Construction unions flag strike action over ABCC

Construction unions have reaffirmed their opposition to the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) at meetings across the country.

The Commission was set up by the previous Federal Government, and was given coercive powers to investigate work practices in the construction industry.

The national secretary of the CFMEU's construction division, Dave Noonan, says unions will no longer cooperate with the Commission, and intend to strike later this month.

Mr Noonan says unions are also concerned the Rudd Government might delay the abolition of the ABCC, and should do it now.

"The situation is that construction workers face laws that treat them differently to other Australians," he said.

"They face worsening workplace health and safety, and they face the fact that the Rudd Government has not acted to remove John Howard's oppressive workplace laws in the building and construction industry."

The office of Industrial Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, says the Government will stick to its election commitment and shut down the ABCC at the end of January 2010.

... read original article
Tue 7th April 2009 - 03:12pm