Vic: CFMEU offers olive branch to building giant

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Vic: CFMEU offers olive branch to building giant

By Barbara Adam, Industrial Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Dec 19 AAP - Victoria's powerful building union today held out the olivebranch to Grocon boss Daniel Grollo.

The offer came a day after Mr Grollo's bid to break the union's stranglehold of Victoria'sconstruction industry failed.

Mr Grollo and two Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) leaders metfor coffee today in Lygon Street, Melbourne's premier latte strip.

CFMEU state secretary Martin Kingham said he offered a ceasefire between the two partiesover Christmas.

"I proposed we each withdraw our respective actions scheduled for January, to createthe climate and opportunity where we could talk without pressure from court proceedingsor protected industrial action on worksites," Mr Kingham said.

The union had indicated it could embark on a campaign of protected industrial actionagainst Grocon when the construction industry's Christmas shutdown ends on January 13.

Grocon has also launched legal action against Mr Kingham and other CFMEU leaders overunprotected industrial action earlier this year.

Mr Kingham said Mr Grollo had not yet accepted or declined his offer.

"I can't do any more, now. I think the CFMEU has been generous, considering the sizeof our victory in yesterday's ballot," he said.

"I hope Daniel will accept the peace offering the union has made."

Mr Grollo was not available for comment, but his spokesman confirmed he'd met Mr Kinghamand Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association state secretary Tommy Watson.

"They've proposed to meet again," the spokesman said.

Grocon's projects, which includes the revamp of the MCG for the 2006 Commonwealth Games,are estimated to be worth more than $2 billion.

In the lead-up to yesterday's secret ballot, Mr Grollo said the long-term viabilityof his company, Australia's largest private construction firm, hinged on the "flexibilities"

contained in the non-union agreement.

While yesterday's non-union agreement was rejected by Grocon's Victorian workforce,a similar union endorsed agreement covering the company's NSW workforce was certifiedin the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

AAP bja/jlw/sek/de

KEYWORD: GROCON NIGHTLEAD (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)