[Greens-Media] Greens move to restore workplace rights in building industry

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens move to restore workplace rights in building industry
Tuesday 26th August 2008

The Australian Greens today gave notice in the Senate they will move a
motion to repeal the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act
2005 (BCII) and abolish the Australian Building & Construction
Commission (ABCC).
 
"The BCII Act and ABCC represent John Howard's industrial relations
agenda at its most extreme - explicitly anti-worker and using the power
of the State against individuals in an ideological pursuit," said
Senator Rachel Siewert.
 
"A Federal Government committed to workplace rights has no justification
for keeping the ABCC until 2010. The Greens will not shrink from
defending the basic human rights of workers including those in the
building and construction industry."
 
"The International Labour Organisation has repeatedly commented that the
BCII Act breaches international labour conventions such as the right to
organise and collective bargain and the right to freedom of
association," she said.
 
"It is appalling that workers in one industry are singled out and have
their right to silence removed. Only in the building and construction
industry can individual workers be fined up to $22,000 for taking
industrial action."
 
"The ABCC should be abolished and the building industry regulated just
like any other industry -- in a fair and just manner that balances the
needs of productivity and the economy with the health, safety and
democratic rights of workers. This is what the Greens' motion will
achieve," she concluded.
 
For more information call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au
 

Tim Norton
Communications and Campaigns
Office of Rachel Siewert | Australian Greens Senator for Western
Australia
Tim.Norton at aph.gov.au | M: 0418 401 180
www.RachelSiewert.org.au | www.GreensMPs.org.au | www.GreensBlog.org 
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