The ABCC has removed construction company Brookfield Multiplex Limited from a proceeding related to alleged unlawful coercion at a Melbourne construction site.
Brookfield Multiplex committed to funding a $30,000 community information and education program to be conducted by independent Victorian workplace advisory agency JobWatch Inc, as part of the agreed settlement.
Brookfield Multiplex has also agreed to holding a one-day training session for employees, updating its workplace policies and ensuring that two senior managers personally apologise to representatives of the company that was allegedly subject to coercive conduct on the part of one of its employees.
“Where it serves the public interest, resolving non-compliance issues outside of the court room is a key tenet of the ABCC’s Litigation Policy,” ABC Commissioner Leigh Johns said.
“To make a real impact in improving the industry’s culture, there must be a commitment to improved conduct on building sites, workplaces and in the wider community.
“The remedial action Brookfield Multiplex has committed to undertaking ought to prevent a similar situation arising again.”
In this proceeding the ABCC alleges Robert Mates, a CFMEU shop steward employed by Brookfield Multiplex coerced a subcontractor to employ certain people, tried to force the subcontractor to pay for employees’ entitlements from a previous employer, and demanded payment of strike pay.
The actions that Brookfield Multiplex has agreed to undertake include:
• Writing to the CFMEU regarding the appropriate conduct of employee representatives;
• Holding a one-day training session for Brookfield Multiplex employees who perform the role of employee representatives on its Victorian worksites;
• Have two of its senior managers personally apologise to representatives of Permark Group Pty Ltd over the conduct of Robert Mates;
• Update its industrial relations policy to emphasise appropriate conduct of employee representatives in accordance with workplace laws and the National Code and Guidelines;
• Fund a $30,000 community and education program to be conducted by JobWatch Inc and consent to the publication of a public notice detailing the terms of settlement on the ABCC website.
The CFMEU and Mr Mates remain respondents in the matter. A copy of the public notice is available from www.abcc.gov.au.