To be a builder
Dec 4th 2004, 10:07 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
To be a builder
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
Dec 4th 2004, 10:31 pm
#2
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 149
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by bondipom
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
And if the state is being done for $20 million a day surely it would be long since bankrupt.Granted ghost workers could cost afew $'s,safety claims shut work down for a while, but do they really expect people to believe that bbq's, t-shirts and afew tickets are going to tot up to that kind of figure.
Personal view ~ its a nice way to assimilate council and government wasted $'s in to the total figure while undermining credability of unions.
Dec 4th 2004, 10:33 pm
#3
Banned
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,048
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by bondipom
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
Dec 4th 2004, 10:36 pm
#4
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 149
Re: To be a builder
[QUOTE=bondipom
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."[/QUOTE]
Usually by the bosses
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."[/QUOTE]
Usually by the bosses
Dec 5th 2004, 12:22 am
#5
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by PortJackson
While not totally disbelieving such claims I do remain a bit sceptical.I wonder how much of the $200 million is being rorted by corrupt politicians and their mates.
And if the state is being done for $20 million a day surely it would be long since bankrupt.Granted ghost workers could cost afew $'s,safety claims shut work down for a while, but do they really expect people to believe that bbq's, t-shirts and afew tickets are going to tot up to that kind of figure.
Personal view ~ its a nice way to assimilate council and government wasted $'s in to the total figure while undermining credability of unions.
And if the state is being done for $20 million a day surely it would be long since bankrupt.Granted ghost workers could cost afew $'s,safety claims shut work down for a while, but do they really expect people to believe that bbq's, t-shirts and afew tickets are going to tot up to that kind of figure.
Personal view ~ its a nice way to assimilate council and government wasted $'s in to the total figure while undermining credability of unions.
If you read the article it is not the cost of the BBQ it is the cost of the wages people are paid for their Fridays off. The T-shirts were to cover up the siphoning off of money to others accounts. People are being made up and being put on the payroll. In the meantime teachers are underpaid and schools are suffering.
Dec 5th 2004, 12:50 am
#6
Keeping it fairly real
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: In the sun
Posts: 32,863
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by bondipom
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
Union rorts crippling building industry
By Chris Tinkler
December 5, 2004
FREE beer and barbecues, false safety claims, extortion and fully paid ghost workers are among union rorts crippling Victoria's building industry, it is claimed.
The alleged rorts are costing the state up to $20 million a day and also include complimentary Grand Final tickets, 27 additional days off a year and demands for employer-paid union T-shirts.
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
The Federal Government's Building Industry Taskforce director, Nigel Hadgkiss, said yesterday: "Our work has revealed a culture of fear, where coercion, threats, intimidation and violence are commonplace."
one building company in Perth is offering brickies strippers after work on a Friday to get them on board AND it was advertised in the local rag, shameless.
Dec 5th 2004, 3:39 am
#7
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by walla1
one building company in Perth is offering brickies strippers after work on a Friday to get them on board AND it was advertised in the local rag, shameless.
And apparently it goes further than normal stripping and toplessness
Can't comment on the rest, but it's all fishy that's for sure.
Last edited by Simone; Dec 5th 2004 at 3:42 am. Reason: spelling
Dec 5th 2004, 5:24 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2004
Location: Birkdale QLD
Posts: 7,642
Re: To be a builder
One of the worst hit projects is the Spencer St Station makeover, now predicted to go $200 million over budget. It may not be ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It is claimed the station's developers have had to pay for 23 representatives or officials - none of whom do construction work - to look after members on the site.
Mrs JTL
Dec 5th 2004, 7:12 am
#9
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by walla1
one building company in Perth is offering brickies strippers after work on a Friday to get them on board AND it was advertised in the local rag, shameless.
Dec 5th 2004, 8:50 am
#10
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by bondipom
Funny how this thread was next to the Perth pole dancers thread until I posted this.
Against, eh, popular belief, the pole dancing was a one-off hen night thing btw.
Though, some of the girls do want to do the 6 week course next year
Dec 5th 2004, 2:15 pm
#11
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 149
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by bondipom
It does take 2 to tango but it is us the tax payer that suffers. A union leader was recently caught on CCTV ransacking the offices of a company. The game is rough on both sides.
If you read the article it is not the cost of the BBQ it is the cost of the wages people are paid for their Fridays off. The T-shirts were to cover up the siphoning off of money to others accounts. People are being made up and being put on the payroll. In the meantime teachers are underpaid and schools are suffering.
If you read the article it is not the cost of the BBQ it is the cost of the wages people are paid for their Fridays off. The T-shirts were to cover up the siphoning off of money to others accounts. People are being made up and being put on the payroll. In the meantime teachers are underpaid and schools are suffering.
As regards the union leader ransacking the officesof a company you probably remember the tricks Maxwell got up too with the print unions(i.e hiring thugs to smash the printing presses so as to force the move to computerised system when talks were stalled with the national print union).
You are ,also , only to right regards the nurses and education system being underfunded.However again I would argue that a revsion of such policies as computerising the NHS to the tune of £billion's plus wont help the UK.Perhaps , if not certainly , equal wastage through government policy and sponsored thinktanks in Australia at state and federal level.And ill thought out implementation of promises made.
The only reason I feel so strongly on articles like the one on the link provided is that it sets alarm bells off for me.Call me paranoid(parnoid they shout from the back row)but rarely is a comparison made , or indeed looked into ,with the same issues from the employers side.Or in the matter of public departments with government bodies.They need to be accountable as well and their 'tricks' put into the picture.
Dec 5th 2004, 6:59 pm
#12
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by PortJackson
I agree it does take two.You are right as well it can get rough.Cant speak for the Australian side of things(although I have an idea with the warfies circa mid 90's) but I remember only too well the stunts that were pulled during the Wapping controversy and the 84/85 miners strike.
As regards the union leader ransacking the officesof a company you probably remember the tricks Maxwell got up too with the print unions(i.e hiring thugs to smash the printing presses so as to force the move to computerised system when talks were stalled with the national print union).
You are ,also , only to right regards the nurses and education system being underfunded.However again I would argue that a revsion of such policies as computerising the NHS to the tune of £billion's plus wont help the UK.Perhaps , if not certainly , equal wastage through government policy and sponsored thinktanks in Australia at state and federal level.And ill thought out implementation of promises made.
The only reason I feel so strongly on articles like the one on the link provided is that it sets alarm bells off for me.Call me paranoid(parnoid they shout from the back row)but rarely is a comparison made , or indeed looked into ,with the same issues from the employers side.Or in the matter of public departments with government bodies.They need to be accountable as well and their 'tricks' put into the picture.
As regards the union leader ransacking the officesof a company you probably remember the tricks Maxwell got up too with the print unions(i.e hiring thugs to smash the printing presses so as to force the move to computerised system when talks were stalled with the national print union).
You are ,also , only to right regards the nurses and education system being underfunded.However again I would argue that a revsion of such policies as computerising the NHS to the tune of £billion's plus wont help the UK.Perhaps , if not certainly , equal wastage through government policy and sponsored thinktanks in Australia at state and federal level.And ill thought out implementation of promises made.
The only reason I feel so strongly on articles like the one on the link provided is that it sets alarm bells off for me.Call me paranoid(parnoid they shout from the back row)but rarely is a comparison made , or indeed looked into ,with the same issues from the employers side.Or in the matter of public departments with government bodies.They need to be accountable as well and their 'tricks' put into the picture.
If the unions were truly out there protecting workers from unsafe workplaces then I would support them but as is the union leadership is in it for themselves whilst keeping up the morale with BBQs and beer.
Dec 5th 2004, 7:17 pm
#13
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 149
Re: To be a builder
Originally Posted by bondipom
Corruption needs all sides participating including the government. It strikes me that with the revelations of police involvement into the recent mafia killings and the links to the building trade there is something rotten going on in Victoria. NSW and QLD have both had big clean ups but there is still plenty of it going on.
If the unions were truly out there protecting workers from unsafe workplaces then I would support them but as is the union leadership is in it for themselves whilst keeping up the morale with BBQs and beer.
If the unions were truly out there protecting workers from unsafe workplaces then I would support them but as is the union leadership is in it for themselves whilst keeping up the morale with BBQs and beer.
