CFMEU seeks UN aid against the return of building watchdog ABCC

The construction union is stepping up its fight against Coalition plans to restore the ABCC building regulator.

The construction union is stepping up its fight against Coalition plans to restore the ABCC building regulator with a request to the ACTU to take a complaint over the proposed laws to the UN’s International Labour Organisation.

In a strong sign of its intent to press its campaign, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union claimed in a letter to the ACTU that the government had shown a “disregard of its international obligations” with its bill to reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

The letter from CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan outlined the basis of a legal complaint to the Geneva-based agency against the regulator’s successor, Fair Work Building and Construction, and its director, Nigel Hadgkiss.

Mr Noonan alleged FWBC breached international conventions on freedom of association, the right to organise, collective bargaining, and labour inspection.

He added: “In further disregard of its international obligations, the government continues to argue for amendments to the legislation to reinstate the former ABCC and extend prohibitions on industrial activity and freedom of association and to increase financial penalties on unions and workers. Hundreds of individual construction workers have (been) and continue to be prosecuted before the courts for their industrial activities at the instigation of” the FWBC.

“They face the prospect of heavy financial penalties.”

While the ILO has no formal power over the government’s lawmaking, the ACTU has previously warned that Australia risks damage to its international reputation from condemnation by the agency.

ACTU president Ged Kearney told The Australian the council “fully supports the CFMEU and our construction workers in taking forward their complaint” to the ILO against FWBC and Mr Hadgkiss.

In its annual report this month, FWBC revealed it had investigated 948 breaches of commonwealth workplace laws.

Mr Hadgkiss said: “Until I am able to sight the contents of the letter to the ACTU, I am unable to make comment.”