Fair Work Building and Construction brings ­federal court action against Hutchinson Builders

A BUILDING firm manager allegedly told a tiling company it would not get the go-ahead for a $307,000 job because it did not have a union-endorsed work agreement.

NEWS_CFMEU flags fly across Hutchinson worksite today 4/12/2015. Pictures: Jack Tran

A BUILDING firm contracts manager allegedly told a tiling company that it would not get the go-ahead for a $307,000 job because it did not have a union-endorsed work agreement.

Fair Work Building and Construction has brought ­federal court action against Hutchinson Builders and two of its employees for allegedly discriminating against the subcontractor in 2012.

The FWBC claims the tiling company had an agreement and was ready to start work on the Circa One project at Nundah when it was told it no longer had the job because it lacked a “union-endorsed” enterprise bargaining agreement.

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John Berlese, of Hutchinson Builders, allegedly emailed the tiling company’s managing director asking him to provide a copy of their current EBA with Fair Work Australia and to “confirm” his “availability” to meet the CFMEU.

It is the second Queensland company to be slapped with federal court action this week after the FWBC launched ­proceedings against another company, FMC, for allegedly discriminating against the tiling company in July 2014.

FWBC director Nigel Hadgkiss said subcontractors and their employees were free to enter into whatever enterprise agreement they chose.

“It is unacceptable for their livelihoods to be put at risk ­because large building firms agree to unlawful practices,” Mr Hadgkiss said.

Directions hearings in the Federal Circuit Court for the matters are scheduled for next month.