Unionists rally for Martin Kingham

Date: 24 October 2002

Thousands of Victorian union members are expected to rally at Trades Hall today (24 October)in defence of CFMEU state secretary, Martin Kingham, who is due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Mr Kingham has been charged under the Royal Commission Act 1902, for refusing to hand over two lists of names to the Cole Royal Commission.

Mr Kingham refused to provide the names saying his members would be vulnerable to harassment by the Commission and possibly blacklisted by employers.

VTHC Secretary Leigh Hubbard called on union members to attend the rally in defence of Mr Kingham and to support the defence of basic union rights.

"Unionists are urged to attend this rally for Martin Kingham and to make a stand in support of basic union rights and legitimate union activity."

"Make no mistake, the outcome of the Royal Commission and legislation that Abbott and Howard attempt to introduce will affect every union and every worker, not just those in the building industry."

The Royal Commission was a "fishing expedition" that would be used to set up the building industry task force whose aim would be to intimidate active union members, Mr Hubbard said.

The $65 million tax-payer funded Royal Commission had devoted 97 per cent of proceedings to investigating alleged misconduct by unions and failed to address serious issues of health and safety and inappropriate behaviour of employers.

"The Royal Commission has had an anti-union agenda from the start and this charge against Martin Kingham is yet another example of its futile attempt to discredit the union."

"The charges against Martin Kingham were followed up by an attempt to discredit ETU state secretary Dean Mighell. The Commission failed dismally on both counts. These attacks on construction union leaders has only served to strengthened the resolve of the entire union movement in Victoria," Mr Hubbard said.

For further information

Contact:	Cathy Beadnell
Union:	Victorian Trades Hall Council - OHS Unit
Phone:	039 96593576
Contact Mobile:	0425 701793
Fax:	039 6632127
Email:	cbeadnell@vthc.org.au
WWW:	http://www.vthc.org.au

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