The workers from the Mandurah Rail Link site are being prosecuted because of industrial action they took in February.

The union's Andrew Ferguson says collections have been taken today at a number building sites in New South Wales.

He says the money raised will be used to fund the workers' legal battle.

"We do have one commodity and that is solidarity of workers supporting each other," he said.

"The solidarity is outstanding, with that type of solidarity we are going to support these families, back them up and we are going to expose the unfair practises of the Federal Government to working people of this country."

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Building workers support WA colleagues

The Age: July 24, 2006

Building workers have launched a fighting fund to support the first individual workers prosecuted under new industrial laws.

Members of the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) took a collection during a mass meeting at the University of NSW in Sydney, which coincided with other meetings on building sites across NSW.

The meetings were held to support 107 workers from the Mandurah Rail Link building site in Perth who are facing fines of up to $28,600.

So far, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) has issued writs against 107 of a possible 430 workers who took strike action in February while working on the troubled $1.5 billion West Australian railway project.

It is the first time fines have been issued against individual workers taking strike action.

The workers walked off the job in protest against the sacking of a union shop steward, and did so despite union advice to remain at work.

CFMEU NSW secretary Andrew Ferguson said the appeal would provide money for the legal battle to defend the workers and their families from prosecution by the ABCC.

"Most Australians applaud demonstrations of mateship, but under the Howard government it puts you at risk of being fined and losing your home," Mr Ferguson said.

"These workers are being dragged through the courts, face massive financial penalties, and even risk jail if they fail to answer questions from the ABCC."

Mandurah Rail Link site safety officer Mal Peters is one of the 107 construction workers who were served writs.

"Who has got $28,000 sitting aside to pay for something like this? We are ordinary, working class people. We live from week to week," Mr Peters told the launch.

"Thankfully we have received overwhelming support from thousands of people who have offered to help us out as we fight for justice.

"We might be the first individual workers prosecuted ... but most people realise that we definitely won't be the last as long as the Liberals are in power."