Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

Recently a Victorian Unions delegates' meeting voted unanimously to support Noel Washington

August 2008
 By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
A 2000 strong shop stewards and delegates meeting held at the Dallas Brooks Hall (30/7/08), voted unanimously to defend Noel Washington. Noel Washington is a senior CFMEU Victorian Construction Union Official who is facing 6 months gaol for refusing to attend an interrogation by the draconian ABCC.

The meeting was chaired by VTHC President, Ann Taylor and heard reports from:

1. Brian Boyd VTHC Secretary
2. Jeff Lawrence, ACTU Secretary
3. Dave Noonan, National Secretary CFMEU Construction.
4. Paul Howes, National Secretary AWU
5. Noel Washington, CFMEU Vic President
6. Barney Cooney, retired Federal ALP MP and Civil Rights lawyer

The Substantive resolution was moved by Mary Bluett, AEU President and seconded by Lisa Fitzpatrick ANF. The delegates were asked to prepare for mass rallies in support of Noel Washington when his court date becomes known.

They were also asked to join in an email campaign to Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and IR Minister, Julia Gillard seeking the immediate abolition of the ABCC. As well a petition was circulated for use and distribution back at workplaces.

Substantive final resolution:

“This mass meeting of Victorian shop stewards and delegates notes with deep concern that the undemocratic, anti-worker and anti-union Australian Building Construction Commission (ABCC), continues to operate across Australia's building and construction industry.

It is further noted that this is occurring more than eight months after the last Federal election (Nov 2007), where the architect and creator of the ABCC John Howard was thrown out of office.

This mass meeting calls for the immediate abolition of the ABCC, no further creations of similar task forces by another name, repeal of the Building and Construction Industry (Improvement) Act and cancellation of the National Code and Implementation Guidelines all of which continue to be used by employers to undermine the rights, pay and working conditions of construction workers and workers in industries connected to the construction industry.

This mass meeting expresses its full support for union officials and rank and file workers who defy the draconian interference of the ABCC and specifically supports CFMEU Senior Official Noel Washington, who is facing 6 months jail for doing his job.

This mass meeting calls on the federal government to instruct the DPP to drop the charges against Noel Washington. We also call on the federal government to tear up the rest of the WorkChoices legislation; and enshrine, in Australian law, the internationally recognised right of workers to take industrial action in defence of their economic and social interests.

It is further agreed that we fully support the calling for and organising of mass rallies on the day of the court case being forced on Noel Washington by the ABCC.

Additional resolution:

That this meeting notes the frustration of workers at the federal government's failure to tear up WorkChoices. We believe the Government is unnecessarily stalling for time to the detriment of workers.

Therefore, in addition to lobbying and political TV campaigns, this meeting of Victorian delegates calls on all unions and the ACTU to immediately implement a real industrial campaign in all sectors across Australia that includes:

 

  • Stop work meetings
  • Street rallies
  • industry stoppages
  • Rolling 4 hour walk –outs etc

 

This campaign should be aimed at employers who have lobbied to keep and use Howard's WorkChoice style laws. The Campaign should continue until the federal government agrees to draft laws that are completely consistent with ILO conventions and to the satisfaction of all unions.

The meeting also noted the following resolution passed by the VTHC Executive Council last Friday (25/7):

"That this meeting will ask unions internationally for solidarity for our campaign to defend Noel Washington, and for the immediate abolition of the ABCC. We recognise that this attack on workers' ability to organise is not an isolated case as many workers all over the world are facing similar pressures. In particular we recognise the important struggles for the right to organise of the Construction Workers' Union KFCITU-KCTU of South Korea; the KMU labour centre in the Philippines, and the FENSUAGRO agricultural workers union in Colombia. These unions face terrible repression. We will send them our message of solidarity, and we will support the international campaigns to defend them."


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