The state's peak business lobby group is disappointed that its attempt to secure important changes to the proposed new award for the building and construction industry has been unsuccessful.
The state's peak business lobby group is disappointed that its attempt to secure important changes to the proposed new award for the building and construction industry has been unsuccessful.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, on behalf of its members in the building, construction and engineering industry that were afraid the proposed award would substantially increase the cost of doing business and disadvantage highly skilled trades people, had its request to have the new award altered to protect the industry's stability and growth rejected by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
Under the new award, known as the Building and Construction General On-site Award, which takes effect on 1 January, all on-site workers, including those in building, civil construction, and engineering construction, will be classified according to the same pay scale.
CCI manager industrial relations policy, Marcia Kuhne said the AIRC's refusal to amend the award is likely to result in a union led wages breakout in the building and construction industry - a sector of the economy that will play a critical role in the State's, and the Nation's, economy recovery and future prosperity.
Full announcement below:
Statement by CCI Manager Industrial Relations Policy, Marcia Kuhne
The State's peak organisation representing local business, CCI, is disappointed that its attempt to secure important changes to the proposed new award for the building and construction industry has been unsuccessful.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has rejected CCI's request to have the new award altered to protect the industry's stability and growth.
CCI's members in the building, construction and engineering industry are afraid that the proposed Building and Construction General On-site Award will substantially increase the cost of doing business and disadvantage highly skilled trades people.
Under the new award, which takes effect on 1 January, all on-site workers, including those in building, civil construction, and engineering construction, will be classified according to the same pay scale.
The AIRC's refusal to amend the award is likely to result in a union led wages breakout in the building and construction industry - a sector of the economy that will play a critical role in the State's, and the Nation's, economy recovery and future prosperity.
There will be substantial wage increases for some workers with no corresponding change in the nature of their job; and pay cuts for highly skilled trades.
These cost increases could also threaten the viability of proposed multi-billion dollar resource projects in WA.
CCI urges Western Australian businesses to seek expert advice on what the new award system will mean for their business before the changes come into force on 1 January 2010.