A union leader claimed that the high salaries given to traffic controllers working on major projects in Victoria were justified.
According to industry whistleblowers, some of those working on the Big Build projects in the state, which include the construction of rail and road infrastructure, are earning over $200,000 annually.
According to John Setka, the CFMEU’s secretary for the construction industry in Victoria, the salaries of traffic controllers on the Big Build sites are justified. He noted that the workers who built the pyramids got much better deals than those employed by smaller firms.
The whistleblowers claimed that the inflated salaries have increased the traffic management costs by around $380 million.
Mr Setka noted that the union’s primary objective is to safeguard the interests of its members.
Australians were alarmed by the traffic controllers’ annual salaries of over six figures. It is almost three times higher than the average annual income of a nurse in the state who works for around $75,000 to $85,000 a year.
During an interview with Tom Elliott, a radio host, Mr Setka said that the public’s reaction to the salaries of traffic controllers is insulting. He noted that they are working incredibly hard to protect the public and the workers on the projects.
According to Setka, the salary of a traffic controller ranges from $206,00 to $209,00 annually, and it is based on a staff member working a six-day, 50-hour work week. He said that the general public often mistakenly believes that the job of a traffic controller is easy.
According to Setka, traffic controllers have the highest suicide rates in the industry due to their fatigue and long hours. He also noted that they don’t get to spend quality time with their families and friends.
Despite agreeing with the comments about front line workers, the head of the construction union still believed that the wage paid to sign holders was justified. He noted that teachers and nurses are underpaid. He also said that workers in the industry typically work 12 hour shifts.
While it’s important for front line workers to receive better pay, he noted that the construction industry requires them to be available to work up to seven days a week in order to ensure that projects are delivered on time. He also said that companies could face liquidated damages if they fail to deliver on time.
A former worker on a dredging and underground tunnel project in Brisbane said on social media that he experienced working 12-hour shifts in a dangerous environment. He referred to it as gut-breaking work, and he said that it puts his life at risk. Another person noted that these types of workers can perform well on large projects but then get unemployed for several months after they leave.
One person said that working 12-hour shifts isn’t a problem for them. The leader of the Liberal Party, John Pesutto, called on the government to explain how it was doing this. Steve Dimopoulos, the Labor Minister for the region, said that the government didn’t set the wages for the workers, and it was up to the employers to determine their rates.
When asked about the issue, he said that his government hires contractors to perform work on behalf of both the taxpayers and the government.