Construction sites around Australia will come to a standstill today (October 30) with workers gearing up to take nationwide industrial action if South Australian construction worker, Ark Tribe is jailed for taking a stand for this rights on site.  

 Earlier this month the industry’s most powerful union, the CFMEU closed ranks around Mr Tribe, endorsing a resolution for a national industrial response should the South Australian be sentenced to jail time.

Under the Federal Government’s building industry laws, first introduced under the Howard Government, Mr Tribe faces up to six months in prison for allegedly failing to attend a secret interrogation by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

 Mr Tribe was targeted by the ABCC after he attended a stop work meeting over safety concerns at construction site at Flinders University in 2008. 

 The pledge comes as unions prepare to step up their campaign against the ABCC and its coercive powers, with thousands of people expected to turn out to rallies around the country as Mr Tribe faced court on October 30.

 CFMEU National Secretary and Rights on Site campaigner, Dave Noonan said that construction workers were prepared to down tools and shut down the nation’s building sector if Mr Tribe were imprisoned for taking stand for his rights on site.

 “Australian construction workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ark Tribe in the fight against the charges laid against him and the offensive building industry laws that single out construction workers for harsh treatment,” Mr Noonan said.

 “We will bring the country’s building and construction industry to a stand still until justice is served and Mr Tribe is released and the laws that lead to his imprisonment are abolished.”

 Mr Noonan said that the onus was now on the Australian Parliament to protect construction workers who stand up for their basic rights by abolishing the ABCC and its coercive powers.

 “We believe that politicians in Canberra must support the abolition of the ABCC and its offensive powers to ensure that no worker will be jailed for standing up for their basic rights at work,” Mr Noonan said.

 Mr Noonan addresses the rally outside the Adelaide Magistrates court where more than one thousands workers turned out in support of Mr Tribe.

For more photos from rallies in support of Ark Tribe on October 30, see our Rallies Photo Gallery.  For video and Rights at Night radio interviews with CFMEU SA Secretary Martin O'Malley and historian Humphrey McQueen, who spoke at the Adelaide rally go to Ark's Tribe.

Further news

Senator Nick Xenophon urged to take a stand in support of South Australian construction workers - CFMEU SA