Construction site strike ends peacefully

It follows a clash between protesters and police yesterday, which threatened to turn violent.

CFMEU reached an agreement with Lend Lease last night at about 7.30pm, delivering a 20 per cent pay increase for workers delivered in 5 per cent pay rises each year for four years, and a condition which will mean supplementary workers brought in by the company can only be employed for a maximum of four weeks. The agreement also guarantees supplementary, or casual, workers the same conditions and pay as full-time employees.

A vote was taken on the new agreement this morning, which passed.

CFMEU ACT branch secretary Dean Hall said the deal will improve job security, which will in turn have a roll on affect for safety on worksites.

“It’s a huge win, it’s a watershed moment,” he said. “This is the beginning of turning the industry back into a full time industry.”

About 70 union members gathered at the National Circuit construction site this morning, however there was no picket line and workers were allowed to enter the workplace freely after the vote at 6.30am.

About six police were also present at the site this morning.

Yesterday outnumbered police were forced to withdraw from the area after a confrontation with union members, as they tried to escort workers through the picket line.

Police said protesters were obstructing other workers, using ''some physical force'' on Monday.

But Mr Hall said the officers were approaching groups of workers who had not yet decided whether they would work, offering to get them through the picket line.

Lend Lease workers were striking as part of national stoppages at 22 sites on the east coast, also including the ASIO site in Campbell, following a breakdown in pay negotiations.

The Lend Lease development on National Circuit is an office building, which will house staff from the Attorney General's Department.

Workers had been striking since Tuesday.