Scrap the ABCC! Action on 2 December

Submitted by martin on 28 October, 2008 - 9:40 Author: Eddie Bland talking to Martin Thomas

Ed Bland, Inner North Brisbane organiser for the Builders Labourers Federation, spoke to Martin Thomas of Workers' Liberty

Noel Washington [a leading official of the larger construction union, the CFMEU] is back in court on 2 December. The case arises from a meeting off the job.

The ABCC demanded that Noel give details of who was at the meeting. Noel refused to answer any questions. That makes him liable for six months' jail.

On 2 December the construction unions will be stopping work for an "information meeting".

Workers on the sites are disgusted by the ABCC's action, and disgusted with what the Rudd [Labor] government is doing. We had to get rid of Howard [the previous conservative prime minister] but Rudd has kept the ABCC.

We want construction workers to have the same rights as other workers. There's a lot of workplace bullying on the sites now, with consequences for safety.

We recognise there's a problem with getting people in other industries to know what the ABCC is, but we're beginning to get other workers talking about it.

The previous action on the Noel Washington case, on 12 September, was in Queensland only. We hoped by that to get more media coverage. We did get coverage on all the TV channels, but nothing in any of the big newspapers.


Sydney:

Assemble 11:45, Tuesday 2 December, at Sydney Town Hall Square. March to the ABCC, 255 Elizabeth St, Sydney

Melbourne:

Assemble 09:00 at the corner ofr Toorak and St. Kilda Rds (tram Stop 22, adj 409 St Kilda Rd), then march on ABCC, 553 St. Kilda Rd.

Geelong

Assemble 09.00, Geelong TLC. then March to Johnstone Park opposite Geelong Court House.

http:/www.rightsonsite.org.au

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