Vic: Workers rally for West Australian workers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
Vic: Workers rally for West Australian workers

MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - About 200 union officials and workers rallied outside the Federal
Court in Melbourne today to support West Australian workers facing unprecedented legal
action for striking.

The 107 Mandurah rail project workers each face fines of up to $28,000 and are the
first Australian workers being prosecuted under the federal government's new industrial
laws.

The rally coincided with the first appearance by the workers from the Mandurah rail
project in the Federal Court in Perth today.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission issued writs against workers last
month after they took strike action in February, protesting against the sacking of a union
shop steward.

It is the first time individual workers have been fined over such strike action rather
than unions.

Speaking at the Melbourne rally, ACTU sectary Greg Combet said the union movement had
launched a fighting fund to defend workers prosecuted under the new regime.

"We'll fight for them wherever we need to and anyone else who faces the same treatment,"

Mr Combet said.

AAP mi/gfr/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: RAILWAY PROTEST VIC

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