Video of Support Noel Washington & anti ABCC Rally

Oppose Bad Laws - Oppose the ABCC

Dear Comrades,

These new penal laws that the ABCC rely on have been around for over 2 years and nearly 12 months of the current Government. Now there is a real risk that workers will start going to goal for being unionist and organising workers. I think it’s time to start putting words into action. Now is the time to decide which side you’re on.

I am standing beside Noel Washington and pledging no cooperation with the ABCC.

These are bad laws and are only designed to weaken the union movement and conditions for workers. I cannot support a Government that supports these laws and allows workers to be dragged before the courts for being unionist.

Please sign up and let the Government know we are serious. There can be only one outcome to this and that is workers win the right to organise the way we want to. Not the way that makes the bosses and the Government happy. We are not slaves and our organisers are not criminals.


Yours in Solidarity

Tim Gooden
Secretary

PS. Please return to gthc@webaxs.net or fax, 03 52231115.

Download a copy of sign on statement for printing

SIGN ON STATEMENT

The Australian Building and Construction Commission is an ideologically driven organisation and was set up by the Howard Coalition government in October 2005 to destroy the effectiveness of the unions in the building industry. These unions have led the way in setting benchmark wages and standards of health and safety that have benefited all working Australians. The ABCC operates like a police force with extensive coercive powers and secret investigations. There is no right to silence- refusing to attend hearings or answer questions can lead to a six-month jail sentence.

The ABCC's predecessor, the Building Industry Task Force, was set up after the $60 million Cole Royal Commission into the building industry. Contrary to the claims of some bosses and media, the Commission found that there is no "endemic lawlessness" perpetrated by the unions in the building industry. We are asking for nothing more than what employers already have; the right to meet with our members and representatives, before, during and after work and the right to defend our working conditions. Penalising unions for representing workers' rights using hefty fines and threats of imprisonment has to STOP NOW. If the powers of the ABCC remain all Australian workers will have their right to organise and seek representation in a union undermined.

We, the undersigned refuse to cooperate with the ABCC and to pay fines imposed.

We are inspired by the fine example set by CFMEU member Noel Washington in refusing to bow to the ABCC's intimidation. We pledge support for all union officials and members who are subject to the ABCC's powers.

We call on all unions to join a campaign of industrial action if any unionist is convicted for not cooperating with the ABCC

NAME Union Signature

Dare to struggle - dare to win
If you don’t fight, you lose
Return to : 127 Myers St, Geelong. Tel 52211712, or 0438 088 112 and fax 52231115.
No co-operation with the ABCC

Unions meet with Darren Cheeseman MP.

Nathin Niven VTHC, Colleen Gibbs GTHC and Brendan Murphy, CFMEU, hand Darren Cheeseman a petition by workers calling for the end of unjust laws and the abolition of the Building Industry Task Force.

Lining up for the campaign against the ABCC

Unions line up to face the struggle in Geelong, Friday May 30, Speak Out against the Building Industry Task Force and abuse of workers' civil rights.

Workers speaking out against unjust laws

Just some of the many union members who are supporting the building workers struggle for civil rights.

Members of the TCFUA stand strong while the ANF members proudly fly the flag.

Geelong Trades Hall Choir performing at Speak Out Against the ABCC

Geelong unionist launch public campaign to abolish Building Industry Task Force

Over one hundred unionists turned out to launch a campaign on Friday 30 May to get rid of the laws that were introduced by the Howard Government. The laws are currently being maintained by the Labor Government, aimed at intimidating workers and their unions not to organise around safety and working conditions. The laws include heavy fines and 6 months gaol terms for refusing to answer questions about industrial action.

The speak out was addressed by the ACTU Assistant Secretary, Geoff Fary and local union organisers. Other unionists attended to support the building unions included the Australian Nurses Federation, Textile Clothing and Footwear Union, Public Sector Union, Health Services Union, Australian Education Union, National Tertiary Education Union and of course the Victorian Police Association had members in attendance.

Other supporters included local Labor Members Ian Trezise MP Vic Gov. and Sue Bull, Socialist Alliance Organiser also spoke in support of the call to abolish the Task Force.

The workers all chanted "bin the rats" and sang the Building Labourers Song and Solidarity Forever along with the Geelong Trades Hall Choir.

Messages of apology from Federal MPs Richard Marles and Darren Cheeseman were received. Richard Marles said he wanted to meet with unions to discuss the issue. Darren Cheeseman's message was that he supports the Victorian ALP Conference motion to repeal the laws and abolish the task force.

Speak Out Against the Unjust Laws of the Task Force

Speak Out
4.00 PM, Friday 30 May 2008
Malop Street Crossing GEELONG
(Outside Market Square)
Come and help with the petitions, info leaflets and banners.

In 2006 the Howard Government created an $80 million dollar Task Force called the Australian Building and Construction Commission. This Task Force then set about trying to stop unions and workers protecting safety standards on construction sites with threat of fines and goal if you refuse to be interrogated or answer questions. The right to silence was removed and workers refusing to work in unsafe condition or without representation have been fined. These are unjust laws and unfairly target progressive unions and workers in our community.
Workers dying on the job is no laughing matter, neither is going to gaol trying to protect them.
These laws must be abolished and Howard’s Task Force thrown in the bin NOW.