Rights on Site - Ark Tribe Prosecuted

Ark Tribe is a construction worker from South Australia facing six months in jail. He has been charged with not attending an interview with the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

Ark was working on the Flinders University site in Adelaide. Conditions were so bad that workers drew up a petition calling for safety improvements, on a handtowel.

It took an intervention by the union and the state government safety regulator to get the most pressing problems fixed and finally, after several days, things began to get back on track.

One by one workers from the site were called before the ABCC.

The penalties for those who don't cooperate with ABCC investigations are frightening - fines of up to $22,000 for things like stopping work to make sure workers are safe and jail for up to 6 months if you don't answer their questions. Even the police don't have the powers the ABCC have.

In Ark's words, "If I've done something wrong, I'm prepared to cop it, but I won't be treated unfairly."

We need to get the Rudd Labor Government to get rid of these laws, before another construction worker faces jail.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• ABCC
• CFMEU
• Ark Tribe
• Adelaide
• Julia Gillard
• federal
• government
• construction
• building

[bobbrit1]

This is an outrage. Be at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court at 15 Frobisher Rd on June 9 at 9:30am to support Ark and stand up for equal rights for building workers.

[scart69net]

Rudd & the rest of the ALP need to either start actually standing up for workers & their rights and abolish the ABCC completely or stop pretending to be a "Labor" Party.

[fuknsoregut]

HAVE A TUB ARK YOU DIRTY CUNT

[jvbiddington]

Why is the ABCC still in existence???? Get rid of it and use the money for some socially good purpose!

[khghountch]

If, in a country, there are two sets of laws for the same population then that country is practising apartheid. I say down with apartheid and down with the laws that is the reason for apartheid. Ark, mate, you are a hero!

[luneco100]

frogmouth lazarus and the mad monk created these anti worker laws that still exist to the day if labor had done what they promised to do ark would never be facing jail for a safety meeting that was common grounds in the past the abcc gillards rats should be abolished now and never again construction workers should put up with laws that treat workers like criminals good luck ark on the 3rd of november and remember we will fight to the end one law for all

[stephenfs03]

The CFMEU needs to be pushed by its members, and others in favour of humankind, in organising to get rid of the ABCC once and for all. The fear is that if the ABCC can continue getting away with these draconian measures in the construction industries then they'll try and spread it to other industries. They'll take us all back to say 1600's Britain.

[drcooljk]

Yeah his also on the verge of making australias history in another way, the economy DON'T JAIL ARK YOU ABBC BASTAREDS

[Rextervic]

@BarkingSpider100 

[Rextervic]

@BarkingSpider100

To Barking Spider. I am a lawyer and know a fair bit about history - it seems you don't. The ABCC is a star chamber where there is a little in the way of due process. Star chambers went out with the English Civil War in the 1640s. The law re the ABCC is wrong and breaches centuries old legal rights. Further, Ark Tribe is being persecuted for adhering to the OH&S laws. Or would a law banning conservative ignorant gits like be ok because it is law? I doubt it.

[trailblazermudboy]

Ark your doing the right thing for all of us. These laws are a bloody disgrace and MUST GO.

[aussiebloke351]

thats some heavy shit