8/16/2019 CFMEU WA Media Release

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The CFMEU has labelled the $21,225 penalties against them inthe Federal Court today – for taking action over hundreds ofthousands of dollars in unpaid wages as a ‘disgrace.’

WA CFMEU Secretary Mick Buchan said this action characterises the absolute bias of the Fair WorkBuilding Commission.

“They came after the union for helping workers get the wages that were owed to them for work theyhad done. We are being punished for doing our job. ”

In handing down his decision Justice Siopis implied that the union had just cause. “The reason for theblockade was that the CFMEU had received reports that a number of employees of Concealed Interiors"working on the project had been unpaid for six to eight weeks. It is an agreed fact that the CFMEUhad reasonable belief (sic) that his may be the case”

…the cause for which the respondents organised and participated in the blockade, may be regarded as just

The case relates to an action in October 2013 when things came to a head for construction workers onthe T1 extension at Perth Airport, being developed by Broad Constructions.

Mr Buchan described it as one ‘of the most rorted sites ever seen in the Perth construction industry.’

“At least 40 workers had gone weeks, some months without pay. Relationships had broken downat home, cars were being repossessed and we were hearing stories of workers contemplatingsuicide.

“The workers were at their wits end. All their efforts had fallen on deaf ears and they were being lied toon a daily basis,” he said.

The CFMEU took up the plight of these workers after all other avenues had been closed off. For 5weeks the union tried to negotiate in good faith to resolve the situation and the response was to have noresponse at all. In fact the union was hindered from talking to the workers whilst trying to get to thebottom of a very dark hole.

When the problem first surfaced assurances were given by the Perth Airports Corporation that allwages would be paid and that workers suffering non-payment for work would be immediately given$1000 to help them out. After waiting a fair time, no payments or guarantees given were forthcoming.

Ian Farrer one of the workers who hadn’t seen a pay packet for 3 months, was owed in excess of$16,000, his relationship with his partner broke down, his car was repossessed and he had to liveoff handouts from family and friends.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union WA

TRADES HALL 80 Beaufort Street Perth 6000 Phone: 9228 6900

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Over $380,000 in unpaid wages and entitlements was found to be owed.

Incredibly, workers were having no superannuation payments paid into their account, even though theemployer was taking out the money and the project was ironically financed by the Australian IndustrySuper Fund.

In the midst of the dispute, the workers learned of Broad being awarded another contract to upgradesecurity at the site.

“The feeling was that Broad was being rewarded while the workers were being screwed,” said MrBuchan. Broad’s poor performance has since seen them replaced by another builder.

The CFMEU took up the fight on behalf of the workers with Broad constructions and theirparent company Leighton Holdings and had all the outstanding monies recovered and paid backto the workers.

There was little choice but to picket the site to help achieve the outcome.

Without the CFMEU these workers, who were already in dire straits would have faced even moresevere consequences. Ian Farrer a ceiling fixer on the project said the union had rescued him.

“The union came to my rescue and a lot of others. Without them my situation could have beenterminal- they helped to get my money back and for me to get my life back on my feet”.

Mr Buchan lashed out at the FWBC for doing nothing to address the non-payment of wages, whilefocusing their energies on punishing the union.

“This is what happens under the draconian laws of the Federal Liberal government. Unscrupulousemployers and their schemes to avoid paying decent hardworking workers are paced ahead of working

people receiving any fair representation or justice, and it will get worse under stronger laws beingproposed with reintroduction of the ABCC by the Turnbull government.

“We don’t apologise for helping workers to get paid so they can pay their bills, put food on thetable and look after themselves and their family. There is a war against worker’s rights and aclass divide in this country and cases like this prove it.”

Further contact:

Mick Buchan

CFMEU WA

State Secretary

Phone 0419 812 861

Footnote: to this day – sub contactors are still owed hundreds of thousands of dollars and have lostmillions on the Perth Airport project. Bad laws are letting dodgy employers to get away with it all.

End Release: 30/5/2016