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More Federal Court Fines Plague Unions
The CFMEU in Qld and NSW had penalties totalling $810,000 imposed on them last week by the Federal Court for unlawful conduct. The Courts are reacting to the union’s obvious contempt for Court decisions these days. With the union facing legal costs under the legislation which restored the ABCC in late 2016, any future penalty imposed on the union will likely attract hefty legal costs as well.
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Sub-contractor Opposes CFMEU Appeal
Master Builders recently appeared before a Five-Member Full Bench of FWC to represent a sub-contractor who was opposing a CFMEU appeal against FWC approving a non-union EBA. Whilst a decision was reserved, Master Builders challenged the union’s contentions that all commercial sub-contractors in WA work a minimum of 50 hours per week (Monday to Friday). The union’s assertion simply fails to recognise the difficult trading conditions in the current market.
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Union Pressure is Passé
Master Builders has been advised of the CFMEU pressing commercial sub-contractors on tier one commercial construction sites to sign up to the union’s 2016 pattern EBA. Most refuse as doing so undermines their competitive position in a tight market. Having union officials allegedly say dirty work boots are a safety hazard in support of its EBA claim is conduct that belongs in the last century.
