Vic: Scene set for Grocon/union showdown

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Vic: Scene set for Grocon/union showdown

By Barbara Adam, Industrial Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Dec 4 AAP - Industrial warfare between Australia's largest private constructioncompany and one of Victoria's most militant unions could erupt tomorrow.

Up to 650 Grocon employees will attend a Construction, Forestry, Mining and EnergyUnion (CFMEU) stopwork meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall tomorrow to discuss an attemptby Grocon to introduce a non-union agreement.

Grocon joint managing directors Daniel and Adam Grollo this week bypassed the unionto put an offer directly to their Victorian employees, after three months of negotiationswith the CFMEU proved fruitless.

CFMEU Victorian secretary Martin Kingham today declined to comment on the development.

A spokeswoman for Mr Kingham said he was too busy negotiating with Grocon and preparingfor tomorrow's stopwork meeting.

Previous non-protected walkouts at Grocon sites have resulted in multi-million dollarSupreme Court action against CFMEU leaders, including Mr Kingham.

Mr Grollo signalled he intended taking on the unions three weeks ago when he declaredhis company would no longer tolerate standover tactics, intimidation and union-sponsoredinefficient work practices.

Despite setting the stage for a showdown, Daniel Grollo today denied he was tryingto pick a fight with the CFMEU.

"In the memorandum (sent to the employees) we clearly outlined that they have the rightto involve the union in the negotiations, have them represent them and have them jointhe agreement," Mr Grollo told ABC Radio.

Today he said the proposed agreement circulated on Monday was modelled on the enterpriseagreement recently accepted by the NSW branch of the CFMEU and the Victorian industry-wideagreement entered into by other Victorian construction companies in early October.

"The only difference in the agreement we propose with our employees is we're lookingfor a bit more flexibility," he told ABC Radio.

Mr Grollo said the $425 million redevelopment of the MCG would be completed in timefor the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

AAP bja/gfr/jmd/bwl

KEYWORD: GROCON NIGHTLEAD