CFMEU’s Richie Hassett says it is ‘un-Australian’ to threaten workers who want Anzac Day off

The CFMEU and McConnell Dowell are at loggerheads over holiday plans for workers. Find out why.

Richie Hassett CFMEU Tasmania organiser meeting with members at the site of the new Bridgewater Bridge. Picture: CFMEU

Workers on the Bridgewater Bridge who are not available to work on Good Friday and Anzac Day have been threatened with the sack, their union says.

However, construction company McConnell Dowell says “only workers who want to work during this period will be doing so”.

CFMEU organiser Richie Hassett, who met workers at the bridge site on Saturday, said many had recently contacted the union upset and angry that their jobs had been threatened.

CFMEU secretary Richard Hassett. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“It is rare for the Easter break and Anzac Day to fall so close together, so what we do is we add a few RDOs in there to an industry calendar so the guys get a decent break. In this case, it’s 10 days,” he said.

“It’s been known for six months and everyone’s planned their life around it and now they’re threatened with losing their job if they are not available.

“This period is a time for workers who have been working 12 hour days for months on end, to have a rest and to spend much needed time with their families and loved ones.

“They’re under severe pressure, and these guys have busted their a*** for the best part of two years, doing 12-hour days, working most of their RDOs to get the thing done and when they finally get a chance to have some family time they have their jobs threatened.

“They want the break, they deserve the break. They are devastated.

“These are bullying tactics.”

McConnell Dowell said workers who choose to work would be paid under accordingly as part of a union agreement.

“MCD is keen to open the new bridge to traffic as soon as possible,” it said in a statement.

“This will reduce inconvenience and disruption to the public.

“Only workers who want to work during this period will be doing so.

“Those who do choose to work will be paid consistent with the EBA we have with the union.

“For context the site will NOT be working on the Easter Lock down weekend, RDO or Anzac Day.”

The old and the new Bridgewater Bridge visible. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

However, an email on Friday from McConnell Dowell’s group manager for workplace relations says the site will be open on Good Friday and Anzac Day for those who want to work but closed on Easter Sunday.

The four-lane $786m bridge is due to open mid-year but no date has been released.

Mr Hassett said workers on the Bridgewater Bridge were being treated differently to their colleagues in Victoria who would not have to work on Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Anzac Day.

“To even suggest that a worker will be sacked if they don’t work on Anzac Day so a politician can cut a ribbon on a particular date is completely un-Australian,” he said.

“They are being treated as second-class citizens.

“The CFMEU are disgusted with how locals are being treated at the end of what should have been such an iconic build.”

Another meeting of workers will be held on Monday and Mr Hassett has not ruled out industrial action

Originally published as CFMEU’s Richie Hassett says it is ‘un-Australian’ to threaten workers who want Anzac Day off