Thousands of trade unionists gathered outside Brisbane’s Federal Magistrates Court on Friday to support victimised unionist Bob Carnegie. Bob was facing 18 counts of contempt, which were rightfully dismissed this morning.
Bob was instrumental to the victory of a nine week long strike that took place during the construction of the Queensland Children's Hospital late last year. Some 650 workers fought against Abigroup – a subsidiary of one of the largest construction companies in Australia, Lend Lease – in defence of their working conditions.
Speakers this morning included activists from the Bob Carnegie Defence Campaign and trade unionists from United Voice and the MUA. They were greeted with raucous applause. When Bob arrived, the crowd erupted into chants of “Hands off Bob!” and “The workers, united, will never be defeated!” The workers formed a guard of honour leading to entrance of the building, wishing Bob luck as he made his way to the courtroom.
Within a half an hour Bob reappeared at the doors of the building, surrounded by comrades. When it was announced that the case against him was dropped and that Abigroup had lost, the crowd was ecstatic.
Bob described the significance of this victory in a message to union militants across the country: “Keep fighting on the job, believe in yourself, fight for a better and more rank-and-file union and keep believing that together we can build a better society – a socialist society.”
He relished in the fact that one of the largest law firms in the country defending one of the largest construction companies failed in its attempt to have him convicted.
The dispute
Abigroup was subcontracting labour at the cheapest rate possible. At its Queensland Children’s Hospital site, contract workers were being paid as much as $10 per hour less than co-workers on the union wage while doing the exact same job. In July 2012, workers struck against this unfair system and demanded a single union wage for all.
The striking workers were ceaselessly harassed by the company and by police. Their photographs were taken, conversations recorded and anonymous death threats were made to known unionists. Injunctions were served to workers’ homes. Both Liberal Premier Campbell Newman and the Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten condemned the “illegal” actions being taken by the workers.
Bob, a veteran union militant and socialist, took the reins of the picket as BLF and CFMEU officials were barred from being involved. It was with his organisation, motivation and experience that the workers at the QCH were able to stand up against the bosses for nine long weeks.
The strike ended victoriously in October. Subcontractors were forced to pay union wages and Abigroup was left no option but to agree to the union EBA. It was a massive win for all workers on the site and indeed on sites around the country. Other construction firms pre-emptively signed union EBA agreements for fear that similar strike action may take place.
In the aftermath of the dispute Bob was singled out by Abigroup, which was determined to make an example out of him. He was facing 54 charges of contempt of court – the most ever brought against a single individual. Potential penalties included fines of millions of dollars with the additional threat of jail time. The company wanted to send a message to unionists around the country that union solidarity and standing up for workers’ rights would be punished.
Throughout the court case and at every hearing, trade unions mobilised their members to come and support Bob. Construction workers left their inner city worksites and marched to the Federal Magistrates Court and activists from around the city came to show their solidarity. Rallies of hundreds took place around the country, with over a thousand gathering in Brisbane in February.
The verdict today represents a complete victory for Bob Carnegie and for trade unionism in this country. In his own words: “Trade unionism and community activism is still a very important thing, and my victory today represents a huge victory for community activism.”
