ABCC attacks CFMEU over OHS demand

Date: 14 July 2008

Dave Noonan, CFMEU

Court proceedings have begun today against a Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union official, Robert Mates, who stood up for workers health and safety at a Heidelberg work site run by Anthony Goss.

Mr. Mates had requested that an Occupational Health and Safety Representative be appointed on the site. Discussions took place but Mr Goss eventually refused.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission alleges that the CFMEU and Mr Mates retaliated by organising unlawful industrial action against Mr Goss and his company Hardcorp. However Mr Mates claims it was an unrelated community action, taken by disgruntled sub-contractors and former employees who were owed money.

"The ABCC was set up by the Howard government to stop unions protecting the rights of workers," said Dave Noonan, National Secretary, CFMEU Construction Division.

"The ABCC is the last vestiges of Howard's unfair IR laws. No other body in Australia has such sweeping powers. No other workers, apart from people like Bob in the construction industry, are faced with this sort of heavy-handed and undemocratic assault on their human rights."

The ABCC has the power to see workers and their representatives fined and jailed; union meetings can be recorded; legal representation of choice can be denied. Under the ABCC, so-called freedom of association clauses are applied to restrict union access to the workplace.

"Mr Goss has a dubious track record when it comes to looking after his workers", said Dave Noonan. "But despite this, the ABCC is still affording him support and protection instead of standing up for construction workers from unscrupulous employers."

In 2004, a 19 year old apprentice working for Mr Goss was crushed when a concrete floor collapsed on him, after he followed the instructions of his employer. Mr Goss put his company into liquidation in advance of penalties being handed down.

Mr Goss has put his companies into administration three times previously, leaving subcontractors and workers without the income that they have worked for.

'Bob's only crime is trying to maintain a safe workplace for our members - something all Australian workers should be entitled to without fear of legal retribution,' said Mr Noonan.

For further information

Contact:	Dave Noonan
Union:	CFMEU
Phone:	02) 8524 5800
Email:	queries@fed.cfmeu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/

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