Electrical Trades Union march out the front of The Star Casino for job security
Union members are protesting for the third day as tensions build between workers and the company behind the latest residential tower at The Star Gold Coast.
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“Frustrated” workers on the latest tower rising out of The Star Gold Coast site have protested for the third day, complaining about a contract clause.
Electrical Trades Union members marched at the Broadbeach casino property, waving flags and blowing a horn just before 9am on Friday.
The ETU page online said they were fighting for job security within their sub contractor clause. They are working for Multiplex contractor Kone on the Star site’s residential tower Epsilon.
On Wednesday, the ETU forecast the action online by saying workers wanted to send “a message” and “they’re not going away”.
On Thursday an update said “one day longer, one day stronger for members at Kone out on the grass in front of The Star”.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), workers took a day of stoppages and while on the picket, decided to march a lap around the casino with ETU flags and noisemakers,” they wrote.
The workers had gazebos and flags along the path beside Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach.
Electrical Trades Union organiser and Lift Industry Coordinator Stephen Bravo claimed since Kone had stripped the word ‘contractors’ from a job security subcontractor clause in 2015, working conditions for members had been less than favourable.
“It’s a big issue in the lift industry where [subcontractors] come onto the jobs on less rates, less conditions.
“Whether they’re working here or they’re working for a [subcontractor], they are entitled to income protection, hourly rates.”
Mr Bravo said up to 42 union members are protesting, expected to continue next week, with action so far including technology, paperwork and overtime bans.
Further stoppages are planned, he said, adding likely action on Tuesday, the weekend
“This will be ongoing until we’ve got an outcome,” Mr Bravo said.
Mr Bravo said the clause they were protesting was an issue across Australia.
“Members here working for Kone, they can’t even step foot onto those jobs to install those because they’re on fixed contracts or they’re working for subcontractors.
“That just paints a picture of how frustrated they are,” Mr Bravo said.
Star directed the Bulletin to Multiplex for comment. Multiplex was contacted but declined to comment.
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Originally published as Electrical Trades Union march out the front of The Star Casino for job security
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