Building delays, 9400 work days lost: Union strike action hits Qld hard

Queensland has become Australia’s strike state after losing a staggering 9400 works days to union action in a single quarter — more than all other jurisdictions combined.

Queensland has become Australia’s strike state after losing a staggering 9400 works days to union action in a single quarter — more than all other jurisdictions combined.

While work days have been lost across a range of industries, construction sector leaders have warned the ongoing escalation in union strikes could significantly impact delivery on the state’s mega pipeline of infrastructure and housing projects.

The latest industrial dispute data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed Queensland lost a combined 9400 work days in the first quarter of 2024 — making up 56 per cent of all lost days in the nation.

It comes after Queensland notched a staggering 23,900 lost working days in 2023 across a range of industries. This is compared to 31,500 lost working days in Victoria and 21,300 in New South Wales over the same time frame.

CFMEU protesters in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Nationally, construction accounted for 3200 lost working days in the first quarter of 2024, with the bulk of strike action happening across other industries including transport, postal and warehousing, electricity, and retail.

But Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Andrew Chapman said the lost work days was a “poor outcome” for the state, and warned it was indicative of the state government’s pro-union controversial Best Practice Industry Conditions.

Mr Chapman said this level of industrial activity would further affect time frames for delivery and costs for projects going forward.

Queensland’s BPICs — dubbed the CFMEU tax — force contractors tendering for government projects to negotiate with unions from a high starting point, with the policy locking in at least 5 per cent annual pay rises through to 2027.

The CFMEU has been ramping up strike activity in recent months, particularly over conditions or wage disputes at Cross River Rail.

CFMEU Queensland boss Michael Ravbar said Mr Chapman’s attempt to link industrial disputes to BPICs was “ridiculous”, slamming the QMCA head for an “unhealthy obsession with our union”.

“The BPIC policy is about locking in decent wages and conditions for Queensland workers and supporting Queensland businesses,” he said.

CFMEU at the Brisbane Labour Day March. Picture: Liam Kidston

UDIA Queensland CEO Kirsty Chessher-Brown said striking and reduced working days had directly impacted housing project delivery.

“What we have seen across the board is that it’s taking double the time to deliver on projects,” she said.

“We have seen reduced numbers of days on site and it’s taking much longer for each stage of building to be completed.”

Premier Steven Miles, at a Property Council event in May, said furore over pro-union BPICs was overblown and had become a proxy for airing frustrations about the CFMEU.

“Often times the real problem is the engagement with the unions, in particular one of them, and the impact that can have on managerial control and on productivity,” he said.