The Queensland branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has called statewide stop-work actions and rallies on September 12, the day Victorian CFMEU official Noel Washington faces an initial hearing in Geelong over charges brought by the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
The actions were announced by CFMEU assistant state secretary Peter Close at a meeting and screening of Constructing Fear organised by WorkLife on August 28. The film exposes the draconian, anti-union nature of the ABCC.
The Brisbane rally will held at 9.30am in Queens Park, with rallies to be held also in other Queensland towns. The union is calling for support from other unions and the public to defend Washington and ensure that PM Kevin Rudd implements his pre-election promise to abolish the ABCC.
"For the first time, we have a united campaign by all unions in the building industry on this issue", Close said. The Greens are putting a bill to the Senate to close down the ABCC, and unions are putting pressure on ALP parliamentarians to support the measure, Close added.
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