Statement from Darren Greenfield, NSW CFMEU Secretary:
The NSW CFMEU is deeply saddened at the death of a 48 year old plumber on the Grocon “Ribbon” site in Sydney. We are devastated and offer condolences to his family and his work mates.
It is appalling that another worker has been killed on a Grocon site.
The union has been alerted to a range of issues throughout the life of the Ribbon site at Darling Harbour and today a worker has been killed.
It was troubling today to be on site and witness Grocon and their lawyers try to crisis manage their response, and refuse to engage constructively with the union and workers to deal with the issues that lead to this man’s death.
The company’s only interest seemed to be about protecting their own backsides.
Grocon has a shocking track record of callous disregard for workers’ safety. How many lives must be lost and people injured before this company wakes up to themselves?
It is a disgrace that this keeps happening. How many workers need to die before we have proper industrial manslaughter laws in this country that hold culpable bosses to account?
The union is also now investigating claims that some workers on this site have not been paid.
Rogue operators who fail to keep workers safe and pay their wages have no place in our industry.
/Public Release.