Gvt backs bosses on right of entry?

Date: 18 March 2010

The Federal Government's support for employers challenging a Fair Work Australia decision on right of entry for unions is a danger to workers and an attack on workers' rights.

In particular, the Minister's singling out of the construction union is unfair and unwarranted. It will help employers make construction workplaces less fair and less safe.

"I find it extraordinary that in spite of the overwhelming evidence which shows that when the building industry does not have a strong union presence, workplace injuries and deaths increase and workers' entitlements are ripped off, the Federal Government wants to ensure that building developers get more power to keep members from calling their unions and having a union representative visit the workplace," said CFMEU Construction National Secretary Dave Noonan.

"The problems with the insulation program at the moment show how dangerous elements of the building and construction industry can be. At a time when the Government is cleaning up the mess created by contractors and employers who did not take OHS seriously, it's a joke that they are lining up with business to limit unions' ability to visit members on sites.

"The Government now knows how hard it is to face parents and family members who have lost children or partners to a workplace accident. They should respect that our industry deals with this nearly every week of the year. The statistics would most certainly increase if the employers got their way and stopped unions visiting workplaces altogether.

"The laws covering our industry have been criticised by the ILO. Our organisers and our members have been pursued for seeking representation on building sites which have clear issues affecting workplace health and safety and workers' entitlements.

"The Government should put the interests of construction workers and their families before the interests of big business," Mr Noonan said.

For further information

Contact:	Dave Noonan, National Secretary
Union:	CFMEU National Secretary
WWW:	http://cfmeu.asn.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]