A construction, maintenance and industrial company will make its casual workers permanent and give them all a big pay rise after an industrial dispute.
About 180 Monadelphous Group casual workers will be employed on a permanent basis and receive a wage increase of between 18 and 20 per cent after the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and Maritime Union of Australia took industrial action for about seven months.
100% of Casual workers go permanent
The unions accused the contractor of relying on a 100 per cent casual workforce to carry out day-to-day operations, prompting the employer to draft a new agreement that improves work conditions. As part of the new deal, staff will receive taxi reimbursements, company-paid interstate flights, and accommodation as required for fatigue management during demobilisation.
Employees will also receive a jump in night shift loading, the company paid work training and annual wage increases of between 3 and 4 per cent.
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‘Major correction’
“To achieve this result is hugely satisfying not just because of the employees directly affected but because of the message this sends across the whole sector. This is the beginning of a major correction in the sector,” AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said in a public statement.
“Monadelphous will continue to survive and thrive. It will remain profitable and strong but now Australian workers are getting their fair share.”
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