The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) is spreading its net further throughout the building industry in an attempt to intimidate unions from standing up for the interests of their members.
Its target list includes the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU); the Electrical Trades Union; the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Maritime Union of Australia.
The ABCC has added Craig Johnston to its list of individuals targeted. Johnston is a respected militant amongst left unions. There is speculation that the industrial cop created under Howard-era IR laws is trying to whip-up the impression of widespread "industrial chaos" in the building industry in order to justify its continued existence.
In a case initiated in the Federal Court the has ABCC has alleged that Johnston and the CFMEU have breached federal industrial and building industry legislation. It is alleged that Johnston pressured a Geelong sub-contractor into hiring a union-approved labourer at a site at Deakin University, and to have prevented the completion of a truck delivery. The incidents allegedly occurred in 2007.
Johnston was the AMWU state secretary between 1998 and 2002. Along with the Workers First leadership, he led the union through its successful Campaign 2000 period and continued to produce results for workers in metals and manufacturing in Victoria. Allegations related to a dispute with Skilled Engineering in 2001 ended with Johnston serving a jail term and losing membership of the AMWU.
CFMEU assistant state secretary Bill Oliver stated on April 2 that the ABCC continues "to live up to their reputation as Howard government attack dogs, determined to cause trouble where none exists. The CFMEU suspects there may not even be a case, other than the fact Mr Johnston is involved."
"We will be defending these allegations vigorously", added Oliver.
The Rudd government plans to retain the ABCC until 2010 and then transfer its powers to another organisation.