Labour hire workers unite to settle Boral dispute

by David Kirner in Adelaide

Labour hire CFMEU union members united industrially with Boral CFMEU & AMWU 
union members to settle a longstanding enterprise bargaining dispute with 
Boral Window Systems, at Elizabeth in the north of Adelaide, in 
December.

The members voted down a company proposal for a six percent over two years 
pay rise in a ballot of all workers on site. The ballot came after 
stopwork, strike and picket line action reported in The Guardian 
late last year.

After the six percent over two years was rejected the company made a 
counter offer of eight per cent over 22 months with an additional one per 
cent productivity bonus.

The new offer was accepted along with previous offers of an increase in 
redundancy pay, a full classification review and journey accident 
insurance.

The labour hire workers from transnational corporation ADECCO and from 
local labour hire agency Challenge Recruitment won an immediate pay rise of 
eight per cent. Winning not only the first four per cent but also pay 
parity with Boral workers.

South Australian CFMEU Federated Furnishing Trade Society Divisional 
Secretary, Steve Rowe, said the CFMEU in South Australia is recruiting hard 
amongst labour hire workers and has signed workers into the union at 
Skilled, ADECCO, Prestige Trojan, Advanced Labour Hire and Challenge 
Recruitment.

"From active recruitment we are ensuring the labour hire companies pay 
proper award, EBA rates and workers' compensation premiums", said Mr Rowe. 
"Labour hire workers who went on strike against Boral won pay rises of 
$38.00."