More Firms Sign Thirty Six Hour Deal

Date: 28 March 2000

Victorian Building workers are ready to announce that more building companies have agreed to their claim for a 36-hour working week.

Electrical Trades Union state secretary Dean Mighell told ABC-TV's Lateline last night that agreement had been reached with a breakaway group of builders, plumbing and electrical contractors also over the weekend.

Mighell says while the deal has been struck for CEPU members, it is expected that the CFMEU will reach a similar agreement.

"That really breaks the back of the employers in the Victorian building industry," he said, while debating Workplace relations minister Peter Rieth last night..

"It will take three full years, or four years, to introduce the 13 extra additional rostered days off you would get under a 36-hour week, so a four-year deal to deliver the same thing as Grollo's will deliver next year," he said.

Mighell said the breakaway group - who have split from the Master Builders Association - include Multiplex, Probuild, Walter Constructions plus countless numbers of subcontractors.

"If you add that to the Grollo group, you have the bulk of employers now," Mighell said.

"Certainly that would create a momentum in the Victorian campaign that would see a 36-hour week introduced and a lot of extra jobs in this State," he said.

For further information

Contact:	Peter Lewis
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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