Coronavirus: ‘Unholy alliance’ between CFMEU, Master Builders pushes Daniel Andrews on jobs

In a rare show of unity, the Master Builders and CFMEU lobby the Victorian Premier to keep job sites open.

CFMEU state secretary John Setka, left, and Master Builders of Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson.

Building employers and unions in Victoria are seeking the right to keep major construction projects operating when a suspected case of coronavirus is found on site.

In a rare alliance, Master Builders of Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson and CFMEU state secretary John Setka will be part of a delegation to Premier Daniel Andrews seeking to avoid the automatic shutdown of projects by a suspected coronavirus case.

Ms Casson told The Australian on Wednesday that consideration should be given to the fact that the person suspected of the virus might have been working in one isolated area on a major, diverse, open air project employing thousands of workers.

“We are not saying this is different to a manufacturer or an office environment or a school because everybody has the same challenges,” she said.

“But the reality is building and construction sites can be very large and sometimes can only have very small groups working on certain areas. They are clearly delineated in both time and space to particular trades and activities. Much of that space is large and in open air to the final stage of construction.”

Ms Casson said employers and unions would want health authorities to visit the site where the suspected case has occurred and “judge it on its merits because of the nature of the building and construction industry”.

She said measures had been introduced on sites to minimise the potential for coronavirus including separate meal breaks, smalller work groups and hygiene controls.

“What the government may not realise is that on sites there is a great ability for social distancing and isolating groups in a way that’s not possible in many other workplaces,” she said.

Ms Casson said she and Mr Setka had agreed to work together during this challenging period. “It’s important that all stakeholders work together to ensure the protection of workers in the building and construction industry,” she said.