Fighting for subbies rights
For years, Subcontractors Alliance led by founder Les Williams, has almost been a lone voice, fighting every day for the rights of Subcontractors in the Building and Construction industry.
They now have the support of SubbiesUnited but they need your financial support to enable them to make a concerted effort to protect subbies income and by doing that, improve your family life and mental wellbeing.
For far too long subbies have been kicked around the industry like a football.
Security Of Payment For Subcontractors
One of Subcontractors Alliance's biggest achievements has been working with the Queensland Government on the new Security of Payment Legislation (SOP).
A very important component of SOP are Project Bank Accounts (PBA's) which will be trialled on all Qld Government jobs between 1 million and 10 million, starting on the 1st of January 2018.
Some builders are already using PBA's.
Wearing my subcontractors hat, I can personally vouch for the peace of mind working on a job that is using a Project Bank Account gives me. Knowing our claims are out of reach of builders who in some cases, couldn't run a chook raffle, let alone a multi million dollar building company. Knowing that the payments will be made on time is a massive relief and the effects are felt all the way down the line to our suppliers.
Yesterday I asked the builder if the Project Bank Account added a level of cost to their admin. His answer was no, it does not so that shoots down MBAQ's argument. He said it's a simple process. They do a certified claim, send it to the developer and their bank then release the funds. The builder doesn't touch it.
I asked him what he thought about MBAQ's campaign against these accounts. He said "the great thing about being a human is we can think for ourselves". In other words, he doesn't agree.
Subcontractors Alliance made a decision not have a membership fee structure. They prefer to rely on donations and sponsorships and the goodwill of the subbies they fight for, to fund significant costs associated with attendance in Canberra to Senate Committee hearings, meeting with Ministers and lobbying Governments on a State and Federal level.
Significant Cost Burden
For the past 4 years, Subcontractors Alliance directors have paid their costs out of their own pocket. Now it's time we help them to meet the heavy financial burden of travel, accommodation, accountancy, legal advice and administration costs to fight for subbies rights.
The need has never been greater with the abysmal media advertising blitz the Master Builders Association have started, aimed at scuttling the Security of Payment Legislation.
Please make any donation you can and help Subcontractors Alliance help you survive in the building industry. All donations will be accounted for and can be anonymous if you prefer.
You can donate by Credit Card via GoFundMe, or bank transfer into Subcontractors Alliance's bank account.
Bank of Queensland
Subcontractors Alliance Qld Inc.
BSB 124 074
ACC 2256 6471
By all reports, the end of the building boom upon us, it's only going to get a lot worse before it gets better and even worse still if the MBAQ has its way.
Click here to donate to Subcontractors Alliance via the GoFundMe Campaign.