CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION NATIONAL DIVISIONAL POLICY ON CONTRACT LABOUR EDORSED BY THE NATIONAL DIVISIONAL EXECUTIVE 24TH August 1998 CONTRACT LABOUR POLICY

This document sets out the Policy of the CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION on Contract Labour for the information of Members and Officials.

Included with the Policy is an introduction, which provides a background for the reading and application of the Policy.

This Policy is binding on all CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION Members and Officials.

Any queries about the Policy should be directed to either the Branch or National Divisional Office.

INTRODUCTION

The CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION views with concern recent decisions by major employer bodies and Conservative State Governments to shift towards methods of employment that would undermine existing award wages and conditions.

These developments represent a threat to the freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively over wages and conditions.

The use of contract labour in the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry has been progressed by employers to:

  • Respond to fluctuations in the level of market activity by supplementing a core workforce;
  • Reduce costs by avoiding award conditions.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTRACT LABOUR

Contract Labour is characterised by:

  1. Non-Award wages and conditions;
  2. Financial instability of contractors;
  3. Low levels of Union membership;
  4. Poor occupational Health and safety performance;
  5. Untrained and unskilled workers;
  6. The hidden costs associated with poor occupational health and safety performance, untrained workers and the financial instability of contractors;
  7. A disproportionate level of breaches of environmentally sustainable forest codes of practice;
  8. Financial instability for workers because of the unstable nature of the work.

The CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION calls on Federal and State Governments to:

  1. Enact legislation ensuring contractors comply with relevant industrial awards and legislation covering Occupational Health and Safety, workers' compensation and long service leave.
  2. Enact legislation to license contractors.

    3. A license should only be granted if the contractor agrees to:

    • Employ trained workers;
    • Abide by forest codes of practice;
    • Demonstrates compliance with and agrees to abide by all relevant industrial awards and legislation;
    • Employees joining the principle Union in the industry;
    • Appropriate management skills.

  3. Establish procedures to ensure contractors comply with relevant awards and legislation.

The CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION demands that employers in the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry entering into agreements with contractors:

  • Include in contracts a specific obligation on the part of the contractor to abide by award wages and conditions and legislation covering Occupational Health and Safety, workers' compensation and long service leave;
  • Agree to joining the principle Union in the industry;
  • Ensure that all workers are appropriately trained and informed about their industry;
  • Ensure that all contractors comply with forest codes of practice;
  • Ensure that contractors are able and capable of meeting their financial obligations. Where this is not the case the contract be terminated.

The CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION undertakes to report all breaches of the above conditions to the principal employer and to instigate any action deemed necessary to ensure that such breaches are addressed and rectified.
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