Stand Tall with Ark Tribe

Hundreds chant "one law for all" in Elizabeth

Around 300 people turned up at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today to protest for a second time against the draconian laws of the Australian Building & Construction Commission (ABCC) and the charges brought against Adelaide construction worker Ark Tribe.

As readers of this blog will know, Ark Tribe has been charged with failing to attend a "compulsory" ABCC interrogation. Taking advantage of laws usually reserved for the likes of suspected terrorists, the bosses whip snake – the ABCC - has moved on from attacking union officials and is going after rank and file workers like Mr Tribe.

However, the ABCC have taken their attacks one step to far and are meeting a growing resistance, not only from building and construction unions but from the whole union movement and its supporters. They have clearly underestimated the strength of working Australians who, with every day that passes, are standing tall with the rigger Ark Tribe.

Keep an eye on this site for photos, video and interviews from today's rally.

One Law for All, Justice for All!

Ark's Tribe rallies at Elizabeth

Hundreds of workers rallied outside the Elizabeth Magistrates Court this morning. Construction workers taking their RDOs (rostered days off) were joined by members of the Transport Workers Union, the LHMU, both education unions (public education's Australian Education Union and private education's Independent Education Union), the Nurses' Federation, and the Australian Metal Workers Union.

Construction union (CFMEU) State Secretary Martin O'Malley addressed the gathering, warning that the powers of the ABCC were a danger to all working people.

The ABCC has the right to interrogate anyone about the conduct of union meetings, or any other matter related to the construction industry. People who refuse to attend interviews with the ABCC (as Ark is alleged to have done), or who refuse to answer questions, or who tell any other person about their interrogation (spouse, children, workmates, union officials etc) face 6 months in jail and fines of up to $22,000.

"There's one set of laws for workers in the construction industry, and one set for everyone else," observed O'Malley.

"They say they've drawn a circle around our industry, but the circle can be widened at any time to include other groups of workers. This is what happened in Nazi Germany in the 1930s," he said.

He then introduced Tribe, describing him as "just a construction worker who wants to go to work each day and do his job."

State Secretary of SA Unions, Janet Giles congratulated Ark on the stand he was taking, adding "and I promise you we will be with you all the way."

As Ark stood waiting to go into court, O'Malley invited those present to sign a Eureka flag with messages of support for Ark, and then the whole assembly recited the Eureka Oath, first sworn at Ballarat in 1854 by miners who took up arms against the British colonial oppressors: "We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other to defend our rights and liberties!"

Those present them formed an arch of honour with Eureka flags and union flags fluttering above Ark as he walked to applause into the courtroom.

The case has been adjourned until August 11, 2009. Click here to see the video on Adelaide Now.

Don't let Ark go to jail. Rally at Elizabeth Tuesday!!

Ark Tribe faces six months jail if convicted for not attending an interview with the ABCC (aka The Building Industry Task Force).

Come to the Elizabeth Magistrates Court, 15 Frobisher Rd, Elizabeth, this Tuesday 9 June at 9am to rally in defence of not only Ark, but all working people!


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