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Issue No. 193 | 29 August 2003 |
Smells Like Community Spirit
Interview: The New Deal Unions: In the Line of Hire Culture: Too Cool for the Collective? International: The Domino Effect Industrial: A Spanner in the Works National Focus: Gathering of the Tribes History: The Welcome Nazi Tourist Bad Boss: Domm, Domm Turn Around Poetry: Just Move On. Review: Reality Bites
Iranians Expelled Over Teen Affair Teachers Fight Casual Attitude Abbott Asked to Consider Honesty WorkCover To Take Robbery Seriously Power Blackouts Expose Jobs Shortage Bigger Money Player Equals Job Cuts Indonesian Human Rights Appeal
The Soapbox Education The Locker Room Postcard
Tom�s History Of The World Tony Is A Tool
Labor Council of NSW |
News IR Promises Crash on Motorway
CFMEU spokesman, Peter Zaboyak, made that claim as members of his union and the AWU voted for a series of rolling stoppages, beginning with a 48-hour walk-out this week, that will halt progress on the $1.7 billion project. Zaboyak accused Abi Group and Leightons Contractors of using "slave labour" on the ring road that will link many of Sydney's existing motorways. The two established contractors have formed a joint venture company, Abi Leighton, for a project expected to employ more than 1000 people at its peak. The joint venture, Zaboyak says, is evading its responsibilities by using non-union body hire labour on all-up rates as little as $14 an hour - an amount supposed to factor-in workers compensation, super, long service leave and payroll tax payments. "These people are getting 50 percent of what directly employed workers are receiving. Abi Leighton is using body hire to slash wages and evade its responsibilities," Zaboyak said. "They are screwing workers with the sub-contractors to a degree I have never seen in my 20 years' experience." Zaboyak said the credibility of the NSW State Government had been "seriously undermined" because Abi Leighton had breached the employment code it trumpeted in an effort to highlight industrial relations differences between itself and the Federal Government. "Frankly, it is a little hard to distinguish any difference between what is happening here and Tony Abbott's regime," Zaboyak said. "The RTA has gone to sleep at the wheel." AWU secretary, Russ Collison, said "substantial breaches" of workplace laws had been uncovered on the project and predicted an "extensive industrial campaign" lay ahead. Labor Council will contact Roads Minister, Carl Scully, to urge implementation of his Government's NSW Construction Code of Practice on the Western Orbital. Workers voted to strike after months of negotiations on a project award failed to bring an agreement.
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