What you said about CFMEU’s Dylan Howard’s column on real reason behind BPIC change

CFMEU’s Dylan Howard has staunchly defended the union’s “perks” – but opinion remains divided among Queenslanders. HAVE YOUR SAY

CFMEU official Dylan Howard says unions have become scapegoats for cost blowouts on Queensland worksites. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

CFMEU QLD/NT Civil Construction Coordinator Dylan Howard has staunchly defended the union’s “perks” – but opinion remains divided among Queenslanders.

The LNP government has taken aim at the Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) policy in recent weeks, suspending it in an apparent bid to prevent cost blowouts.

However Mr Howard insisted the real picture hadn’t yet been revealed.

“Many people who’ve never set foot on a construction site have had a lot to say recently about the wages and so-called “perks” that workers receive,” he wrote.

“The hysterical commentary from the LNP government is a clear sign they intend to wage war on construction workers and our unions.

“Last week’s decision to suspend the Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) policy was the LNP’s first shot across the bow.

The brouhaha over BPIC is a result of three factors: The failure of the former Labor government to properly manage the huge pipeline of infrastructure work; the dysfunctional Department of Transport and Main Roads; and an LNP government that would rather scapegoat unions than address the cause of cost blowouts.”

A CFMEU member removed from a Queensland Major Contractors Association Breakfast in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Mr Howard blamed other factors for the BPIC controversy.

“We can all agree that the worst cost overruns are on projects managed by TMR. But most of those TMR projects – including the Cross River Rail – do not have BPIC wages or conditions,” he wrote.

“For years, our union criticised the Labor government for failing to enforce BPIC on TMR projects – just as we’re now opposing the LNP government’s move to suspend BPICs across the board.

But BPIC isn’t the problem. We supported that policy because BPIC compels all contractors to go through a prequalification process to ensure they are employing local workers, using local suppliers and have the cash flow to complete the job.”

The column sparked immediate backlash among readers, with some claiming unions have simply had it too good for too long.

Others, though, said there are wider factors, while some backed the LNP’s moves.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

We deserve answers

Jason

A lot of talk about TMR what about the cost blowouts on Health capital projects? when will someone be held accountable

The Joker

How about someone ask Hutchies the truth about why they’re not earning anything and why Lendlease is limiting exposure in Australia? That’s the real story!

Undertaker

CFMEU think Qlders are stupid just like Labor & look what happened to Labor.

PJ

How many Safety Training Organisations are owned by Unions or affiliated with Unions?

Safety is a big money spinning venture for the big Unions.

It’s fair game

Carnbee

Some, below, argue there are too many traffic controllers. I suspect they will find – after a tad of research – the number of traffic controllers at any worksite is equal to what legislation and / or regulation mandates. Whether such mandates, in 2024, are reasonable / sensible or not I have no idea.

Gman

The CFMEU are a symptom.

The disease is the addiction to spending so much of other people’s money on huge infrastructure projects that they use up all the available labour and materials and blow out construction costs so much that nobody can find or afford a new home anymore.

W

nothing to see here – move along …

Sorry, not buying it

Subscriptions

Union official pushing union agenda. The projects that he claims are not BPIC projects still have enormous enterprise agreements which the contractors are forced to agree to in order to compete with BPIC projects for labour and resourcing.

J*P

Paying a lollipop person over $130,000 a year and giving everyone with a phone $100 a week is plain greed.

June

26 RDO’s a year, and $100 a week for your phone bill has nothing to do with safety, but it sure does drive down productivity and increase costs.

Steve

Hardly surprising it takes so long for jobs on these sites to be completed given their work perks.

Deputy Premier and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Annette Dew

Unions are a joke

Paul

Union leaders only care about themselves and their Labor mates and saving their own jobs. They are not on the workers side as they never protest when Labor increases taxes and invent policies which is causing the spiralling power increases and cost of living pressures.

jimK

Crisa’s mob can do what they want to get the state back on track & the unions can go jump. Safety is all important in any workplace but not at the expense of the taxpayer.

Anthony

Those large companies are simply paying for industrial peace. Either they give in to CFMEU demands or else their project gets sabotaged under the guise of “safety”.

Parge

The CFMEU only have themselves to blame. They took it too far. Queenslanders are not paying for their mobiles and for them to be at the pub during a so called “industrial action”. Try being reasonable next time, CFMEU. If there is a next time.