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JOINT STATEMENT FROM CFMEU AND MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA
GET BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT BACK TO WORK
Master Builders Victoria and the CFMEU VIC/TAS Branch, along with eight other industry bodies from Victoria’s building, construction and development industry have today written to Premier Daniel Andrews to inform him that the industry is ready to return to work safely on Thursday 18 February 2021.
CEO of Master Builders Victoria, Rebecca Casson said that every day the industry remained shut, more than $450 million was lost in revenue and $63 million lost in wages.
“As Victoria’s third largest sector, the building, construction and development industry pays the wages of more than one in four Victorians and builds, maintains and improves our homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, roads, infrastructure and services,” Casson said.
“We have consistently demonstrated our deep commitment to working safely during this pandemic. We are proud of what we achieved while managing COVID-19 on our worksites during the lockdown conditions applied in Victoria during 2020.
“Our industry is ready to return to work. We are committed to investing in continued COVIDSafe training. Our commitment is unwavering in staying safe and open.”
Victorian State Secretary of the CFMEU, John Setka said the industry had a proven ability to operate in a COVIDSafe way, protecting its workers and ensuring the industry remained open and people kept their jobs.
“The building, construction and development industry can and will continue to operate in a COVIDSafe manner to support workers and the broader Victorian community when industry restarts on Thursday 18 February 2021,” Setka said.
“If the lockdown continues, the impacts will be felt across the entire state. Homes will remain half finished, jobs lost, and supply chains significantly delayed.
“It is our sector’s view, that there is no evidence to warrant the continued shutdown of the building, construction and development industry – especially given our strict operating conditions and historical success in managing COVID-19.”
“Our industry kept Victoria afloat during 2020 and we did it safely. Let us get back to work, building Victoria.”
The industry appreciates the continued engagement with the Victorian Government and remain committed to working together on measures that support the building, construction and development industry.
For further information, please contact:
CFMEU VIC/TAS PR & Communications
0418 315 283
Shannon Gill | Media & Communications Manager
Master Builders Victoria
0409 985 428
