A sign-on statement calling on the federal Labor government to abolition the anti-union Australian Building and Construction Commission, and extending solidarity to any worker victimised by the ABCC, was initiated last week by Tim Gooden, the secretary of Geelong and Regional Trades and Labour Council.
The statement, reprinted below, has so far been signed by:
Bill Oliver (CFMEU Vic assistant secretary), Tommy Watson (CFMEU/FEDFA Vic assistant state secretary), Ralph Edwards (CFMEU Vic president), Martin Kingham (CFMEU Vic secretary), Sean Reardon (CFMEU organsiser), Joan Doyle (CPEU Vic Communication Workers Union secretary), Craig Johnston (CFMEU), Garry Robb (AMWU Vic assistant state secretary), Darren Cheeseman (ALP federal member for Corangamite), Jenny Kruschel (TCFUA Vic assistant secretary), Lisa Darmanin (ASU Vic assistant state secretary), John Setka (CFMEU organiser), Jeremy Smith (NTEU Ballarat branch president), Tim Gooden (Geelong TLC secretary), Rob Dolton (AEU), Mark Mitchel (VIEU), Liegh Diehm (AMWU), Paul Chirgwin (AMWU), Mick Bull (AMWU Vic organiser), Brendan Wheelan (AMWU), Tony Hynds (AMWU), Rob Graauwmans (CFMEU and Geelong TLC assistant secretary), Michael Ravbar (CFMEU Qld state secretary), Scott Wilson (ETU Qld organiser), Sibylle Kaczorek (ASU NSW delegate), John McGill (CEPU SA delegate to SAUnions), Raul Bassi (TWU NSW delegate), Dave Kerin (Union Solidarity, Vic), plus dozens of members of the plumbers, transport, manufacturing, electrical, construction and mining, and textile, clothing and footwear unions.
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Sign-on statement: No cooperation with the ABCC!
The Australian Building and Construction Commission is an ideologically driven organisation designed to undermine the ability of unions to represent their members' interests. It 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. It has extensive coercive powers and its investigations are conducted in secret. The right to silence is not recongnised — 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 union members and officials, 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 unions 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.
[For further information and to download the sign-on statement, visit .]