NSW anti-union attack stalls

NSW anti-union attack stalls

By Bernie Brian

WOLLONGONG — The first attempt by the NSW government to charge trade union officials under its new anti-union laws has stalled.

South Coast Labour Council secretary Paul Matters and Australian Workers Union organiser Neville Hilton both faced possible fines of $10,000 plus $1000 per day for refusing to obey a NSW Industrial Commission order to remove a picket line from a construction site near Kiama. The picket line was established over the Water Board's use of non-union contract labour.

The principal contractor on the site, Gallagher Civil Engineering, had hired Glen Allen Reinforcement as a subcontractor, but the unions claimed the this was simply a ruse to avoid paying award obligations.

On October 1 the dispute was resolved, with Gallagher agreeing to review the operations of Glen Allen, which had failed to respond to a union subpoena to appear before the NSW Industrial Court to answer questions. This prompted Justice Fisher to suggest that "Glen Allen Reinforcement are almost certainly individuals and I doubt there is a proper officer or aspect of corporation".

Court action is still pending against Matters and Hilton, and the case could still become a test of the NSW anti-union laws.

From GLW issue 74