2 December 2011

CFMEU joins the call for hostels

| johnboy
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The ABC brings word that the CFMEU has noticed there’s nowhere in Canberra for workers to live.

The construction union is calling for hostels to be re-established in Canberra, amid fears a lack of accommodation is making it hard to attract interstate workers.

Hostels were used during major construction booms in the 1950s and 1970s to provide cheap, individual accommodation for single workers and public servants moving to the national capital.

They offered short-term accommodation while workers found a suitable place to live.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) secretary Dean Hall says the high cost and shortage of rental properties discourages workers from coming to Canberra.

“There’s a huge turnover of those workers because they come down and can’t get accommodation or live in poor accommodation,” he said.

“I really think the Government should be proactive.

It would be good for more than just construction workers.

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Can’t they just build some shacks and put up some tents at Westlake? It worked last time.

bitzermaloney said :

matt31221 said :

Seems like you have something against ‘unionized workers’ and the CFMEU? What is wrong with hard working folk who seem to get exploited quite easily having a union to protect them?

I tend to agree in part with dungfungus, but it’s nothing about having a go at “unionized workers”, but more along the lines of:
– CFMEU already owning a number of motels in the ACT;
– CFMEU wanting the ACT gov to sell Dickson car park at “mate’s rates” so they can build a bigger Tradies & motel;
– CFMEU being reasonably well cashed up;

To put simply CFMEU are having a whinge, see a solution and although they have both the financial resources and the ability (i.e. all the tradesmen needed), they’re still looking for a handout. How about the union leaders stop whinging and start “leading.”

If they keep their current approach Dave Noonan will be joining the perrenial whiner Doug Cameron in the senate.

Yes terribly unfair on the CFMEU not to have the Dickson block handed to them….

bitzermaloney10:25 am 05 Dec 11

matt31221 said :

Seems like you have something against ‘unionized workers’ and the CFMEU? What is wrong with hard working folk who seem to get exploited quite easily having a union to protect them?

I tend to agree in part with dungfungus, but it’s nothing about having a go at “unionized workers”, but more along the lines of:
– CFMEU already owning a number of motels in the ACT;
– CFMEU wanting the ACT gov to sell Dickson car park at “mate’s rates” so they can build a bigger Tradies & motel;
– CFMEU being reasonably well cashed up;

To put simply CFMEU are having a whinge, see a solution and although they have both the financial resources and the ability (i.e. all the tradesmen needed), they’re still looking for a handout. How about the union leaders stop whinging and start “leading.”

If they keep their current approach Dave Noonan will be joining the perrenial whiner Doug Cameron in the senate.

dungfungus said :

Why don’t the construction workers use the extensive accommodation owned by their comrades the Tradies Club? There are at least 2 motels I know of adjacent to the favorite drinking holes of the CFMEU. Then again, the CFMEU knows all so why don’t they build a couple of hostels exclusively for their members, financed by the Industry Super Funds? I’ll bet comrade Barr would give them a few concessions like no land tax.
Whatever happens, there should be no ACT ratepayer money invested in hostels for the exclusive use of unionised construction workers.
On a lighter note, half of today’s Canberra was probably conceived in a Commonwealth Hostel or two.

Seems like you have something against ‘unionized workers’ and the CFMEU? What is wrong with hard working folk who seem to get exploited quite easily having a union to protect them?

I’ve always wondered why we don’t have hostels, especially for the unemployed and homeless, but also for things like FIFO workers and seasonal workers etc.

Hostels seem to only be used by travellers to travel on the cheap, but seriously you could have a decent size hostel to give people a bed and a shower. Look at those dodgy land lords that crammed people into a house illegally. Why not provide short term accomodation for $100 a week in a hostel….

Why don’t the construction workers use the extensive accommodation owned by their comrades the Tradies Club? There are at least 2 motels I know of adjacent to the favorite drinking holes of the CFMEU. Then again, the CFMEU knows all so why don’t they build a couple of hostels exclusively for their members, financed by the Industry Super Funds? I’ll bet comrade Barr would give them a few concessions like no land tax.
Whatever happens, there should be no ACT ratepayer money invested in hostels for the exclusive use of unionised construction workers.
On a lighter note, half of today’s Canberra was probably conceived in a Commonwealth Hostel or two.

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