Disruptions at Maryvale Pulp Mill Result in $75,000 Penalties
The parties agreed the respondents contravened s.38 of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 18 times by procuring industrial action and work bans at the Victorian project.
The terms of settlement also requires that the three union representatives participate in an education program about workplace relations laws in the building and construction industry.
ABC Commissioner John Lloyd said the penalties reflected the serious nature of the actions of the unions and their representatives:
“This project was plagued by unlawful industrial disruption. The negative effects of strike action and work bans are not isolated to this project; they flow-on to the greater Latrobe Valley community.
“These penalties reflect the seriousness of the unions’ actions. They should act as a deterrent.”
Commissioner Lloyd noted that reaching a settlement was a preferred outcome, saving litigation costs and the court’s time.
See the ABCC’s website for further information about the proceedings:
