Unions in pre-emptive strike against casino flying in foreign workers
THE militant CFMEU led more than 700 workers off Brisbane construction sites yesterday to protest against foreign workers on the $3 billion Queen’s Wharf Casino project, which has not even started.
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THE militant CFMEU led more than 700 workers off Brisbane construction sites yesterday to protest against foreign workers on the $3 billion Queen’s Wharf Casino project, which has not even started.
Major construction sites in Fortitude Valley and the CBD fell silent at noon as workers marched to Parliament House to pass a motion calling on the State Government to ensure “local workers take preference over foreign labour, including 457 visa holders”.
Union bosses told members to steel themselves for further fights with the federal and state governments in 2017 over foreign workers and the ABCC legislation, which passed Federal Parliament yesterday.
The Queen’s Wharf project is not due to begin construction until next year but the unions launched the pre-emptive strike to warn the developers and Government that they would only accept “Queensland jobs for Queensland workers”.
Destination Brisbane Consortium, which is developing the project, has forecast 2000 jobs will be created at the peak of construction. The project will include a casino, five hotels, 2200 apartments, restaurants and public spaces.
A spokesman said the consortium – made up of Star Entertainment Group, Far East Consortium and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises – stood by commitments about workers it had made with the Queensland Government.
“The detail is housed in the confidential contractual agreements finalised with the state last November,” he said. “Further, the Government has a rigorous oversight process to monitor compliance of those obligations once the project commences, so we’re surprised by the union’s comments.”
CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said the unions would return to Parliament in February if their demands were not met.
“What we need to do is make it a political problem for the Labor Government. It’s their job, so this battle is not just against Star Entertainment but it’s also against the Palaszczuk Government 12 months out from the election,” he said.
CFMEU deputy state secretary Jade Ingham foreshadowed unions would ramp up their fight against the casino project and the ABCC legislation next year.
“The day we stop doing this is the day we consign ourselves to slavery and that’s the day we may as well give the game away,” he said.
“We ain’t no slaves in this state and we ain’t no slaves in this country and we’re going to keep hitting the streets every opportunity we can.
“Whether it’s the ABCC, whether it’s fighting for jobs for young Queenslanders, no matter what the issue is ... we are going to keep doing it and that’s why we will always win.”
Yesterday’s march started at noon when about 80 members of the CFMEU, ETU and Queensland Plumber’s Union walked off a construction site on Ann St in Fortitude Valley.
Chanting “we are the unions, the arse-kicking unions”, they marched up Ann St with flags and banners to the Roma St Parkland. Other unions, including the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, joined en route.
Numbers swelled to about 700 as union bosses delivered speeches and then the march continued to Parliament where members passed their motion.
ETU state organiser Jason Young said the unions were not being “drawn into the racist bulls--- brought down by Pauline Hanson” as they were fighting companies, not guest workers.
“We will fight our fight against the multinational companies and oppose 457 visa workers because we want a future for our industry and our workers first,” he said.
It comes as the mining industry applauded Parliament’s approval of the new Australian Building and Construction Commission and announced a desire to scuttle plans for the creation of a super union.
The Australian Mines and Metals Association said the ABCC would provide a massive boost to securing $255 billion of resources investment.
AMMA wants to end the prospect of the two most militant unions, the CFMEU and the Maritime Union of Australia, merging. The industry group said a merger should be subject to a public interest test like corporate mergers.
Originally published as Unions in pre-emptive strike against casino flying in foreign workers
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