Qbuild workers impose work bans

Lynda Hansen, Brisbane

On August 3, about 600 Qbuild workers across Queensland voted to implement work bans on administrative work as part of their campaign for a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA).

Qbuild is the agency responsible for state government building and construction projects and maintenance of most public sector facilities, including state schools, public housing and prisons.

The workers' last EBA expired on June 30, and Qbuild still has not made a formal offer to its employees for a new agreement.

The workers are seeking an EBA that would include a 4.5% annual pay rise and various improvements to working conditions.

The vote to impose bans was taken at a mass meeting at Perry Park in Brisbane and regional meetings at depots in cities including Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa.

In the week before the meetings, Qbuild workers staged a 24-hour strike.

"Our membership and workers feel like they have been treated with contempt about the negotiations", Electrical Trades Union (ETU) organiser Peter Ong told Green Left Weekly. "It is ridiculous that, after about 15 negotiation meetings with management and four report-back meetings of Qbuild workers in the last month, we still have nothing from the state government to put to the work force."

For more information about the ETU's current EBA dispute with Qbuild, phone Peter Ong on 0419 721 046.

From Green Left Weekly, August 10, 2005.

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From GLW issue 637