STRIKING formworkers say they will return to the Honeysuckle median strip this morning to resume their strike protest aimed at a subcontractor on a waterfront apartment project.
Employees of ACT company I.C. Formwork (NSW) Pty Ltd voted by secret ballot in August to take legally protected industrial action under the Fair Work Act in pursuit of a new enterprise agreement.
CFMEU NSW organiser Mark Cross said the workers had protested at a second I.C. Formwork site, The Foundry at Adamstown, but "that job is almost done and so they wanted to concentrate on this one".
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Mr Cross denied assertions the employees had been bullied into striking and said the demands on the company were in line with industry standards.
The Newcastle Heraldreported last week that the union log of claims as described by Mr Cross included six-monthly pay rises of 2.5 per cent, for an overall increase of 15 per cent.
Mr Cross said Newcastle police had visited the protest to check it complied with the law, and allowed it to continue.
A NSW Police spokesperson said that police were aware of the protest activity.
The spokesperson said officers from Newcastle City Police District visited the protest on Wednesday last week and spoke with organisers and attendees to ensure compliance with current COVID-related public health orders.
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The spokesperson said the police had attended on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and would "continue to monitor the gatherings".
Mr Cross said the protesters had taken Sunday off.
I.C. Formwork, the building contractor BLOC and developer Doma Group have all declined repeat invitations to comment.
