Lend Lease building workers down tools in pay dispute

 Members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union voted to take protected action after negotiations over a national pay agreement with the construction company broke down in March.

The union says a total of 22 building sites along the east coast will be affected by the two-day strike, including the Barangaroo site in Sydney and others in Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.

CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan says points of contention are wages, a job security clause that would prevent the company from using labour-hire workers and provisions for apprentices to work on Lend Lease sites.

"We think that's a disgrace that one of Australia's largest companies won't give young Australians an opportunity to get an apprenticeship in the construction industry," Noonan told reporters on Tuesday.

The union says workers may take further action if a resolution can't be reached.

"It's a 48-hour stoppage, but if there isn't settlement of the issues then it's likely there will be further industrial action affecting the company," Noonan said.

The stop-work had halted construction at 12 Melbourne sites including the Epping market redevelopment, the Channel 9 building in Richmond and various sites at Docklands, Noonan said.

Comment has been sought from Lend Lease.