457 VISAS – CEOs rally for rights for the 1%
Friday, 24 May 2013

Alarmed the Federal Government may announce a tightening of regulations around the use of temporary overseas workers 457 visas, CEOs will stage a rally in Sydney’s Martin place today to oppose any changes.

“Any move to tighten use of 457s to get around hiring locals would be a personal assault on our human rights,” said protest organiser C.E.O (Cheaper Employees from Overseas) boss Larry Pines.

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Stop the apprenticeship decline: 457 employers must invest in local training
Friday, 24 May 2013

Businesses employing significant numbers of skilled trades workers on section 457 visas should be compelled to invest in apprenticeships to stop the cycle of skills shortage and apprenticeship decline, the CFMEU said today.

In a new letter-writing campaign, the CFMEU is calling on MPs to back mandated apprenticeship ratios on projects that employ more than 10 temporary overseas 457 workers in skilled trades jobs.  

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Young Australians to front new 457 campaign
Thursday, 23 May 2013

Three young workers hoping for a career in the construction industry will be the human faces of a major billboard campaign starting this week, pushing for more apprenticeships for young Australians and less 457 overseas temporary work visas.

The billboard campaign by Australia’s main construction industry trade union, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), is planned to run for several months across six sites in CBD Melbourne, and may be extended nationally.

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FIFO disgrace: BHP refuses to hire locals at new Central Queensland mines
CFMEU Mining and Energy News
Wednesday, 22 May 2013

BHP should be condemned for its refusal to hire locals for two new mines in Central Queensland, the CFMEU said today.

While the company is out promoting the popularity of its 100% fly-in-fly-out policy at the new Caval Ridge and Daunia mines with jobseekers from capital cities, it is excluding local workers and undermining regional communities, said CFMEU National President Tony Maher.

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Make the 457 visa system fair for all workers: CFMEU
CFMEU C & G News
Wednesday, 22 May 2013

The CFMEU’s submission to the Senate inquiry into 457 visas and enterprise migration agreements aims to make the system fairer for all workers – both Australian and overseas workers.

National CFMEU Construction Secretary Dave Noonan said that labour market testing was a necessary step to stop the undercutting of wages and conditions.

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