Thousands of tradies have gathered in Melbourne CBD to demand wage increases amid Australia’s cost-of-living crisis.
The protesting tradies, many of which are wearing trade union CFMEU shirts and carrying CFMEU flags, called for salaries to increase in line with inflation.
They also demanded the Fair Work ombudsman be strengthened and replaced to avoid companies collapsing as Porter Davis has while they march to the Fair Work Commission on Exhibition Street.
“The Fair Work Ombudsman has been a dismal failure on wage theft, sham contracting and corporate insolvencies – three of the biggest issues in the construction industry,” CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith said in a statement about the protest.
“We are in the midst of the most serious cost-of-living crisis in decades while corporate greed pours petrol on an inflationary bonfire.”
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The CFMEU has said it organised for similar protests to also take place in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns today.
The action follows a rise in vandalism at construction sites by suspected out-of-pocket tradies after the collapse of Porter Davis.
Police attended the protest but there have been no reported issues with the crowd’s behaviour.
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