WATPAC chief executive Martin Monro has no right to sit on the board of one of Australia's leading mental health organisations while the company he heads bullies workers trying to assist domestic violence support groups.
"The double standards displayed by Watpac are reprehensible," CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said.
"Watpac are happy to be associated with leading support groups like Mates in Construction as a cynical exercise in corporate branding, but their actions in the workplace display absolutely zero empathy for people whose lives are impacted by mental health issues and family violence – problems that are closely linked."
Mr Ravbar, who has been closely associated with MiC since its inception, today resigned from the board of directors in protest at the hypocrisy on display.
"I am not prepared to share a board table with one of the largest construction companies in Australia that pays lip service to caring about workers' mental health and family well-being, while instructing managers to tear down workplace posters promoting the CFMEU's annual toy drive."
"Seriously? A toy drive? Every year our members donate thousands of new toys, games, gift vouchers and pieces of sporting equipment to a charity for children who are spending Christmas in shelters after being forced to flee abusive home environments."
"In this twisted new world of government sanctioned corporate thuggery, Michael Monro and Watpac somehow try to use an act of collective generosity and compassion at Christmas to gain some bizarre industrial leverage."
"If this is the sort of corporate citizen Watpac really is they do not deserve to be associated with selfless community organisations such as MiC, and Mr Monro should end the charitable façade and resign immediately," Mr Ravbar said.
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