We caught up with Ark at a supporters' function in Adelaide last Tuesday, during a break in his trial. 

by Dan Murphy, Publicity Officer, CFMEU Victoria

Who would’ve thought that a simple building site meeting over safety would turn into a two year legal fight that has dragged workers’ rights down to a new low?

Certainly not Ark Tribe, who this week faces a nervous wait to find out if he will be jailed for failing to attend before the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

His principled stand has taken him from rank and file rigger to the face of the struggle for workplace rights, and taught him plenty along the way.

When we caught up with Ark at a function in Adelaide on Tuesday afternoon, he was awaiting a decision on whether his case would be thrown out of court.  Surrounded by supporters, he told us what keeps him going, how he deals with the prospect of jail and of his fears for the sort of country his son will grow up in.

How would you feel if the case was thrown out tomorrow?

Personally, it would be wonderful, but at the end of the day it doesn’t get rid of the disease. It’s still there and the fight will have to go on.

You talk about your fight being not just about you, or even other CFMEU members, but the kids that will come behind us. Do you see your case as part of a struggle over what sort of country our kids grow up in?

Initially I didn’t, but I’ve become a lot more educated since that day, which is almost two years ago, and now for me it is about the future.

Just imagine if 20 years down the track people are coming into the industry and they’re told having no rights and being forced to inform are the way it is, and it’s going be that way for the next 100 years. That’s not Australia.

And it’s not just the construction laws. As I said this morning, this is one of many attacks on our rights.

What keeps you motivated?

What keeps me motivated is people like this (gestures around at fellow unionists). Everybody around me. The true Australians as I like to call them.

What gives you strength?

The CFMEU and my brothers in the BLF Social Club - but also people in the street.

In the last two years it’s gone from people having no idea about what this was, to them stopping me on the street and asking ‘We saw you on the news, what is all this ABCC?’

What reaction do you get when you tell someone about your case who isn’t already aware of it?

Outraged. They can’t believe this sort of thing exists in this country.

Have you given any thought to the worst case scenario, 6 months in jail?

I’ve got no problem with it. I’ll do it if I have to.