Master Electricians slams Victorian electrical contracting workplace agreement

Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has slammed the workplace agreement for the Victorian electrical contracting industry.

The deal was struck between the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) after criticism in the media about the conditions it imposes on businesses.

MEA says the deal will “force employers to promote union membership and propaganda,” as well as preventing major firms from hiring specialist contractors.

MEA’s Workplace Relations Manager Jason O’Dwyer said the agreement would drive down productivity, increase red tape and force up the cost of construction and electrical work.

“This is a cosy deal done by two groups where union membership is less than 15% of the industry, but it now has the potential to impact on the costs and employment relationship of the rest of the industry,” O’Dwyer said.

“It’s plain that this bad deal will now become the starting point for all future negotiations nationwide, and it’s very hard to see the union accepting anything less in other states.”

MEA claims the agreement will “force” contractors and their employees to be treated as permanent employees, which it claims will destroy the economic flexibility and efficiency of subcontracting. O’Dwyer said the agreement could also see employers prosecuted for failing to display “union propaganda” and having to promote unionism to staff.

“This agreement massively overreaches the authority of the two organisations concerned, and we are already seeing evidence that it is casting a very long shadow across the entire electrical industry,” O’Dwyer said.

“This is about regulation of all wages and conditions even for those legitimate subcontractors in specialty fields that electrical contractors do not cover, such as fire testing.”

“We do not believe it complies with the relevant legislation, and we are deeply concerned about the long-term impact on workplace relations and productivity across our industry,” O’Dwyer concluded.