As you are aware, in February 2020 Master Builders Victoria (MBV) together with various employers formed an Employer Working Party (EWP) to hold discussions about the future of the industry and the expired CFMEU 2016-18 Agreement. After some preliminary meetings, the EWP agreed that discussions between unions and industry should be postponed due to COVID-19. The EWP agreed that the uncertainty around the pandemic meant it would be inappropriate to continue these discussions. The focus then shifted to a joint employer and union approach to keeping the industry open and safe.

During the preliminary meetings, the EWP agreed to form a smaller Employer group (which included MBV) that would continue to work with a legal team to review proposals put forward by both employers and unions. Some of the proposals and discussions included:

• Inclusion of civil works in the scope of agreement
• Expanding the exclusion provision
• Reviewing the dispute resolution procedure
• Accommodating part time employment under flexibility arrangements
• A family and leisure time provision with a proposal to introduce a 50-hour week
• Some changes to site allowances.

MBV has been working with the Construction Industry Standards Sub-committee and various employer members in positioning itself on those issues in the current climate.

On 4 June 2020, the EWP reconvened to review and discuss the proposals. The EWP has agreed to provide feedback to consolidate an employer position around the construction industry standards by 12 June 2020 or the following week.

For those of you who are interested in these discussions and would like to receive more information you can call the IR Team on (03) 9411-4555.