Workers strike to support Bob Carnegie

Submitted by AWL on 12 February, 2013 - 10:37

Construction workers downed tools and walked off sites in Australia on 11-13 February to support victimised trade unionist Bob Carnegie, as his trial began in Brisbane.

Striking construction workers demonstrate at Lend Lease's Brisbane offices

Demonstration at Lend Lease HQ in Sydney

Workers mount a union guard of honour as Bob Carnegie enters court

Activists from the Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy join the march in solidarity with Bob

Bob is being pursued by Abigroup (a subsidiary of multinational construction/property giant Lend Lease) for contempt of court charges and damages because of his role in a successful dispute by construction workers on the Queensland Children’s Hospital site in Brisbane from August-October 2012.

His trial began on Monday 11 February, and saw construction workers, in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane, strike in solidarity with him, attend rallies, and mount a trade union guard of honour as he entered court. Dock workers in Sydney also struck.

With the trial continuing, Abigroup have already dropped 34 of their 54 charges, and the verdict announcement has been delayed.
Support has arrived from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the International Trades Union Confederation (ITUC), as well as dozens of labour movement organisations from Australia and around the world.

British supporters leafleted the public about the case outside the Broadgate Tower, Lend Lease’s most prominent construction project in the UK.

For the latest, see the Bob Carnegie Defence Campaign's website and Facebook group.

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