The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) campaign to secure wage rises for construction workers across the country has attracted fierce criticism from the federal government, which is demanding the union apply "restraint" in order to keep a lid on inflation.
With many building industry agreements expiring, the CFMEU has started negotiations with a range of companies and is still considering whether to extend existing wage agreements or forge new ones before the introduction of Labor's new industrial relations system in 2010.
Victorian Electrical Trades Union secretary Dean Mighell has condemned the new wage restraint mantra, espoused by government and business. The February 18 Melbourne Herald Sun quoted him suggesting that the Rudd government was completely of touch with workers. "It's quite ridiculous to talk about a freeze on wages for workers struggling to pay a mortgage, struggling to meet rising fuel costs and struggling with the price of education", he said.
The CFMEU is also resisting pressure from the building industry to reduce site allowances and to give up hard won gains such as a rostered day off calendar. The RDO calendar groups the 26 days off that workers are entitled to each year so that they can be taken in a block.
"Employers have always been greedy and they never cease trying to force workers to work longer hours for less money", CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan commented in an interview with the Herald Sun on March 11. "Flexibility in the employers' lexicon is an excuse for a reduction in standards and an expansion in working hours."