NSW: Sydney caught out by poor market for tilers CFMEU

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-1999
NSW: Sydney caught out by poor market for tilers CFMEU

A roof tilers' union in New South Wales says depressed pay conditions and a virtual
monopoly have left the industry with too few hands to cope with the damage from Sydney's freak
hailstorm.

The Construction, Forestry Mining and Energy Union has called on the big tile manufacturers
to take on apprentices and reverse a decline which has left the average age of tilers at 47.

But a major tile manufacturer says the destructive hailstorm hit at the top of the building
cycle - when there's already a substantial job lag.

CSR Monier Wunderlich general manager TONY TANNER says about 300 apprentices are currently
going through TAFE in a course established by Monier, Boral and Pioneer Construction.

AAP RTV dep/tsm/kbw

KEYWORD: HAIL TILERS (SYDNEY)

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