More than 7,000 days in just three months lost to construction union strikes

Strikes in the construction sector accounted for more than half the working days lost in the entire economy in the June quarter according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

“In just three months more than 7000 days were lost to strikes in our industry,” Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said.

“This shows the building union’s continuing contempt for the community and their refusal to obey the law like everyone else. It shows why the Morrison Government should continue to pursue a legislative agenda targeted to changing the culture in the construction industry,” she said.

“The surging commercial and civil construction sectors are playing a major role in the improving national economic outlook and the community simply cannot afford more than 7000 days in just three months to be lost to building union strikes,” Denita Wawn said.

“It’s clear from these latest figures that the ABCC is doing its job in holding the CFMMEU to account but, as Federal Court judges have said in a raft of recent decisions, the CFMMEU simply ignores the verdicts of the courts and continues to reoffend,” she said.

“This is why the powers of the ABCC must be preserved into the future so that its work to change the industrial culture of the industry can continue and why Master Builders calls on the Morrison Government to continue to protect small business people, sub-contractors and tradies from union bullying on construction sites,” Denita Wawn said.