Contracted workers at BlueScope’s Port Kembla steelworks are on a three-day strike to get a pay rise from a company that is profitable enough to pay bonuses to its bosses.
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Around 60 South Coast workers employed by Downer Group’s engineering, construction and maintenance division are on strike until Friday in pursuit of a better pay deal.
The Downer workers are mainly employed as electricians at BlueScope’s steelworks.
The strike also involves more than 300 Downer employees working on Newcastle light rail and includes an indefinite ban on overtime.
Workers are after a 3 per cent pay increase, after agreeing to a two-year pay freeze and reduction in other conditions in the last agreement in 2015.
The three per cent rise is in line with what Downer agreed to pay its workers in Victoria and Queensland.
Negotiations on a new deal started in February and the company has offered a 2.25 per cent pay rise but refused to bring back the conditions lost during the pay freeze.
Downer Group’s before-tax profit last financial year rose 35 per cent to $36.7 million and made a before-tax profit last year.
Downer’s engineering, construction and maintenance chief Sergio Cinerari was paid almost $500,000 in bonuses.
“These profits came on the back of workers enduring a two-year wage freeze, reductions to their site allowances, and lower redundancy benefits,” said the ETU’s NSW secretary Dave McKinley.
“These workers are the reason profits are surging, yet they’re been denied a fair deal that sees them receive the benefit of their hard work.”
A Downer spokeswoman said the company felt the pay rise was generous.
"Downer remains available and willing to have further discussions with employees and unions to negotiate a new EBA,” the spokeswoman said.
“We have offered a sustainable and fair 2.25 per cent pay increase, which is above CPI and above current market pay rates, and also includes no changes to existing conditions.”