Should Multiplex Agree to 37 Per Cent Wage Demand?
With the Performance of Construction Index report showing that construction industry activity and employment have shrunk every month for almost the past two years, now might seem a strange time for the building union to be launching claims for a 37 per cent increase in pay for its members.
It might also be a strange time to be pushing for 18 per cent superannuation and a fare and travel allowance’ payment of $50 .
Still, that appears to be what is happening. According to a report in The Australian, these are the demands being pursued in a new wage claim by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CMFEU) against building giant Brookfield Multiplex. Apparently, the demands are a response to the union losing out in its bid for far-reaching job security clause that would dictate pay and conditions for sub-contractors in Queensland.
As it stands, there is no way Multiplex should agree to anything near the union’s claim.
In fairness, the claim is not as extravagant as it sounds. The 37.5 per cent increase by the union would actually be phased in over five years, and would be made up of three seven per cent increases and two further increases of eight per cent....
