A group of Australian construction workers have sparked public anger by doing little more than watching another tradie’s work as they stand waiting to be paid.
The video, originally recorded in 2019 but resurfaced this week, shows at least eight night workers observing a colleague as he operated an excavator to dig a hole in the middle of the road.
Social media users gushed about their “tax dollars hard at work” at the group gathered around a waiting area – with many joking about the amount of money each worker was likely paid.
“They also get double time to work at night,” one observer joked.
“Since this is Australia, the person holding the sign makes over $120,000,” joked a second.
But some Aussies were quick to defend the workers.
Aussies are frustrated as road workers are ‘sitting around’ while being paid high wages (see video of the workers posted on social media)
“There are safety issues that people who don’t have that kind of work don’t know about,” one person wrote.
Others pointed out that the image probably did not represent the full extent of the work the team had carried out.
The controversial photo follows revelations that construction workers, including on-site traffic controllers, are among the highest paid positions in Victoria.
Traffic controllers who work on major infrastructure projects in the state earn more than $200,000 a year.
The pay deal struck by the powerful Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union applies to holders of stop-and-go signs 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.
Traffic controllers on Victoria’s Big Build road and rail projects earn salaries of $200,000 under pay deals hit by the CFMEU (file image)
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.