Leightons incites strike action

Perth building workers have brushed aside threats made in the 
dead of night and decided to continue their fight against 
building giant Leightons' bid to slash night work rates. The 
company has invoked the full armoury of weapons supplied by the 
federal government — Industrial Relations Commission orders, 
Supreme Court and Federal Court writs — in its effort to evade 
double time payments on the Perth Tunnel project.

Last week, it sent representatives on late night visits to the 
homes of employees to warn of legal action against individuals 
who did not turn up to work the next day. None of the 300-strong 
workforce caved in to the threats.

Workers struck after Leightons announced last week that it would 
only pay 25 percent loadings for 12-hour night shifts on the 
project.

Industry sources say double time has been the construction 
industry standard in Perth for more than 20 years. Leightons pays 
double time to employees on its nearby rail project, as well as 
for night shifts at the Spencer Street redevelopment in 
Melbourne.

They claim Leightons under-priced the tunnel job, fell behind 
schedule, and face penalty payments as high as $54,000 a day.

In negotiating rates for the job, the joint venture's management 
assured construction unions there would be no night shift work on 
the construction phase.

Leightons has obtained Section 127 orders in the Industrial 
Relations Commission, return to work orders in the WA Supreme 
Court, and a Federal Court writ against Construction, Forestry, 
Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) officials for "aiding or 
inciting" the strikers.

Union officials have met members to explain the legal judgements 
and warn of their consequences.

CFMEU State Secretary, Kevin Reynolds, refused to discuss the 
dispute.

"Due to legal restrictions on our union and its officials we have 
no comment at the moment", he said.