Quick summary:
Reports that the NSW CFMMEU branch has launched another campaign of shutting down the sites of major builders, including this time a Watpac site, citing safety concerns.
Industry sources described the union’s move as a “power play” and the AFR reports that “the builder is at the heart of a tussle with the CFMEU, which wants the traditionally union-friendly company to be the first to sign up to its new state agreement, causing others to follow.”
Master Builders NSW Executive Director Brian Seidler said, "It would appear to be a co-ordinated campaign to put more commercial pressure on builders who have been identified by the union as on their list to sign up to the enterprise agreement."
Australian Financial Review, 21/10/2020
Watpac sites shut in CFMEU safety blitz
ASX-listed construction group Watpac had two of its Sydney projects shut down by the construction union for the past three days over safety concerns but industry fears it is part of a campaign to pressure builders to sign up to a 20 per cent pay rise.
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union officials arrived on Monday at Watpac's $450 million Natura apartment development in Macquarie Park to inspect suspected safety breaches, causing the site's 150 workers to down tools.
The site remained locked down on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some workers sitting out the day in sheds to ensure they were paid.
"It's a power play," says one building industry source, who asked not to be named because of concerns about union retribution.
Among the safety concerns raised by the unions were blockages over access and egress areas used in evacuations and evacuation signage that was obscured, and, in some cases missing.
Watpac is understood to have disputed whether the breaches required the site to be locked down.
Its $200 million Ku-ring-gai Hospital redevelopment in Hornsby has also been shut down.
The builder is at the heart of a tussle with the CFMEU, which wants the traditionally union-friendly company to be the first to sign up to its new state agreement, causing others to follow.
Safety blitz
But builders have baulked at the agreement's 5 per cent a year pay rises over four years and rostered-days-off calendar that requires workers to take their RDOs at the same time, effectively forcing projects to shut every second Monday.
The union safety blitz occurred just days after the CFMEU moved to pressure Watpac over its agreement by securing ballots for protected industrial action at the Fair Work Commission.
Watpac declined to comment.
Other major builders that have refused to sign up include CPB, formerly Leightons, which saw partial shutdowns of its $349 million Nepean Hospital site last week due to safety issues.
Lendlease, Multiplex and Built sites in Sydney's CBD were disrupted by union safety inspections last month.
Master Builders Association NSW director Brian Seidler was sceptical that the inspections were motivated by genuine safety concerns due to their coincidence with the bargaining stand-off.
"It would appear to be a co-ordinated campaign to put more commercial pressure on builders who have been identified by the union as on their list to sign up to the enterprise agreement," he said.
The CFMEU, which declined to comment, had flagged it would ramp up safety inspections on builders in a social media post on Monday.
"The CFMEU for some time has been complaining about the fall in safety standards on NSW building sites," it posted.
"In response to these falling standards, we have stepped up further prioritising of safety on the job."
Members responded by saying there are "going to be a few more shutdowns" and "there's a few shut down [at the moment]".
The union argued construction workers are entitled to big pay rises because they worked hard through the COVID-19 crisis, "ensuring the industry can remain a strong driver of the state's economy".
It also says a fixed-RDO calendar would improve the safety and mental health of workers who do long hours in response to tight building schedules and end up not using the RDOs and cashing them out.