The Construction Workers’ Union,
the CFMEU, claims that at one site in Redfern approximately 20 workers are fighting
for more than $100,000 in unpaid wages. They are recent migrants with minimal
language skills, few community contacts and little understanding of Australian
law.
The site’s project manger seemed surprised when asked about
the Union claims. “What claims? They weren’t employed by us” he said. He went
on to say that they subcontracted work for all the floor and wall tiling to an outside
company, which is working with another company to supply and install the tiles.
The allegation from the Union is that these companies then
employ tilers from the Korean and Chinese community who are very vulnerable
workers, agreeing to pay them at various rates in cash (well below industry
standards, with no entitlements). These workers work long days, for as little
as $100 per day. While a few of the workers received some payments, most of
these workers have not been paid at all.
A spokesperson for one of the subcontractors told the Herald
“That’s crap. The Union hasn’t shown us any
documentation. I’ve made numerous appointments with them and they haven’t
turned up.”
En Wong for the CFMEU denied that the Union
hadn’t shown up. “We have heaps of documentation. The salient point here is
that, too often, migrant workers and ‘illegals’ are seen as a cheap and
exploitable source of labour by some employers. In this case these 20
vulnerable workers have been seriously exploited and are owed thousands of
dollars for the work they completed. The Union
believes all workers deserve to receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work
and we are committed to campaigning until these workers receive justice. It is
not acceptable that the builder washes its hands of any responsibility to these
workers. The builder has a moral obligation to ensure that the people who
worked on this building receive payment for their labour. Rather than create
radical new workplace laws that tilt the scales in favour of big business, the
Howard Government needs to act to ensure vulnerable workers receive proper
protections to ensure they are not exploited by greedy contractors. The Union will continue to pressure the company to pay. So
far it’s been difficult and our members are suffering, but we will win.”
Source:
South Sydney Herald April 2007 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au