Union agrees to end Victoria blockades: Grocon

7 Sep 2012, 6:38 am   -   Source: AAP
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The CFMEU construction division national secretary, Dave Noonan, said Grocon had agreed to return to talks, under the conditions of the settlement reached with Fair Work Australia. (AAP)

The CFMEU construction division national secretary, Dave Noonan, said Grocon had agreed to return to talks, under the conditions of the settlement reached with Fair Work Australia. (AAP)

Union leadership has agreed to an unconditional end to the blockade of Grocon sites in Melbourne, says the company's chief executive.

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The CFMEU has agreed to immediately end a blockade of Grocon sites, company head Daniel Grollo says.

The chief executive said the union leadership agreed on Thursday night to put an unconditional end to the blockade organised by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, which has been pushing for the right to appoint safety representatives at Grocon construction sites.

"This means Grocon employees will be able to come to work safely," Mr Grollo said in a statement.

"Now that the CFMEU leadership has agreed to obey the law, we are happy to sit down with them to discuss whatever issues they say they have."

The CFMEU was not immediately available for comment.

Mr Grollo also tweeted the news: "CFMEU agrees to immediately end unlawful blockades. Very proud of all Grocon people!"

In his media statement, Mr Grollo said Grocon employees reported having no issue with their employment conditions and did not support the union's actions.

He said the company would not object if the union wanted Fair Work Australia involved in discussions, "even though our employees are not in dispute with Grocon".

"I sincerely hope now that the employees, contractors and their families will no longer be the subject of the sort of behaviour which has been aimed at them over the past three weeks," he said.

A small group of workers turned up on Thursday morning to protest at the Myer Emporium site, where up to 1000 union supporters had gathered last month.

The CFMEU construction division national secretary, Dave Noonan, said Grocon had agreed to return to talks, under the conditions of the settlement reached with Fair Work Australia.

This means both parties will have discussions to resolve health and safety issues, he said.

"Our members have protested peacefully to have the right to healthy and safe workplaces, and be represented by their union," Mr Noonan said in a statement.

"Grocon has agreed to discussions on these important issues.

"We look forward to productive and good-faith talks."

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