Contributed by a construction worker
Cooking a BBQ for others and helping out our
mates is usually seen as an honourable and worthy aspect to our day to day
lives. It is an almost obligatory part of a civilized society to have access to
someone who is willing to turn a chop or poke a snag at short notice. Many of
these volunteers so consistently put their hand up and do such a good job they
are known as a “BBQ King”.
Many of us have a joke about these types of
individuals as is the national pastime of taking the mickey out of others, but
underlining the jokes is usually a very healthy respect for what they do. They
are always first to put their hands up to do the cooking, rain or shine, always
around when needed and always prepared to help others at the drop of the hat.
Another thing these people are good at is talking and giving good worldly
advice. We would classify them as bloody good mates.
But not everyone thinks that way.
The multi-national property and Infrastructure
Company, Lend Lease, owners of construction companies, the Abigroup and
Baulderstone amongst others, has taken a dislike to Bob Carnegie a Queensland
worker and community activist (and perhaps a BBQ King but certainly a well
respected community leader).
Bob’s persecution commenced when construction
workers on the Lend Lease/Abigroup project, Queensland Children Hospital, went
on strike to get an agreement that subcontractors pay EBA entitlements and stop
the sham sub-contracting and rip-offs rife throughout the project. Lend Leases/Abigroup
took legal action against the union (CFMEU) and obtained an injunction to cease
supporting the strike and other ancillary actions. But the protest continued for
9 weeks with the help and support of community members like Bob, until eventually
an agreement was reached. The workers returned to the job and all was well
until Bob received court documents detailing 54 separate contempt of court
charges and a civil case for damages. Why Bob, because he was named in the
legal action against the union even though he is not an official of the CFMEU? Bob
was recognised by Lend Lease/Abigroup as a community leader and he now faces hundreds
of thousands dollars in fines, unlimited damage costs into millions of dollars
and/or jail.
Bob’s big crime was that he stuck with the
workers for the whole 9 weeks of the community protest. He was prepared to cook
the BBQ to ensure protesting workers were fed and he was there to listen and
provide a helping hand when the weeks without pay took toll on the workers and
their families.
In fact he acted like a bloody good mate
would.
Bob’s case has now been heard and he awaits
the verdict expected in April. The company withdrew many of the 54 charges
prior and during the course of the trial yet the outcome could still result in
huge fine, costs and or jail. Even if he wins Bob and his family could be
financially ruined due to cost for his own defense.
But for a multi-national it has nothing to do
with the money, they know Bob couldn’t pay millions or even tens of thousands
yet they continued to pursue him. Even if they lose the case they achieve what
they want, the message is loud and clear, “don’t f..k with us or we will
destroy you”. The message is aimed not particularly at any individual but the
working class and its supporters generally.
It is a deterrent aimed at unions and
community activists and is a reflection of the class war raging underneath the
“respectability” of a “democracy”.
As the contradictions between capital and
labour intensifies so does the class war. Class warriors like Bob Carnegie must
be supported and encouraged to continue because the other side has no
intentions of walking away peacefully.
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