Vic: A brief rundown of the building dispute

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2000
Vic: A brief rundown of the building dispute

MELBOURNE, Feb 16 AAP - The dispute between workers and employers in the Victorian
building industry over shorter hours and more pay reached a new low today when a union
steward was bashed.

Colin Reddy was hit over the back of the head with a baseball bat by a masked man as
he arrived for work at a Little Lonsdale Street building site about 6.30am.

The CFMEU blamed the Master Builders Assocition Victoria (MBAV), who in turn denied
the attack had anything to with them. Police are investigating.



A brief outline of the dispute follows:

* The CFMEU is pushing for a 36-hour week and a 24 per cent payrise over three years.

* The MBAV, representing the state's builders, oppose the claim. They offer 15 per
cent over three years.

* MBAV says the CFMEU's claim will add $700 million to the industry's wage bill over
three years and harm the industry.

* The CFMEU's campaign has at times stopped work on various major projects, including
Federation Square and the Colonial Stadium, threatening its opening in time for the new
AFL season and the Barbra Streisand concert.

* CFMEU members striked on Monday February 7.

* Builders retaliated with a lock-out of workers the following Saturday.

* The campaign claimed its first major scalp when Mirvac announced on February 11 that
it is indefinitely postponing its $1 billion residential project in the Docklands because
of "unrealistic claims".

* Ten major construction companies on February 14 win the right to sue the CFMEU for
millions of dollars lost.

* CFMEU steward Colin Reddy bashed on February 16. Hundreds of workers storm the MBAV
headquarters in East Melbourne, where hundreds of contractors were meeting.

AAP jlw/ra/ej

KEYWORD: BUILDING (FACTBOX)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.