The Industrial Services area is made up of both the Wage Claims Department and the Legal Department. Both are highly skilled and qualified, achieving excellent results for financial members.

Wage Claims Department

CFMEU NSW Wage Claims Department provides expertise in all aspects of employee entitlements under many types of employment contracts, including Modern Awards, Enterprise Agreements and the Fair Work Act.

The Wage Claims Department plays a key role in recovering unpaid wages and entitlements for union members.

Last year, the CFMEU recovered over $15.4 million for union members.

Our experienced officers are skilled in resolving disputes over unpaid legal entitlements and represent union members many areas, including:

• Settlement negotiations with employers & employer groups
• Representation in Industrial Courts and Commissions
• Recovery of unpaid superannuation or redundancy
• Recovery of long service from employers and the Long Service Corporation
• Specialist interpretation on Award / Agreement clauses
• Audit of employer time and wage records
• Apprentice claims

Financial members can download the Wage Claims Form here. 

Please read our Wage Claims Policy on processing of claims.

Industrial / Legal Department

The Union's Industrial Legal Department is made up of qualified solicitors with expert knowledge and significant experience in industrial and employment law. The department specialises in a number of areas including:

• Employment and industrial law matters
• Unfair dismissal or unlawful termination
• Discrimination and harassment issues
• Accident or injury claims, including reinstatement
• Workers compensation claims and entitlements

Worker’s Compensation.

As well as offering general advice on your workers compensation rights, the Legal Department can assist with the following:

• Liaising with employers and insurance companies to ensure the correct benefits are being paid
• Applying for any Top-Up or UPLUS benefits and 24 Hour Insurance benefits
• Applying for a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Payment

For more information view and download Know Your Workers Compensation.

Unfair Dismissal

If you have been unfairly dismissed from your employment the Union can assist you with advice, lodging a claim, negotiations with the employer, the conciliation process, and where necessary a formal hearing in Fair Work Australia.

For more information, go to Unfair Dismissal or Download the Unfair Dismissal form .

IMPORTANT  INFORMATION:  unfair dismissal applications must be lodged with Fair Work Australia within 14 days from the date of dismissal.

In exceptional circumstances the Union may take on non-member claims. To determine if you're eligible view the Non-member policy.

Discrimination & Harassment Claims

The Union also offers advice and assistance to members who have faced discrimination or harassment at work. We can provide assistance with:

• Complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission or Anti-Discrimination Board
• Applications under the “general protections” provisions of the Fair Work Act
  

Hearing Tests

The Union can arrange hearing tests for members for the purpose of workers compensation industrial deafness claims. If you are interested in a hearing test please contact the union office to make an appointment. more info on industrial deafness and hearing tests can be found here

Death Entitlements
The Union can assist members and next of kin in relation to death benefit claims for redundancy schemes (ACIRT), long service entitlements, superannuation benefits (Cbus).

Taylor & Scott

CFMEU members are entitled to further legal services from solicitors Taylor & Scott Solicitors. As well as a broad range of legal services, they also provide free wills for union members and discounted rates to union members in general legal matters including:

• Family law
• Dust Board Entitlements
• Workers Compensation assistance and more