ST PATRICK’S DAY ‘PRESENT’ FOR AUSSIE WORKERS AS IRISH COMPANY COLLAPSES

Published: 17 Mar 2017

Irish-owned KNF Constructions has gone into voluntary administration on the eve of St Patrick’s Day owing its workforce more than an estimated $1 million.

The collapse affects as many as 200 construction workers on the $550 million Pacifico Joint Venture Pacific Highway upgrade between Nambucca Heads and Warrell Creek. It is understood the company also has workers on the WestConnex project in Sydney.

CFMEU Organiser Dean Rielly said the construction union was aware of workers owed up to 13 weeks’ pay including lost wages, annual leave, RDOs and other entitlements.

He said it was likely there was more than $1 million in outstanding workers’ wages and entitlements.

Mr Rielly said the CFMEU had raised concerns about KNF’s financial position as far back as August 2016 to Pacifico management.

“We discovered KNF was five months’ behind in paying workers’ superannuation contributions and were successful in securing that money, but we now find they have not made any superannuation contributions since and now have gone into liquidation,” Mr Rielly said.

“My question is what are the Liberal Federal and State governments going to do about this to ensure these workers get their money?

“We have been raising concerns about this company and have been ignored and now more than 100 workers on the north coast have lost their jobs and their wages.”

For more information contact CFMEU Organiser Dean Rielly on 0455 024 672