Unions attack building guidelines

Unions NSW has slammed Treasurer Mike Baird over new guidelines to undermine their influence. Source: AAP

BUILDING sites will become more dangerous for workers and the broader community if the NSW government strips away union representation in the construction sector, says Unions NSW.

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird is expected to announce new guidelines on Friday to undermine the influence of construction unions, The Australian reports.

The guidelines will prevent unions from undertaking site induction processes and outlaw project-specific allowances providing higher wages without productivity increases.

Employers will be given three months from July to comply, Mr Baird told the newspaper.

But Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon says unions hold builders and the government to account, such as when the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) last week blew the whistle on an asbestos scare at Barangaroo.

"Construction unions in this state are absolutely vital to a safe building industry," he said in a statement.

"By attacking trade union representation on building sites, Mike Baird is also attacking safety standards in one of the state's most dangerous industries.

"Construction unions in NSW are robust but also responsible."

Mr Lennon said NSW's building unions had a record of being cooperative and constructive.

"Mike Baird needs to put the Liberal Party orthodoxy aside for a moment and engage with the objective reality of industrial relations in this state."

But Mr Baird said unions had been increasing pressure on NSW construction companies to strike workplace agreements that lift wages but not productivity.

He said the union tactics against employers were unacceptable to the state government.

"This state's infrastructure need is so immense that we can't afford taxpayer funds to be wasted," he told the paper.

NSW's guidelines will be based on Victoria's crackdown on union-friendly workplace agreements, and expanded to cover the private sector as well as public sector projects.

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Unions attack building guidelines

Unions NSW has slammed Treasurer Mike Baird over new guidelines to undermine their influence. Source: AAP

BUILDING sites will become more dangerous for workers and the broader community if the NSW government strips away union representation in the construction sector, says Unions NSW.

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird is expected to announce new guidelines on Friday to undermine the influence of construction unions, The Australian reports.

The guidelines will prevent unions from undertaking site induction processes and outlaw project-specific allowances providing higher wages without productivity increases.

Employers will be given three months from July to comply, Mr Baird told the newspaper.

But Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon says unions hold builders and the government to account, such as when the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) last week blew the whistle on an asbestos scare at Barangaroo.

"Construction unions in this state are absolutely vital to a safe building industry," he said in a statement.

"By attacking trade union representation on building sites, Mike Baird is also attacking safety standards in one of the state's most dangerous industries.

"Construction unions in NSW are robust but also responsible."

Mr Lennon said NSW's building unions had a record of being cooperative and constructive.

"Mike Baird needs to put the Liberal Party orthodoxy aside for a moment and engage with the objective reality of industrial relations in this state."

But Mr Baird said unions had been increasing pressure on NSW construction companies to strike workplace agreements that lift wages but not productivity.

He said the union tactics against employers were unacceptable to the state government.

"This state's infrastructure need is so immense that we can't afford taxpayer funds to be wasted," he told the paper.

NSW's guidelines will be based on Victoria's crackdown on union-friendly workplace agreements, and expanded to cover the private sector as well as public sector projects.

View the original article here

Unions try to lift apprentice pay

UNIONS are calling on Fair Work Australia to lift the "grossly low" pay rates of apprentices across the country.

The Australia Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) launched a case to increase apprentices' minimum wages at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney on Monday.

ACTU Secretary David Oliver says current apprenticeship wage structures are decades old.

"The pay rates don't reflect the reality that many apprentices are adults and have adult responsibilities like kids
and a mortgage," he told AAP.

"The wages are currently less than the minimum wage and sometimes only slightly higher than the Newstart allowance.

"They don't provide enough money for apprentices to survive."

Mr Oliver says more apprentices are dropping out of their training because of low wages.

"When you can get $7.60 an hour as an apprentice, or $11 an hour for flipping burgers, the dropout rate is pretty understandable," Mr Oliver said.

"We have employers complaining about apprentices not completing their courses but many apprentices can't because they're simply not paid enough."

Mr Oliver says unions want increased pay for all apprentices and for those over 20 to be paid the same rate as the lowest adult classification in the relevant award.

"In the long term this is an investment in Australia's skills base which will deliver major benefits for industry," he said.

Last week, the Electrical Trades Union released research showing many apprentices were beginning their training at an older age and were burdened with greater financial responsibilities.

Just 8.4 per cent of electrical apprentices were older than 25 in 1996 but this had jumped to 26.1 per cent in 2006, according to the research.

ETU national secretary Peter Tighe said many older trainees were battling to pay rent, bills and groceries, whereas apprentices in the past had traditionally lived at home with the help of their parents after leaving school
aged about 15.
 

"The sweeping changes to apprentice wages and conditions being pursued by unions in a major Fair Work Commission case which commences tomorrow would simply deter employers from hiring apprentices with consequent negative impacts upon employers, apprentices and the community,” Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

“A large proportion of apprentices are paid above award wages, which reflects the fact that employers are prepared to pay above award wages if they can afford to do so and if they are having difficulty attracting suitable employees. Award wages are more likely to be paid by smaller businesses and those in rural and regional areas and the unions’ claims would be particularly unfair on these businesses.

View the original article here