FIFO disgrace: BHP refuses to hire locals at new Central Queensland mines
BHP should be condemned for its refusal to hire locals for two new mines in Central Queensland, the CFMEU said today.
While the company is out promoting the popularity of its 100% fly-in-fly-out policy at the new Caval Ridge and Daunia mines with jobseekers from capital cities, it is excluding local workers and undermining regional communities, said CFMEU National President Tony Maher.
Make the 457 visa system fair for all workers: CFMEU
The CFMEU’s submission to the Senate inquiry into 457 visas and enterprise migration agreements aims to make the system fairer for all workers – both Australian and overseas workers.
National CFMEU Construction Secretary Dave Noonan said that labour market testing was a necessary step to stop the undercutting of wages and conditions.
Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies
Today the Australian Human Rights Commission has released Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies.
The underrepresentation of women in industries considered to be male-dominated – mining, utilities and construction – is an issue that is not only undermining gender equality in Australia, but is having negative effects on industry performance and our economy. The Commission’s Toolkit was been developed to help address this problem.
Victorian state construction code shattered by court decision
Judge upholds CFMEU claims
State Government guilty of coercion
The Federal Court has found the Victorian State Government acted unlawfully when it attempted to use its building code to exclude two construction companies from government work because their workers had enterprise agreements in breach of the code.
The judgement stems from a four day trial in March at which the CFMEU argued the government acted unlawfully in attempting to exclude companies from government tenders, including the construction of Bendigo Hospital and the Circus Oz Project in Collingwood.
Watchdog's strength not watered down
CFMEU response to Jamie Briggs MP for Mayo
Jamie Briggs's opinion piece (‘Building Unions need to be reined in’ AFR May 14) contained factual errors that are continuously repeated by those on the conservative side of politics and which seem to go unchallenged by those that publish them.
His assertion that the Australian Building and Construction Commission powers have been ‘watered down’ is untrue. The Fair Work Building Commission has all the powers that the ABCC had and it is also untrue that the abolition of the ABCC has contributed to more industrial disputes.
Read more of Dave Noonan's Letter to the Australian Financial Review.
457 Visa report by Migration Council misses the point
A new Migration Council Report on the 457 visa program completely missed the key point about the controversial visa, according to the CFMEU.
The report titled “More than temporary: Australia’s 457 visa program” was funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) – the same government agency responsible for administering the 457 visa program.
“The key problem with the 457 visa program is that employers currently have no obligation to try and find Australian workers first – let alone employ them – before 457 visas are granted for temporary foreign workers”, said Dave Noonan National Secretary CFMEU Construction and General Division.
“But the Migration Council report fails to investigate seriously this critical issue, namely the extent to which employers have passed over suitable Australian workers and employed 457 visa workers.
Singleton camp: high-level roundtable urges action on FIFO in NSW
A meeting of Hunter community leaders has called for government action to address the growing use of Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) workers in NSW’s mining industry.
The roundtable including mayors, federal politicians, union and community representatives from across the political spectrum heard about the social and economic impacts of non-resident workers’ camps and FIFO work practices on mining communities.
The MAC Group has lodged a proposal with Singleton Council for a non-resident workers’ camp with a capacity to house 3,000 FIFO workers on the outskirts of Singleton.
'Politicians politicise issues, the community fights for them' - Allan writes to VIC Premier
Allan wrote to the Victorian Premier to express his disgust at Napthine’s response to the rally on April 30. His letter is reproduced here with his permission.
Dear Premier Napthine
I voted Liberal for both houses in the last Victorian election. I have nothing to do with the construction industry. I do not condone union extremism.
I am writing to you over my disgust at your attitude towards this morning’s CFMEU rally over worker safety and the respect to those who died at the wall collapse.
May Day Marches & Festivities this weekend
Australian trade unionists and their families will gather across the nation this weekend to mark the traditional International Workers May Day, in celebrations that are planned to be bigger than ever.
Check out the list of activities in capital cities and regional centres below and join the fun.
A dispute about safety - why VIC workers marched today
The CFMEU Victorian Branch has produced the film: Grocon - A dispute about safety - to illustrate why the Union is so passionate about safety and the importance of protecting safety of workers on construction sites.
Watch the film on You Tube here (full page view) or a shorter version of the film can also be viewed on the CFMEU VIC You Tube Channel
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