Union calls for commitments amid RCR solar turmoil.
Workers fear job losses and non-payment as RCR announces second trading halt.
The Electrical Trades Union has seized on reports that solar construction company RCR Tomlinson has announced a second trading halt as evidence the company is in danger of going into receivership.
ETU QLD NT state secretary Peter Ong said ETU officials have been on some sites today and they will be back at RCR’s five Queensland sites, Haughton, Emerald, Collinsville, Claremont and Darling Downs tomorrow to talk to workers who fear the worst.
“They have heard reports about what occurred in Victoria where more than 100 workers were sacked with an hours’ notice on an RCR site near Mildura late last month with many still awaiting outstanding payments. The workers rightly want commitments from the developers that they won’t face the same fate, they demand that they continue being paid wages and entitlements while the viability of RCR is decided” Mr Ong said.
“The turmoil in RCR is not limited to workers entitlements there are also grave concerns for sub-contractors as well if the Mildura experience is anything to go by, in that scenario the local contractor has issued a stop to work until RCR’s future is decided”
Mr. Ong reiterated his earlier concerns that the state Government had not adequately overseen this important industry.
“This latest outrageous private failure shows why the state Government needs to own, construct and manage our electricity generation assets” he said.
“ETU members call on the state government to guarantee that no further work in the renewables sector will go to RCR, they clearly can’t be trusted to deliver”
For further information contact Peter Ong 0419 721 046 or Andrew Irvine 0448 633 858