RHH plasterers pay vow

THE managing contractor of the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment says it is still not sure how much plasterers employed by subcontractor Accuracy Interiors are owed but has pledged to pay the 130 affected workers by today.

The construction union said it believed the workers — 100 of whom were foreign and 30 Tasmanians — were owed almost $1.5 million in wages and entitlements after going with- out pay for up to nine weeks.

Construction, Forestry, Mining, Maritime and Energy Union secretary Kevin Harkins said he expected most would return to the site once they were paid. They downed tools in protest last week.

“I think they’re very happy compared to what they’ve been over the past couple of days,” he said.

A spokeswoman for managing contractor John Holland-Fairbrother said the company was finalising its agreement with a new subcontractor after severing ties with Accuracy Interiors when the latter business failed to prove it was solvent.

“Our priority is ensuring Accuracy Interiors workers on the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment get the pay they are entitled to, and continued employment on the project,” she said.

An affected plasterer said he had been told his new contract was with Melbourne plastering company Q3 Group. Q3 Group did not return calls.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson yesterday said again the $689 million project would not be delayed.

The project’s executive steering committee and director Ben Moloney were working with John Holland-Fairbrother to ensure a smooth transition to the new subcontractor, Mr Ferguson said.

“I’ve got an absolutely hawk eye on this project and have every single day,” he said.

“We could’ve just sat back and said this is the managing contractor’s problem but we won’t act like that because while we are the client … we can make a difference and look after the employees that have been let down by Accuracy and help them get back to work.”

Mr Harkins said questions remained about John Holland-Fairbrother’s audit of workers’ documentation, including some employees on student visas.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said she found it hard to believe the Government did not know about the issue soon- er — an allegation Mr Ferguson has repeatedly denied.

“It is disgraceful that there has been wage theft occurring where people have not been paid for weeks, they are left in precarious situations without accommodation and the minister was only alerted to it after the union brought it to his attention,” she said.

Some workers were booted from their accommodation after their minder refused to hand over keys to their housing until they agreed to go back to work.