If you and Meski approve of laws that force a person to speak about a conversation/s

I don’t understand how you drew that conclusion from what I said. I don’t.

I suggest, that you quietly sit down, and write down all the things that you enjoy now, that others before you fought for, and went without their wages for in order to achieve these things - whether it’s in the area of worker safety or pay and conditions. None of them just happened - not one!

There’ve been at least 4 members of the NSW govt(both sides) who’ve been questioned or charged with domestic violence charges/accusations. Does that mean that every male in the NSW govt(both parties, both Assembly and Council) is a wife basher? Of course not! One Labor Upper House member is in jail for sexual assault of a young man - does that make you question all the other males there? Of course not! The list goes on!

Like most people exercising hysterical hate, you show a very twisted, jaundiced and almost pathological, illogical and unjust assessment of the whole(100,000) by the ALLEGED actions of an extremely small minority? Hysterical and damned stupid! Grow up! There’s more accusations against the police in several states in relation to at least 6 deaths in custody of aboriginal people - does that mean that every cop is a racist killer? Of course not! Even though there’s a disturbing history in this regard, a person is still entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty - unless, in your view, they’re a union member! Grow UP!

I’ve met Andrew Ferguson too. I’ve been to functions where he’s attended, one where he was the guest speaker - A May Day Toast a couple of years ago. Like TOM MCCLOUGHLIN I have never heard him utter one word or intonation or?? remotely supporting violence of any sort. However, I have supported his conviction, that the ABCC is undemocratic, unjust and purely criminal in the execution of their widespread laws! Like the arrest of Ark Tribe who is facing 6 mnths jail for not attending an interrogation by this fascist body, set up by Howard and continued by the Rudd govt, to their shame! If I was in his state, I’d be attending court to support him.

If you and Meski approve of laws that force a person to speak about a conversation/s at a private function that just happened to have other union members present, then go and live in some other country, not this one! Bad laws should be protested about, and protested against until they’re removed - that’s what happens in a democracy, not ini a police state that you’re advocating.
If people hadn’t marched, gone on strike etc married women would still be forced to resign from the commonwealth public service jobs the day of their marriage(like me) equal pay would be even more unequal than at present; you’d be working 50-60 hrs without a break, and there’d still be canaries and horses working down mines, and miners like my friend’s late father, would still be contracting ‘dusted lungs’ and people would still be working with asbestos, that too often result in horrible and agonising deaths.

None of these changes happened because an employer/s or politicians woke up one day and said, ‘this can’t go on, it’s killing people etc’? No, workers went on strike so othat you have holidays, holiday pay and penalty rates - that’s in jobs that Howard didn’t impose his ideas of workers rights???His idea was, no rights or damned close to it!

Member refuses be interrogated by seven times ILO condemned building commission so they deserved to have their offices blown up. That’s your argument.

It’s always interesting how right wingers can so quickly excuse the use of police state powers and terrorism when targeted at one of their enemies. Then off to their blog to tap out some BS about the cause of liberty and the war on terror.

Go on, bring yourself to condemn someone driving a car bomb through Sydney traffic to blow up the offices of a registered industrial organisation with over 100,000 members. I’ll bet you can’t.

Union pair on assault charge
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/union-pair-on-assault-charges-20100309-pvwr.html

CFMEU member charged over death threats
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=71959&rss=yes

Union member facing jail for failing to attend hearing
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/union-member-facing-jail-for-failing-to-attend-hearing/story-e6freo8c-1225730872120

Shall I go on… there are plenty more!

Angela

It’s somewhat early days I think in terms of the shock value of this arson attack. Yes it is bad. Very bad.

Another puzzling lack of coverage was burnt to the ground Latin American House at Addison Rd Community Centre last year about 12 months back. A weatherboard that had been there some 30 plus years. AF was at a function there the night before expressing solidarity for a Left wing cause of some kind - might have been the 25th 30th anniversary of the election of the Allende govt or something like that. Can’t remember.

Andrew Ferguson strikes me as the most left wing and most idealistic of the current dynastic generation. Indeed I admitted to me on a booth one voting for the Greens Senate candidate, she having done a work experience placement in their office. I also saw him at a vigil at Garden Island for the Chilean Navy ship formerly used to torture Allende supporters in Chile.

I think it’s highly simplistic to conflate Tas rabid loggers, or indeed even NSW logger thugs (eg convicted for offences near Cobargo) at the direction of a certain federal ALP executive member, with Andrew Ferguson. Chances are that it’s just as likely a right wing union as anyone. NSW doesn’t tolerate independent indealistic thinking very much. Just like Juanita Nielsen and Jack Mundey shafted in their respective ways.

dont be so naive!

The CFMEU still has a forestry workers division… and that’s them in the YouTube video.

Ange

Sticks and stones etc! I’m not bothered by you one bit!

For someone who believes in a democracy, it’s obvious that you only intend it to be for those who you believe are ‘worthy’? I abhor all violence, regardless of who commits it, including you!

No doubt you were leading the list of those who said that Howard and Downer should be hauled before the Court when those at AWB finally confessed, that the permission to hand over all those millions to Saddam Hussain came from the “top”? No, now why doesn’t that surprise me? I’m not a member of the CFMEU in any state, nor do any of my kids belong to that Union or ever have! I just hate your idea of justice! Rather like Pinnochet of Chile or???many others!

You are giving away you cover with your writings.

Your sycophantic guff would make any reader of crikey vomit!

And, then like any thug CFMEU unionist and insider you turn to abuse as none of you have the intellect of a wee ant:

“Take your anti union garbage and go to hell!”

Basically, if you cant stand the heat… all of you CFMEU bully boys hide behind a screen as did you fellow thugs in Tasmania.

You are weak little men with no backbone… and that is why the media and the PM and Deputy PM dont listen to your absolute twaddle anymore… CFMEU is voiceless and weak!

CFMEU have been involved in many crimes and convicted of many crimes — for anyone just Google CFMEU convictions/crimes/arrests - and as for bully boy Liz45… go and ply your pathetic crap on someone who may listen. or should that be CFMEU Insider (former of course)

Sad, weak, CFMEU bully boy!

I don’t have to “swallow” your s**t at all! If it wasn’t for Union support, I’d never have been financially or physically able to sue my employer for negligence which 26 yrs later still causes disabling and acute pain. I took the action and they were found to be negligent! Take your anti union garbage and go to hell!

Finally, I don’t want to live in a country, where the justice system only works for the ‘chosen’ but allows all sorts of crimes against those it doesn’t ‘choose’! Take a look at what “democracy” means? Not your version, thankfully! We should all be able to take comfort in a real justice system, not one designed by you and your mob!
If CFMEU members were involved in crimes of violence, the relevant govts would be pushing for them to at least be charged, at best to be de-registered? I haven’t heard one word in this direction via the media, either on a state level or by AFP? Again, provide the proof or shut up! You don’t bother me one bit!

You talk about another time and other people, but weren’t those CFMEU people down in Tassie kicking the Jesus out of the poor greenies car; and wasn’t that a CFMEU official in the video. And didn’t they threaten them physically?

Deary me, Lizzy45, take off the blinkers realise that the CFMEU is ‘begetting’ what it has dished out over the years.

It isn’t right that they were car bombed, but I agree with a previous reply… how do we know it wasn’t the CFMEU themselves seeking some some form of sympathy. hang on I shall get the violins out!

And, right back at you tell me what sort of democracy allows thugs like the CFMEU to threaten fellow citizens. they are something of the past. politically and in every other way.

Sorry Lizzy45 but thats the plain truth so swallow it!

angelamews - As above! Provide proof. The fact is, that the Cole Commission didn’t bring up one example of corruption by the workers, who most belong to the CFMEU! Go and look at the findings.

Coupled with this fact is the response of the Howard govt which introduced the Australian Building and construction Commission, which has more powers than either state or federal police. For example; there’s no presumption of innocence; no right to remain silent and a person does not have the right to a solicitor of their choice(this is the same as the component of the Anti-Terrorism Legislation).
In plain terms this means, that if you have a conversation with a co-worker(or anyone else for that matter) at a barbeque out of work time you can be brought before the ABCC - you don’t have the right to remain silent(jail of 6 months) nor the presumption of innocence, and if you discuss the interview with your wife/husband/partner, you can be also jailed for 6 months.

Tell me what part of living in a so-called democracy condones this type of behaviour, with no evidence let alone proof of breaking the law? How would you like to be hauled in for an interview after a social gathering at your home or workplace? If this is part of a fair go, it’s not for me! Evan Ivan Milat and the brutal murderers of Anita Cobby were entitled to the legal rights to which I referred! When we divvy up the legal rights of citizens depending on whether we agree with them or not, we’re no better than Saddam Hussein or any other despot! You either support the rule of law or you don’t!
Jack Mundey was demonised too - now he’s a national treasure, of which he is!

Having said that let me say this… How dare former CFMEU Insider (read - current CFMEU lackie) defend an organisation that has perpetrated so much violence on others over the decades in Australia.

Here is an organisation that allegedly kicked in the windows and physically threatened the greenies in Tasmania; who have been allegedly involved in a myriad of physical assaults over the decades; whose one time leader used to carry a shot gun in the boot of his car and whose violence to get their way has only possibly been ‘outgunned’ by the reign of the Painters & Dockers union on the Australian waterfront in the 9160s and 70s….

Yes, we all deplore acts of terrorism, and the person who car bombed the CFMEU in Sydney should be jailed, but maybe Rudd and Gillard want to stay well clear on the CFMEU because of the union’s acidic nature over the decades.

Violence begets violence.

Uncle Abe

Guess what - you are thought of by the great majority as no better than bikies, and no one really cares when those thugs turn on each other.

At least the bikies try to improve there image by having toy runs.