At a time when wages are stagnating, building workers in the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) are reaping the benefits of being part of the union.
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In the latest round of enterprise bargaining negotiations, the CFMEU NSW branch delivered an annual 5 per cent increase in wages and rises in conditions such as productivity, meal and travel allowances.
CFMEU NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield said the union had also made a pre-emptive strike against any move to strip penalty rates away from the construction sector.
“Around 600,000 workers have had their penalty rates cut because the Turnbull government sided with big business in the Fair Work Commission hearings,” Mr Greenfield said.
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“In response the CFMEU has ensured the latest EBA for building workers includes a condition where all overtime from February 1 will be paid at double time.”
Mr Greenfield said the union was in a war with the Turnbull Government over its attacks on workers’ rights and safety.
He said under the watch of the re-established Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) there had been an increase in accidents and deaths on building sites.
Rip-offs of workers’ superannuation and wages was also escalating and it was only the CFMEU that was standing up for sub-contractors and workers who had lost money.
In the 2016-17 financial year the CFMEU wage claims team clawed back almost $7 million in unpaid super for members and $3.4 million in unpaid wages and entitlements.
Mr Greenfield said recent changes to building regulations on federal government jobs had also led to the increased use of casual labour over full-time, direct employees.
He said the increased use of casual labour was a threat to safety on sites and the CFMEU would remain vigilant in its fight for members’ job security, their health and safety, and decent hours of work.
Go to nsw.cfmeu.org.au.