Construction workers mourn colleagues and fight ABCC in Brisbane.

By Tim Shepherd

Hundreds of construction workers gather in Emma Miller place to mourn colleagues who died on the job.

Hundreds of construction workers downed tools and gathered to mourn colleagues who died on the job before International Workers Memorial day.

National Union for Workers representative, Martin de Roy held a sign demanding justice for Josh Park-Fing.

Last year 186 Australian workers were killed on the job and more than 40 so far this year, according to the Queensland Council of Unions.

In the crowd was National Workers Union representative, Martin de Roy, who held a sign reading “#JUSTICEFORJOSH.”

Josh Park-Fing died two years ago in a tractor incident while under a Work for the Dole employment scheme.

However, Josh’s family still do not know the circumstances surrounding his death, says de Roy.

“Senator Michalia Cash, the minister responsible, hasn’t yet released the report into his death…we believe it’s high time she released [it],” he said.

He says holding the sign and getting Union support will build momentum for Josh’s story.

“It’s easy to read shocking news stories and forget about them, so we want to make sure people remember Josh and that he has justice.”

Construction workers held signs displaying the age, gender and industry of those who have died at work.

The memorial ceremony also took aim at the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) legislation. The ABCC was established by the Coalition government in 2016 to crack down on illegal behaviour on worksites.

Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Ros McLennan says the legislation does nothing to protect workers.

“The Australian Building and Construction Commission is an absolute disgrace. It’s a Turnbull federal LNP government attack-dog that’s only interested in fining workers and their Unions,” she said.

“In 2016 there were 35 construction workers killed on worksites in Australia and the ABCC since it’s inception has not prosecuted one single employer.”

Builders unions railed hard against the ABCC legislation introduced in 2016.

But McLennan also says Queensland is leading in workplace safety laws.

“Here in Queensland we are the first state to have industrial manslaughter laws that provide a strong deterrent to bad employers who put profit over worker safety,” she said.

“We believe the ABCC should be scrapped and Queensland’s nation-leading laws to support worker safety should be made nation-wide.”

The construction unions will be marching through Brisbane on Labour Day, May 7.