CPA condemns ABCC, supports worker Ark

The Communist Party of Australia calls on the Rudd Labor Government to abolish the ABCC at its first opportunity. The ABCC is a secret police force that targets innocent, hard-working Australians on the grounds that they work in the construction industry. It's that simple.

The ABCC possesses coercive powers akin to those used against terrorist organisations. If hauled in by the ABCC, workers have no right to silence, they must answer questions or risk a fine of up to $22,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months!

Adelaide rigger Ark Tribe is the first rank-and-file member of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) to be charged by the ABCC. Mr Tribe is now facing six months jail for allegedly not attending a "compulsory" interview with the ABCC.

Yesterday, Ark Tribe's case was adjourned until August 11 at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. A large crowd of around 200 trade unionists and supporters rallied outside in support of the man who, perhaps unwittingly, has become the face of the campaign to shut down the ABCC. Ark has had the courage to stand up for his basic human rights in an industrial system that seems intent on taking them away and we commend him for it.

However, one so-called trade union leader is not quite as supportive. An article on the front page of today's Australian quotes SDA National Secretary Joe De Bruyn as saying the Rudd Government has no mandate to shut down the ABCC.

According to de Bruyn, the government "doesn't have a mandate for that in its current term of office because it didn't say that to the people of Australia when it went to the polls."

Such a comment is to be expected from the right-wing de Bruyn. The ALP-aligned Shop Distributors and Allied Employers Association is hardly representative of the working class movement in this country and is unlikely to be standing in the corner of the CFMEU when the going gets tough.

But nonetheless, it's a shame that de Bruyn finds it necessary to publicly support the ALP's so-called Fair Work Act while sticking the knife into one of Australia's most progressive unions. He should be ashamed of himself and resign - he has no right to call himself a trade unionist.

Follow Ark's case on the campaign website arkstribe.org.au.

Don't jail Ark Tribe, shut down the ABCC!

The fate of an Adelaide building worker will be decided in the Elizabeth Magistrates court today. Ark Tribe is alleged to have failed to attend an interrogation of the ABCC (Australian Building and Construction Commission) and faces up to six months jail if convicted.

"What we have here is yet another example of why the Federal Government must move immediately to shut down the ABCC," Communist Party of Australia State Secretary Bob Briton said yesterday.

"This body has unprecedented powers, and its existence ensures that workers and their representatives in the building and construction industry are treated differently under the law to other workers."

"Workers and union representatives called to appear before this body are even denied the basic right to remain silent. This places them in a situation worse than that of alleged terror suspects," he continued.

"At the last federal election, the Australian people voted in a Labor government, believing this would lead to the restoration of the rights of workers and unions. The fact that this government has failed to shut down a body of this nature is a breach of faith with the Australian people."

"The government's plan to move the ABCC and its powers within Fair Work Australia is frankly no more than window dressing. It does not alter the fact that this body will still have the power to intimidate and bully building and construction workers and their representatives, and will do little to restore basic fundamental rights", said Mr Briton.

"The Communist Party of Australia totally supports the efforts of construction workers and their unions and calls on the Federal Government to immediately shut down the ABCC," he concluded.

Supporters of Ark Tribe will gather at Elizabeth Magistrates Court at 9am this morning.

Taking Issue with the ABCC

The first in a three part series on the Australian Building Construction Commission
(ABCC) is now online. Click here to go to our podcast page to stream online or download.

You can also stream from the box widget on the right of this page or subscribe to our iTunes feed.

In this episode we speak with CFMEU National Secretary Dave Noonan on the ABCC and its use of coercive powers to prosecute building workers and union officials for carrying out normal union activity.

Relevant Links:

CFMEU campaign website Rights on Site
Building Industry Documentary Constructing Fear