WORKERS on the Canberra Light Rail project are allegedly owed $700,000 in unpaid wages and entitlements, according to the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). 

In some cases, CFMEU alleges the amounts owed to individual workers exceed $20,000.

CFMEU national construction secretary Dave Noonan says the union has detailed 55 alleged contraventions of the Fair Work Act in its claim.

“The alleged failure to provide proper crib breaks, meal breaks and insufficient time between shifts is of particular concern,” Mr Noonan says.

“Construction work is among the most dangerous work in the country. When construction workers aren’t allowed the appropriate breaks during work, and in between shifts, it puts their lives at risk.”

The union’s claim relates to the following breaches of awards and enterprise agreements by the John Holland and subcontractors:

• Failure to provide crib breaks of any kind.
• Failure to provide meal breaks no later than five hours after the start of work and failure to pay of double time until the meal break is provided.
• Failure to pay overtime rates for work outside the spread of hours
• In some cases payment of wages lower than in the award, and general failure to pay award allowances.
• Failure to observe the 10 hour break between shift requirements in the award and corresponding failure to pay double time.