Outrage over eye-watering wages for traffic controllers in Australia- as CFMEU defends the high pay

A union boss has defended traffic controllers working on major infrastructure projects in Victoria who earn more than $200,000 a year.

The pay deal struck by the powerful Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union applies to stop-and-go sign holders for Victoria’s ‘Big Build’ projects, which former Premier Dan Andrews spearheaded.

The annual salary is almost three times what the average nurse, teacher or police officer earns.

CFMEU boss John Setka said those complaining about the exorbitant salaries were from smaller companies being squeezed out of the sector.

“Some of these companies have whistleblowers, I mean the slaves who built the pyramids probably got a better deal than some of those employees at smaller companies. So I mean, they’re always going to whine,” he said.

“Our job is to protect our members and promote their interests and well-being, and we make no apologies for that.”

CFMEU boss John Setka (pictured) said nurses and teachers should be paid more but ‘we don’t represent them’

Liberal state leader John Pesutto said the Labor government’s approach to the Big Build, which includes a series of new road and rail projects across the state, has raised some “serious questions”.

According to industry whistleblowers, the CFMEU’s takeover of the traffic management aspect of the taxpayer-funded program has increased that portion of the budget by $380 million, reports The Herald Sun.

Labor Minister Steve Dimpopoulos said the taxpayer-funded salaries were not set by the government.

“We don’t fix their wages,” he said.

“What we do is engage builders to do the work on behalf of the government and the taxpayers.”

An entry-level construction worker or traffic controller affiliated with the CFMEU on a ‘Big Build’ project would earn $206,000 per year if he worked 56 hours per week for 48 weeks per year.

The salary includes location and travel allowances, overtime and meal fines.

By comparison, a graduate teacher in Victoria earns $77,000, a police officer earns $75,000, and a registered nurse earns between $75,000 and $85,000.

“Nurses and teachers should make more money, but we don’t represent them, we represent construction workers,” Setka said.

Nurses earn less than half of what a lollipop sign holder would earn with the same hours

Whistleblowers have also accused the CFMEU of forcing its way into contracts despite higher bids.

“These kinds of accusations have been around since Jesus wore shorts, and nothing has ever been proven,” Setka said.

Commenters on social media focused on the extraordinary salaries.

‘No wonder there is a shortage of frontline workers. There should be a ceiling on the wages of these unskilled workers,” one said.

“Labor will never speak out and tackle the issues because they are in thrall to the unions,” said another.

“There are automatic temporary traffic lights, so if, as John Setka claims, it is a very dangerous job, this automatic equipment offers multi-level solutions, much more cost-effective and safer,” a third added.