Construction workers angry with Vic's new building code

05/07/2012 - Thousands of construction workers have rallied to warn Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu his government's new building code will stir up trouble. Melissa Jenkins

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The unionists are angry at new rules for state government building sites that took effect this week, arguing the code will lead employers to clash with workers.

As a union rally leader outside Parliament House in Melbourne on Wednesday shouted "Ted Baillieu", the crowd chorused loudly "stick it up your arse".

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Victorian secretary Steve Dargavel said the new code encouraged employers to pick fights with their workers.

"We are going to fight those bosses who want to be incited to have a blue with our members," he said.

Electrical Trades Union assistant secretary Troy Gray said whenever conservatives won power they put on pinstripe suits and tried to attack construction workers.

He said the premier knew nothing about construction workers but claimed they were unproductive.

"He grew up in Toorak for Christ's sake - what construction work goes on out there?" Gray said.

"His family tree has got more millionaires on it than Wall Street.

"... and he's got the gall to say you people don't work hard enough and you're overpaid."

Firms that don't comply with the new guidelines risk being blacklisted for future government contracts.

Under the rules, a tenderer must submit a workplace relations management plan where the government's contribution to a project is more than $10 million, or is at least $5 million and represents at least half of the total construction project value.

Finance Minister Robert Clark said the new rules would help deliver value for money and eliminate illegal activity on state government construction sites.

Source: AAP

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