Australian Government Targets Workers for Heavy Fines
Brussels, 11 September 2006 (ICFTU OnLine): The ICFTU has protested (Link to the letter:) to Australian Prime Minister John Howard over the latest in a series of trade union rights violations, under the
country's notorious industrial laws. In a letter to Howard, General Secretary Guy Ryder criticises the launching of
law-suits by the government against 107 construction workers. The workers face fines of more than A$28,000 for allegedly
taking industrial action last February in protest at the sacking of a union representative by the company building a
rail link between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Mandurah.
Many of the workers have expressed concern that the fines, as well as massive legal costs to defend their right to
protest, will leave them unable to pay their home mortgages, with devastating consequences for their families. Sharan
Burrow, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and of the ICFTU, has pointed out that the
proceedings against the construction workers may take many months, leaving them and their families nervous and uncertain
about their futures.
The prosecutions were initiated by the "Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC)", which was set up by the
Howard government to police its anti-union laws in the building sector. A call by the ACTU has resulted in a flood of
support for the 107 workers, and increased community-wide condemnation of the government's actions.
Ryder's letter points to the "pernicious" effect of the government's legislation, with unscrupulous employers taking
advantage of various legal provisions in order to cut wages and conditions and threaten workers with dismissal and legal
action. In one recent case, 40 employees of the company "Total Corrosion Control" are being sued by their employer for
attending a union meeting which lasted 15 minutes longer than scheduled.
"The Australian Government seems to believe that subjecting workers to threats, intimidation and victimisation is
acceptable in an industrialised democracy", said Ryder, who added that "the ICFTU fully supports the ACTU in its efforts
to have this legislation, which has been criticised by the International Labour Organisation, removed".
The ACTU is mounting a strong campaign http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/ against the legislation, with a further day of national protest set for 30 November.
More information about the Australian Government's prosecution and the campaign to Support The 107 can be found at: http://www.cfmeuwa.com/cfmeuwa/supportthe107 http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/construction/
The ICFTU represents 155 million workers in 241 affiliated organisations in 156 countries and territories: http://www.icftu.orgICFTU is also a partner in Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org
ENDS