Industrial disputes in construction reach seven-year high

New statistics show the number of working days lost in the construction industry due to industrial disputes has reached a seven-year high. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show that there were 85 days lost per 1000 employees in 2012 throughout the construction sector - a rise of 25% on the previous year.

Days lost in construction industry due to industrial disputes. Source: ABS.

“The productivity of our industry is being hurt by rampant union action like what was seen at Melbourne’s Emporium construction site and the Little Creatures brewery site in Geelong,” said Master Builders Industrial Relations Manager Lawrie Cross.

Losing working days costs the industry millions of dollars and can cause delays and cost blowouts on construction projects, Cross said.

Master Builders reiterated calls to reform the Fair Work regime and reintroduce an industry-specific watchdog to deal with rising union action.

“The Prime Minister promised our industry would have a ‘strong cop on the beat’ but instead we have a toothless system that raised a white flag to union leaders so they can regularly act outside the law,” Cross said.