
Issue No 75		27 October 2000

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News

Building Workers Win $150 A Week Pay Rise

By Phil Davey

Australia's main construction union, the CFMEU is hailing a major industrial win as a new wages standard for the building industry.

Over 400 building workers at the massive Westfields Hornsby project have just returned to work after a week of bans and walk-offs, having won a new site allowance that is expected to become the new industry standard in NSW.

The Westfields workers won a $3 an hour site allowance (up from $1.80 an hour) as well as a 24 hour $25,000 death benefit. When overtime is taken into account this translates to an extra $150 in the average pay packet, over and above normal EBA (Enterprise Agreement) rates of pay.

This is expected to become the new standard for major projects (over $140 million).

Westfields have already agreed that the new site allowance will become the standard rate on their new projects, as will the death benefit. Builders Bovis-Lend Lease have also agreed to adopt the standard. Other major building companies are expected to agree over the next week.

CFMEU State President Peter McClelland today hailed the win as historic. "Over 30,000 unionised workers will ultimately benefit from the Hornsby win. We expect this new standard to be adopted by the industry, which means more money at the end of the week in our members pockets."

"30,000 families in NSW will get an improved quality of life thanks to the militancy and discipline of our members at Hornsby"

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Issue 75 contents

Interview: Civilized Capital
The FNV's Harrie Lindelauff explains to Peter Lewis how a friendly government and moderate employers make for a different sort of workplace in Holland.

Politics: Where Too Much Politics Is Barely Enough
With daily newspapers providing polling and analysis, television, cable, radio and Internet providing 24 hour coverage over a year long campaign -- there's more than enough politics for even the most voracious American political junkie reports Michael Gadiel.

International: US Cleaners on Hunger Strike
A number of US cleaners have this week gone on a hunger strike to back a union campaign for higher wages.

Economics: The Pass The Risk Trick
Derivatives, often seen as the currency of casino capitalism, are the fastest growing, largest and potentially most volatile aspect of capitalist economies. Economist Dick Brian sees behind this image an even deeper danger.

Health: Depressing Workplaces
New technologies and the impact of globalisation have sparked more stress and bouts of depression for workers, while causing a growing burden for social security systems, a new ILO report says.

Unions: Costello's Con
The low paid are bearing the brunt of the GST with inflation at a 10 year high argues the ACTU's Greg Combet.

Satire: Bush campaign an in-joke, admit advisors
TEXAS, Thursday: Following Bush's disastrous performance in the first Presidential debate it has been revealed that his bid for president is actually the result of a in-joke about how stupid the American people are.

» ACTU Calls For Compo For Costello's Inflation Spike

» Despair At Our ABC

» Outlaw Banks Strike Again

» Church Leader Confesses: We're Not Always Good Employers

» Building Workers Win $150 A Week Pay Rise

» MUA Prosecutes Patrick

» WA Secrecy Laws Gag Union Members

» LHMU Seek $1 An Hour Rise

» Picket Protects Broadway Squats

» APHEDA Appeal For Palestinian Medical Relief

» World Bank, IMF To Consult Unions

» Festering Joy

» Heath Our Hero Wins Two Gold