Sham Contracting also creates insecure work
The Howe Inquiry into insecure work in Australia has been swamped with more than 500 submissions, including around 450 from workers eager to tell their stories, the ACTU announced today.
CFMEU Construction National Office has submitted the Union's investigation into Sham Contracting in Construction - Race to the Bottom - to the Howe Inquiry.
More than 100 of the submissions, including the CFMEU's, are now available online at securejobs.org.au, with more being added each day.
New CFMEU editions of Awards now on website
The 2nd edition of the CFMEU publications of the Modern Awards for the Mobile Crane Hiring and Joinery and Building Trades sectors can now be downloaded from this website.
Follow the link to our Member Services/Wages Information page to view or download a copy of the Award.
UK blacklisted worker loses case because not an employee
The UK Blacklist Support Group issued the following Media Release following the decision by the Employment Tribunal on Friday January 20, 2012:
Agency workers have no legal protection against blacklisting by multi-national firms according to a shock decision in the Central London Employment Tribunal today.
The court found that Dave Smith (an engineer) had been blacklisted by the respondents Carillion (JM) Limited and Schal International Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Carillion) because he raised concerns about asbestos on building sites and because of his trade union activities. The firms actually admitted that their managers had supplied the malicious information to Mr Smith's blacklist file in a signed statement to the court.
ABCC’s "action" to protect workers entitlements is too little, too late
CFMEU National Construction Assistant Secretary Frank O’Grady said today that the ABCC’s recent series of press releases boasting about the$297,000 it had recovered in unpaid wages and entitlements was a desperate attempt for the organisation to justify its existence and $135 million cost to taxpayers since its inception.
Mr O’Grady said CFMEU branches around the country had recovered almost $20 million in underpaid wages and entitlements for construction workers in 2011.
Speak up for Safety: new ACTU campaign
Australian unions have launched a new national awareness campaign, to inform workers of their rights and employers of their obligations under the harmonised health and safety laws.
Australian unions launched the Speak Up campaign on January 1, 2012 so that workers have a say in making sure their workplaces are safe and healthy.
CFMEU TAS Office Closures Holiday Period
Please be advised that the CFMEU Construction Tasmania Branch office will close on Friday December 23 at 12 noon and re-open on Wednesday January 4, 2012.
The Union wishes all members a good and safe Christmas and New Year holiday. We will see you again in 2012!
Union secures good wages for Pulp Mill earth works
The CFMEU has spent many months negotiating a site agreement for the massive $2.5 billion Pulp Mill project at Bell Bay, in northern Tasmania. Agreement on a number of issues, including wage rates has yet to be finalised. But negotiations are ongoing.
However, because the job needed to start in late August, the Union and Gunns agreed on an interim wage rate of $34 per hour, as base rate, with relativities built in, and a $4/hour site allowance. That makes it one of the best paying jobs in Tasmania.
December 2011 Tasmanian Bluey out now!
The December 2011 issue of CFMEU Tasmania's journal, The Tasmanian Bluey, has now been published and distributed to members.
The December issue visits Gunns' Pulp Mill site in Bell Bay and reports on the wage rates secured by the Union for the earth works, which make it one of the best paying jobs in Tasmania.
The December Bluey also reports on Union wins for members on wage claims and unfair dismissals. There are plentiful photos of members on site; a Profile of Fairbrother construction foreman and long-time member, Mick Hayes; Safety Shockers, Jobs on the Go and more.
Download the Dec 2011 Tasmanian Bluey here.
Competency based progression still needs on-the-job training
CFMEU Construction Secretary Dave Noonan welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement on support for a single system and wage increases for Australian apprentices.
“The CFMEU also welcomes the proposal for competency-based, instead of time-served, progression for apprentices,” Mr Noonan said. “However, competency-based progression must be assessed in the workplace, with workplace assessments such as operate in the Queensland scheme.
113,000 reasons to pass on rate cut
The CFMEU, will write to its 113,000 strong membership advising they consider looking elsewhere for their financial needs if their bank refuses to pass on yesterday's RBA interest rate cut.
The CFMEU, which is one of Australia's largest unions, has been vocal on the need for rate cuts for the last year, witnessing first hand the devastating effect of high interest rates and a high dollar on jobs in the manufacturing sector.
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