The looming bargaining round in the Victorian commercial construction sector might be shaping as the first test for the Albanese Government's new tripartite National Construction Industry Forum.
The "lawlessness test" that is likely to prevent unions such as the CFMMEU from engaging in multi-employer bargaining could be made more specific after discussions with employers and unions, according to Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.
The MBA says it is pressing NSW's Perrottet Government for a procurement policy to protect builders against the ETU's pursuit of a "disastrous" deal with major contractors that it describes as the "spear point" of multi-employer pattern bargaining.
The Albanese Government did not take a policy favouring industry or sectoral bargaining to the May 21 election, but it has expressed support for New Zealand's model during official discussions this month at the International Labour Organisation.
The ABCC is investigating stoppages at five Sydney building projects overseen by two builders ahead of possible protected industrial action ballots by members of the CFMMEU, which is pursuing a new pattern agreement.
The CFMMEU construction and general division's NSW branch has warned sub-contractors that have signed its new pattern agreement they face being reported to the ABCC unless they switch to a nine-day fortnight from December 1.
The Victorian branch of the CFMMEU's construction and general division is looking to put a new enterprise agreement to a vote by individual builders and sub-contractors after finally winning ABCC approval for an in-principle deal.
The CFMMEU construction and general division's Victorian branch has struck an in-principle agreement with several major builders that provides average annual pay rises of 3% over four years and incorporates new measures to attract more women into the industry.
The ABCC is investigating allegations that the CFMMEU pressured more than 100 NSW sub-contractors into signing up to a new three-year pattern agreement providing 5% annual pay rises and fixed rostered days off.
The NSW MBA has warned its members against bargaining with the CFMMEU construction and general division's State branch on a proposed enterprise agreement that is says is not compliant with the national construction code.
