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Canberra Today 24°/27° | Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Master Builders not happy with tram construction plans

EXECUTIVE Director of Master Builders ACT Kirk Coningham says local construction teams were horrified last week when they learned from media reports that they were to be locked out of the light rail project.

“The government claims potential for some participation still exists, but the CFMEU has made it clear they have ‘cut out the middle men’ to exclude local construction teams from 75% of the project,” Kirk said.

“These are the same local construction workers who previously voted down the CFMEU’s new three year Enterprise Bargaining Agreement in the current new bargaining round.

“The union was invited to participate through a MoU signed by the Chief Minister that was included in the formal tender documents. The MoU informed the consortia that the union would be part of the tender decision making process ‘not only in appearance but in fact’.

“The MoU has since been identified as illegal by the head contractor, but it can’t be un-read. The message was plain and the evidence that it was understood is in the labour deal that excludes workers who rejected union demands.

“Whatever the motives for the union in doing back room deals with multinationals to exclude local workers, the final decision still rests with the ACT Government.

“The choice is stark. Either the current deal is signed, or we can pause to examine and address the legitimate concerns of industry and our community. We know we can add huge value to this project, but we have been actively excluded from the tender and all negotiations around it.

“Canberra has managed without light rail thus far. Surely we can take a few more weeks to address these deeply concerning governance issues which bring the integrity of the entire process into question? This is taxpayers dollars, and lots of them.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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