deaths.

"Special laws have failed to deal with the terrible record of health and safety in this often dangerous industry and have failed to improve productivity.

"The recent report by Justice Wilcox into the industry found the discriminatory laws had no positive impact on productivity and debunked the ABCC's claims that they had.

"The Australian people voted at the last election to restore workers' rights and to get rid of the Howard Government's unfair IR laws.

"Unions will continue campaigning to ensure this happens," said Mr Lawrence.

Ark's Tribe hits the front page

Click here to read the article on the front page of today's Australian.

Unions call on Gillard to abolish ABCC at ACTU Congress

Ark Tribe, a South Australian construction worker, faces six months jail after being charged
with allegedly refusing to attend an interrogation by the Australian Building and Construction
Commission.

Earlier in the week, the Australian union movement stands behind Ark and will urge the Rudd Labor
Government to abolish the ABCC when Julia Gillard, Deputy PM and Minister for Workplace
Relations, speaks at the ACTU Congress.

The ACTU Congress yesterday unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Government
to abolish the ABCC and the unjust laws that underpin it.

Click here to read more