Construction workers ‘refused leave to protest’

Construction workers wanting a day off to attend a protest against the China free trade agreement ‘banned from taking leave’.

Allen Hicks.

Construction workers wanting a day off to attend a protest against the China free trade agreement in Brisbane have been banned from taking leave for the rally by their employer, US construction firm Bechtel, the electrical trade union is claiming.

The union said it will apply on Thursday for a federal circuit court order under the Fair Work Act to force Bechtel to lift its so-called ban on workers taking leave on Monday.

Allen Hicks.

The issue came to light after an email from senior Bechtel management to staff was leaked.

Deputy site manager Rod Beech who oversees the firm’s GLNG project, wrote: “Five unions are planning a protest march ... on Monday August 17 in protest over the China free trade agreement and concerns relating to the importation of cheap labour.

“In the best interests of the GLNG project we do not sanction or authorise any such activity.

“Any RDO or leave request for this day ... is to be denied. All previous RDO requests that you have already approved for this day have since been unapproved by me.”

ETU national secretary Allen Hicks said “it is totally inappropriate of a company to pursue its political aims by preventing workers from exercising their right to freedom of speech and assembly in their own time”.

“It would set a dangerous precedent if Bechtel was allowed to silence its workers in this underhanded way.”

Kevin Berg, Bechtel Gladstone general manager, stressed that the company had no “position in relation to the China Free Trade Agreement”.

“There is no blanket ban. Leave is being approved as normal ... Our approvals process is designed purely to keep the workplace staffed to meet our operational requirements.”