Unions Tasmania will today reiterate its call on the Federal Government to abolish the ABCC.

Ark Tribe is on trial 15, 16 and 18 June 2010 at the Adelaide Magistrate’s court and there will be protests in every major capital city against the powers of the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Mr. Tribe faces up to six months jail for allegedly failing to attend a compulsory interrogation by the Australian Building and Construction Commission in 2008.

On June 15th, at events all around Australia, workers will gather to support Ark Tribe and stop the ABCC.

Why do workers who build this nation have fewer rights than other Australians?
Across Australia, construction workers are still under attack from separate industry laws left over from John Howard’s era, and the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) continues to enforce its coercive powers.
Ark Tribe is a construction worker from South Australia facing six months in jail. He has been charged with not attending an interview with the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

Ark was working on the Flinders University site in Adelaide. Conditions were so bad that workers drew up a petition calling for safety improvements, on a handtowel. It took an intervention by the union and the state government safety regulator to get the most pressing problems fixed and finally, after several days, things began to get back on track.

Following that, one by one workers from the site were called before the ABCC. The penalties for those who don’t cooperate with ABCC investigations are frightening – fines of up to $22,000 for things like stopping work to make sure workers are safe and jail for up to 6 months if you don’t answer their questions.
Secretary of Unions Tasmania, Simon Cocker said:

“Even the police don’t have the powers the ABCC have. It is appalling that we have a situation in our country where there are two sets of laws for working people.”

“We need to get the Rudd Labor Government to get rid of these unfair laws, before another construction worker faces jail.”

What: Unions Tas Secretary Simon Cocker to speak at: Stop the ABCC: Protest for Ark Tribe.
When: Midday
Where: Parliament House Lawns, Hobart
Simon Cocker Unions Tasmania