Latest news with #Webuild
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Brutal' conditions sees a thousand tradies strike at remote camp in Aussie national park
Tradies at a camp inside a remote national park have downed tools on Wednesday, forcing a $12 billion project to a standstill. The NSW-based crew building Snowy 2.0, Australia's biggest renewable energy project, say their employer, Italian-owned Webuild, needs to pay them the same as workers at Melbourne projects and improve conditions. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has raised concerns about conditions at the camp, with the Snowy Mountains wilderness scorching in summer and freezing during winter. FIFO workers complete 12-hour underground shifts and 14-day stints at the camp in Snowy Mountains wilderness, before travelling home for seven days. NSW AWU secretary Tony Callinan has been scathing of conditions at the camp, comparing the isolated Kosciuszko National Park worksite as 'like being in jail'. 'Employees leave home, they get on a plane, when they get off at Cooma, they get put on a company-supplied bus, and then they're stuck there for 14 days,' he said. 'There are no private vehicles allowed on site. It's not like you can just go up the road to the shops. You're stuck there. Even if you wanted to leave, there's no real ability to unless the company agrees to provide you with a bus to take you into Cooma.' Yesterday, the AWU was further angered after workers reported receiving a warning from the project's manager, Future Generation (FGJV), a joint venture between Webuild, Clough and Lane Construction. The email, seen by Yahoo News, detailed new rules from 5PM on Wednesday until 6AM on Thursday, covering the strike period. It included new restrictions on entering and leaving the site and warned of increased vehicle inspections. 'Breaches may result in disciplinary action,' the company warned. Workers are due to return to work on Thursday, and they are being surveyed by the union about how they'd like to proceed next week. 🦆 Photograph of 31 rare birds sparks ripples in midst of hunting season 🐟 Aussie man 'remorseful' after illegal find in fish tank leads to $2,400 fine 😳 Incredible breakthrough in bid to protect 'near-mythical' species The AWU is calling for a pay increase of up to 12 per cent, in line with what workers are paid at the government's North East Link Tunnel in Melbourne. Also on its list of demands are a $140 daily camp allowance for FIFOs, a doubling of night shift rates, and increased mental health days. Food is also reportedly an issue for workers at the camp. In 2023, they claimed maggots were found in meals, forcing a SafeWork NSW investigation. 'I've got no negative comments to make about the chefs, they can only work with the limited resources and ingredients provided,' Callinan said. 'There's not much variance to the menu. And our members buy two-minute noodles and things like that to try and break up the cycle a bit. It's not a great environment to be living in.' Yahoo News has contacted Snowy 2.0, Webuild and FGJV for comment. On Tuesday, Snowy 2.0 told the ABC that negotiations between the FGJV and the union were ongoing. 'As the employer of most of Snowy 2.0's workforce, Snowy 2.0's delivery partner, Future Generation Joint Venture, is engaged in ongoing negotiations for the enterprise agreements of surface and underground workers," it said. The Snowy 2.0 project expands on the original Snowy Mountains power scheme by connecting two existing dams through a 27km tunnel and building an underground pumped-hydro power station. It is the largest renewable energy project in Australia, and was developed as the centrepiece of the Turnbull Government's green energy transition. Once completed, it will be able to supply three million homes with power over the course of a week. It will have roughly 2.2 gigawatts of capacity and create around 350,000 megawatt-hours of large-scale storage. But the project has been plagued by cost blowouts, delays, and environmental concerns. Work has previously stopped at the site twice this year due to equipment safety concerns and malfunctions. The project is not expected to be completed until at least 2027. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
7NEWS
21-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
More than 1000 workers at Snowy Hydro 2.0 project strike for 24 hours
More than 1000 workers will today walk off the job for 24 hours over pay disputes with employer Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV), which is spearheaded by Italian company Webuild. Pay negotiations between the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and the Snowy 2.0 employer continue to be unsuccessful as workers push for pay parity with workers on Webuild's North East Link project in Melbourne. According to Tony Callinan, secretary of AWU NSW, this comes as a result of Webuild refusing to address its concerns and requests. 'Webuild wasted the first 10 weeks of negotiations by refusing to engage, they didn't respond at all to the log of claims the AWU put to them on behalf of our 1000 odd members in mid-January'. It claims workers at Snowy 2.0 are paid less, but expected to operate on a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) basis, rostered on two weeks at 12 hours a day, and then the following week off, which can be taken up by the long commute home. 'Working in the wilderness' Callinan said 'those working Snowy 2.0 live and work in the wilderness in the middle of winter, and when they're not underground tunnelling, they're confined to Spartan work camps'. According to Callinan, workers are seeking a 10 per cent to 12 per cent upfront pay increase in order to be on par with the pay of those working on the North East Link project. With those on the Melbourne project often able to commute home each day, Callinan said 'it should be obvious to anyone that our members working in the wilderness for two weeks straight would expect to be paid the same as workers in Melbourne who go home to their families each night'. Cynthia Calderon — vice president of communications, community and stakeholder engagement at FGJV — told 7NEWS: 'The employer has and will continue to negotiate in good faith for a replacement agreement with the relevant bargaining representatives.' 'Prisoner of war camp' However, in a notice received on Tuesday afternoon, the workers on strike were told they were not allowed to leave site, with access temporarily restricted, and any attempt to leave would result in disciplinary action. FGJV deputy project director Kevin Dunning noted that it would be 'increasing vehicle inspections', participants in the strike 'must remain in designated camp areas only', and 'crib areas', or the space used for meal and break time, will be only for 'those actively working'. Callinan described it as an extreme reaction. 'It's not a prisoner of war camp, it's not a jail.'. 'If workers want to leave the project while not being paid and go out for the day, they should be able to, It's obscene.' History of tension Safety concerns This isn't the first time where workers at Snowy 2.0 have taken industrial action. 7NEWS has previously reported on the alleged live maggots in the food at the mess hall, and given the remote location, there aren't exactly other restaurants to go to instead. The general safety of the site was questioned after an incident involving the malfunction of an industrial-sized fan in February led to a halt in drilling activity. Subsequent inspections found other fans were in similar states, some with missing bolts — an accident waiting to happen. This was a month after work was stopped due to safety refuge chambers found to be inoperable due to lack of maintenance.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Work on long-debated bridge to Sicily could begin in coming months
By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) -Work to build a giant bridge connecting the Italian mainland to the island of Sicily is expected to begin over the summer, the infrastructure minister said on Monday, vowing to block any attempt by criminal groups to infiltrate the costly project. The project has been talked about for decades as a way to help develop the impoverished south of Italy but appeared to have been killed off for good in 2013, when the company created to oversee its construction was closed down as part of a drive to curb state spending and rein in public debt. However, Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, the leader of the co-ruling League party, made it a priority and the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has set aside 13.5 billion euros ($15.2 billion) to build it. "If we are particularly, I won't say clever, but lucky and consistent, summer 2025 is the one for the works," Salvini told a press conference. The CEO of the bridge company, Pietro Ciucci, said the project still needed a final green light from a state committee overseeing strategic infrastructure and he hoped to submit the request by the end of June. The construction, by a consortium led by Italy's Webuild, would be some 3.6 km (2.2 miles) long, feature a central span measuring 3.3 km, and connect Sicily to the southern Calabria region. It has become a highly divisive issue in Italy. The bridge draws fierce criticism from those who question the wisdom of building it in an earthquake zone and those who say it would be a waste of money harmful to the landscape, amid fears that the Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta gangs based in the area could infiltrate the works to reap huge profits. But the project also has strong support from those who believe a fast rail and road connection as an alternative to the current ferry crossing of the Strait of Messina would boost southern Italy. Salvini rebuffed security concerns, saying the bridge would be able to withstand the forces of nature, and maintained that refusing to implement projects in mafia-tainted areas would amount to a "state surrender" to the criminals. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said a centralised anti-mafia body would make checks on companies involved, with a focus on those sectors particularly exposed to mob infiltration, such as the disposal of waste materials. ($1 = 0.8883 euros)
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Work on long-debated bridge to Sicily could begin in coming months
ROME, May 19 (Reuters) - Work to build a giant bridge connecting the Italian mainland to the island of Sicily is expected to begin over the summer, the infrastructure minister said on Monday, vowing to block any attempt by criminal groups to infiltrate the costly project. The project has been talked about for decades as a way to help develop the impoverished south of Italy but appeared to have been killed off for good in 2013, when the company created to oversee its construction was closed down as part of a drive to curb state spending and rein in public debt. However, Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, the leader of the co-ruling League party, made it a priority and the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has set aside 13.5 billion euros ($15.2 billion) to build it. "If we are particularly, I won't say clever, but lucky and consistent, summer 2025 is the one for the works," Salvini told a press conference. The CEO of the bridge company, Pietro Ciucci, said the project still needed a final green light from a state committee overseeing strategic infrastructure and he hoped to submit the request by the end of June. The construction, by a consortium led by Italy's Webuild ( opens new tab, would be some 3.6 km (2.2 miles) long, feature a central span measuring 3.3 km, and connect Sicily to the southern Calabria region. It has become a highly divisive issue in Italy. The bridge draws fierce criticism from those who question the wisdom of building it in an earthquake zone and those who say it would be a waste of money harmful to the landscape, amid fears that the Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta gangs based in the area could infiltrate the works to reap huge profits. But the project also has strong support from those who believe a fast rail and road connection as an alternative to the current ferry crossing of the Strait of Messina would boost southern Italy. Salvini rebuffed security concerns, saying the bridge would be able to withstand the forces of nature, and maintained that refusing to implement projects in mafia-tainted areas would amount to a "state surrender" to the criminals. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said a centralised anti-mafia body would make checks on companies involved, with a focus on those sectors particularly exposed to mob infiltration, such as the disposal of waste materials. ($1 = 0.8883 euros)
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Work on long-debated bridge to Sicily could begin in coming months
A view shows the Strait of Messina where a government project to build a bridge to connect the Italian mainland to the island of Sicily has been in the planning stages for years, as seen from the small village of Cannitello, Italy, January 2, 2025. REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo/File Photo ROME - Work to build a giant bridge connecting the Italian mainland to the island of Sicily is expected to begin over the summer, the infrastructure minister said on Monday, vowing to block any attempt by criminal groups to infiltrate the costly project. The project has been talked about for decades as a way to help develop the impoverished south of Italy but appeared to have been killed off for good in 2013, when the company created to oversee its construction was closed down as part of a drive to curb state spending and rein in public debt. However, Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, the leader of the co-ruling League party, made it a priority and the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has set aside 13.5 billion euros ($15.2 billion) to build it. "If we are particularly, I won't say clever, but lucky and consistent, summer 2025 is the one for the works," Salvini told a press conference. The CEO of the bridge company, Pietro Ciucci, said the project still needed a final green light from a state committee overseeing strategic infrastructure and he hoped to submit the request by the end of June. The construction, by a consortium led by Italy's Webuild, would be some 3.6 km (2.2 miles) long, feature a central span measuring 3.3 km, and connect Sicily to the southern Calabria region. It has become a highly divisive issue in Italy. The bridge draws fierce criticism from those who question the wisdom of building it in an earthquake zone and those who say it would be a waste of money harmful to the landscape, amid fears that the Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta gangs based in the area could infiltrate the works to reap huge profits. But the project also has strong support from those who believe a fast rail and road connection as an alternative to the current ferry crossing of the Strait of Messina would boost southern Italy. Salvini rebuffed security concerns, saying the bridge would be able to withstand the forces of nature, and maintained that refusing to implement projects in mafia-tainted areas would amount to a "state surrender" to the criminals. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said a centralised anti-mafia body would make checks on companies involved, with a focus on those sectors particularly exposed to mob infiltration, such as the disposal of waste materials. ($1 = 0.8883 euros) REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
