Tassie layoff sparks anger

Claims interstate employees working

THE union representing plumbers says the subcontractor that sacked 20 Tasmanians on Friday has kept its mainland workers on the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment site.

Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union state secretary Michael Anderson said the local hydraulics and sanitation workers sacked by telephone on Friday afternoon were “absolutely filthy” with subcontractor AMS Hydraulics after finding out the business had retained its employees from interstate.

Former construction foreman Steve Burns, who lost his job on Friday, said workers had turned up to the site yesterday in the hope they would pick up work with a new plumbing subcontractor but were “not too happy” to find their mainland colleagues working for AMS.

Some of the Tasmanian workers had been poached from other businesses, he said.

“We’ll have to go and find jobs elsewhere,” Mr Burns said.

“None of us are getting paid. We’ve been paid up to next Monday.”

Directors of the Canberrabased business are understood to have flown to Hobart from the ACT yesterday but did not respond to an inquiry.

It is understood its dispute with John Holland-Fairbrother is related to payments, though the latter business said those were up to date.

A John Holland-Fairbrother spokeswoman said: “We are working with AMS to resolve the issue as soon as possible.”

RHH redevelopment project spokesman Ben Moloney said the problems between managing contractor John Holland-Fairbrother and AMS were “under investigation”.

“The RHH redevelopment project expects that the subcontract agreement will be ad- ministered fairly by both parties and that all Australian and Tasmanian laws continue to be adhered to throughout these commercial negotiations,” Mr Moloney said.

“The project team will continue to monitor the resolution of this matter.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell urged Health Minister Michael Ferguson to get involved.

“In addition to ensuring the hospital redevelopment is on track, Mr Ferguson’s primary concern should be that workers are paid, but his track record on this major project does not bode well for affected workers,” Ms Lovell said.

But Mr Ferguson said he was involved: “I’ve been extremely clear in personal contact with the builder and my briefings with project management that I expect this issue to be resolved as quickly as possible, to minimise disruption for both the workers and the project.”