Critical Times

UNIONISTS across the country have rallied in support of more than 100 West Australian construction workers whose rowdy court appearance today launched their fight against unprecedented fines for striking.

The 107 workers on the Perth to Mandurah railway project face fines of up to $28,000 each in the Federal Court for going on strike, in February and March, over the sacking of a shop steward.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) issued writs against the workers last month under the federal government’s building industry laws, introduced last year in response to recommendations of the building industry royal commission.

It is the first time individual workers, rather than unions, have faced such fines.

About 100 of the workers and their families today crammed into the Federal Court in Perth after a 1000-strong rally in city streets.

They raised union banners and chanted their familiar slogan, “The workers united will never be defeated!” before proceedings began, prompting warnings from court officials.

Justice Robert Nicholson started proceedings but they were disrupted when the workers began chanting and hurling abuse at ABCC representatives, including barrister Richard Hooker.

Justice Nicholson quickly intervened.

“You have to understand that the processes of the law require every side to be heard and the law to be considered rationally,” he told the workers.

“They’re unjust laws,” one worker shouted back.

Justice Nicholson threatened to close the court when the workers ignored repeated requests to quieten down.

The matter was later adjourned until October 18 to give the workers’ lawyers enough time to take instructions from each of them.

They are expected to file defences to the fines by November 1.

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) WA secretary Kevin Reynolds said the matter was likely to drag on well into next year.

“It’s not going to make it easy for them (the workers and their families) over Christmas,” Mr Reynolds said outside the court.

“It’s got to be remembered that these are just everyday families who just don’t have money for this type of thing, it’s come out of the blue.”

ACTU President Sharan Burrow told the earlier rally the Howard Government’s workplace laws should be ripped up.

“This is not an Australia we want,” Ms Burrow said.

“If the government turns its back on working Australians then we will turn our back on a government which doesn’t deserve to rule our country.”

About 300 people rallied in support of the workers in Adelaide, while about 200 gathered outside the Federal Court in Melbourne.
By Adam Gartrell