NSW unionists could face jail

By Bernie Brian

WOLLONGONG -- South Coast Labour Council secretary Paul Matters has told a combined unions meeting here that he is prepared to go to jail rather than pay any fines imposed by the NSW Industrial Court over a picket line at Kiama. The dispute looks set to become the first major test of the NSW government's harsh anti-union laws, passed under Premier Nick Greiner.

Matters and Australian Workers Union organiser Neville Hilton appeared before the court on September 24 over their refusal to lift a picket at the Bombo sewerage works in line with an industrial commission order.

If convicted, the two officials could face individual fines of $10,000 plus $1000 for every day the picket remains, and unions involved could face fines of $100,000. The picket line was established over the Water Board's use of non-union contract labour.

Matters believes the case is a politically motivated attack by the government, now under Premier John Fahey, who was industrial relations minister at the time the legislation was passed. South Coast unions believe the Water Board wants to settle the matter, but the government is pushing for a confrontation.

At a court hearing on September 25, a government solicitor had to request permission to prosecute the matter “in the public interest”, when no Water Board or other representative appeared to oppose the unions' case.

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