The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) has called on IFS Russell-Smith to come clean on the health of its business as worrying signs emerge.
CEPU State Organiser, Michael Anderson today raised concerns that the new operator of the insolvent business PSG which went bust in 2014 costing 180 jobs, may be headed down the same path.
“The company from the very start has struggled in the industry, and 2 years on the workers are getting fed up not being paid entitlements.”
The CEPU has raised concerns about a number of key indicators, which are not limited to; Russell-Smith being on stop credit at all major wholesalers, consistently several months behind on redundancy payments, being over 5 months behind on superannuation, staff turnover of over 100 in 2 years, and not paying out entitlements of employees who have resigned.
“We’ve written to the company many times highlighting the dozens of breaches of the Award and NES, as well as not paying Superannuation, and have heard nothing for the past few weeks.”
“Employees have been very patient with the company and received no answers to their queries which they deserve, along with their entitlements.”
The CEPU attempted to meet with the company several times over the past weeks to better understand the issues, but hasn’t been able to get a response, but have received threats to sue the Union for harming their business.
“We have a duty to the 50 IFS Russell-Smith workers and the industry to tell the truth about unpaid entitlements, and if they paid their bills like everyone else there wouldn’t be a problem. So instead fixing it or coming clean, they blame everyone else.”
“They’re on government funded projects, the builders are all aware that they are breaching employment law but as usual with the welfare of workers, they refuse to face facts.”
Acting State Secretary, Michael Anderson
