FED: Unionists protest over illegal workers building reactor
SYDNEY, April 18 AAP - Building workers are today protesting against the Howard government'srefusal to ensure illegal immigrants are not hired to build the new nuclear reactor atLucas Heights in Sydney.
The federal government has granted approval for a second reactor worth $300 million,despite opposition from environmentalists and sections of the local community.
Greenpeace has already applied to the federal court to challenge the construction ofthe new reactor.
However building workers are angry that a clause demanding contractors check illegalimmigrants are not hired to construct the reactor has been rejected by the Office of theEmployment Advocate.
"In a proposed agreement covering the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor we made it a responsibilityof contractors to check that illegal immigrants were not engaged," CFMEU NSW secretaryAndrew Ferguson said.
"The employers agreed to this but the clause was rejected by the Employment Advocate- on orders of Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott.
"I think most Australians would be appalled to learn that a sensitive development suchas Lucas Heights could be constructed by illegal immigrants - and that the Howard governmentis actually frustrating our attempts to ensure this does not occur."
Mr Ferguson said about 100 building workers would march on the Sydney office of theEmployment Advocate today.
The building workers plan to drag Stinky, an eight-metre tall inflatable rat, to the protest.
Stinky is a mascot adopted by the CFMEU to "sniff out the scandals" of the separateroyal commission inquiry into rorts and corruption in the building industry.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Employment Advocate said a delegation of unionofficials had approached management today.
She said further talks would be held tomorrow or early next week to address any ofthe union's concerns.
AAP nd/nf/mjm/bwl
KEYWORD: LUCAS UNION
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