Taking Issue with the ABCC
On average, one building worker is killed in Australia every week. If it weren't for unions like the CFMEU keeping employers in check, this statistic could be even worse. But thanks to Howard-era anit-worker policy, unions are finding it more and more difficult to organise on the job.
In this, the first of a three-part series, we take issue with the Australian Building & Construction Commission (ABCC) and its use of coercive powers against building workers and their unions. CFMEU National Secretary Dave Noonan talks to us about the ABCC and its role as a virtual secret police force in the building industry.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Another really good podcast! I believe it’s really important to spread awareness of this body and the totally unjustifiable powers it has. Seriously, how can anyone possibly justify an anti worker, anti union body that has such powers, even denying workers and union officials there basic right to remain silent? I think also, the fact that such a body is being kept by a Labor government should be a wake up call once and for all that there is no longer any fundamental difference between the two major parties, and that despite all there rhetoric, the Labor Party simply can’t be seen as a party who stands up for the rights and welfare of workers.