CFMEU Victoria Worker Autumn 2017

AUTUMN 2017

Journal of the CFMEU Victorian and Tasmanian Branch, Construction & General Division

AUTUMN 2017

Cover Good Friday Appeal raises $1,000,000. See pg 32

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04 - 10 EXECUTIVE COLUMNS 13

VALE MARTIN MCGUINNESS

The CFMEU is often accused of stand over tactics. We’ve heard it all before. A Royal Commission was called, in part, because of it.

Since its reincarnation the ABCC has launched a number of ridiculous and frivolous cases that even the courts have slammed. The public and you as members should know about.

It is becoming apparent from these cases that it is not the CFMEU that is standing over anyone, but Nigel Hadgkiss and his henchmen, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). The ABCC is blatantly standing over members of the public as a tactic in its ideological war against the CFMEU.

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These cases, the CFMEU must defend or face

JACK EALES BACKYARD BLITZ

fines of up to $180,000. To defend these cases costs money: CFMEU members’ money. YOUR MONEY. To prosecute these cases costs money. The ABCC spends taxpayers’ money. YOUR MONEY. Hundreds of thousands of dollars.

business. In the dark. The risks are numerous and obvious.

The two men stop and Tadic, with decades of experience in the industry and a valid right of entry permit does the paperwork and enters site with Davies, also holding a valid right of entry permit.

Nationwide there have been many of these cases but in Victoria alone they are piling up, and the question that must be asked is, Who is Standing Over Who?

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The police are called.

Worksafe inspector Jason Sharples arrives and a site visit ensues. Not only is the lighting inadequate, but there is exposed electrical wiring, a heavy pane of glass that is not secured, no clear access/egress points on site and there is building rubbish throughout the dimly lit site.

Alex Tadic stands over workplace inspector for abismal safety on site?

It’s a cold, dark, June winter morning and by chance CFMEU officials Alex Tadic and Nigel Davies notice the Castlemaine Police Station construction site is very poorly lit. It’s approximately 7.30am and the work day has begun, construction workers are going about their

The ABCC tries to pressure CPB and Lend Lease to refuse to fly Good Friday Appeal flags that raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

2. NO COLLECTION CPB refuse to assist with collection for a member who suffered serious head injury on their Tullamarine Widening job. They cite concerns from ABCC.

Honestly, you stick with the current mob for a while and they try to ban having a cup of tea with a friend? $100,000s for what the judge called “a miniscule, insignificant affair.”

- FROM JUSTICE NORTH: “FOR GOODNESS SAKE, I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE INSPECTORATE IS DOING”

5. A MAN’S WORLD Simply questioning whether it’s right that a female worker is forced to have a man accompany her to the bathroom rather than have a female toilet provided is enough to have the book thrown at you.

MEET YOUR TRAINING UNIT

ZERO STARS – COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.

CFMEU WORKER

4. MASTERS, NO APPRENTICES

One in four young people are unemployed and apprentices are falling fast, but the ABCC bans quotas that would see more apprentices employed.

- DISGRACEFUL. 6. POWER AND THE PASSION Preventing injury or death on a dodgy Castlemaine cop shop site gets the mud thrown at CFMEU safety officials Tadic and Davies.

ZERO STARS - THIS WAS NOT A WORK OF GENIUS.

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- FROM JUSTICE NORTH FOR ALEX TADIC WHOSE SAFETY CONCERNS WERE JUSTIFIED.

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AUTUMN 2017

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The current generation of veterans have served Australia honourably, with considerable sacrifice and little recognition. When it comes to a second career, the construction industry is not a bad fit for these people.

ONSITE PHOTOS

“Building sites are really similar to the Army environment. Instead of combat uniforms, webbing and armoured vehicles - there is high-vis clothing, hardhats and heavy machinery.” Neil

The Liberal Party’s war on workers hit a new low with the ABCC and new Building Code relegating construction workers to 022 second class citizens.

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“Every day on site has structured timings and the atmosphere of the sheds at smoko or lunchtime is like eating in a mess hall.” Andrew Edwar Afghanistan veteran and dogman on Level Crossing Removal Project.

After a strong liaison effort with a multitude of stakeholders, a pilot program was launched during 2016 which enabled a group of former sailo and soldiers to gain employment as CWs with a few of the tier one construction firms.

Upon the success of these placements and Dan’s further lobbying of key stakeholders, more veterans have been employed during 2017. Victoria’s largest current construction project, t Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossin Removal Project (LCRP) has seen hug potential and benefit in what the Veterans in Construction initiative ha to offer.

Former service personnel display initiative, discipline, mechanical reasoning and are accustomed to working in teams within high pressur environments – skills and attributes which are highly sought after on wor sites. The first couple of candidates on the LCRP have seamlessly integrated into the high risk work fields of riggin and mobile crane operations.

The Veterans in Construction scheme is not a charity and does not raise

AUTUMN 2017

Worst of all, under the last ABCC, the rate of construction worker fatalities almost doubled.

The National Day of Action was supported by a broad range of unions and the wider community as cuts to weekend penalty rates for hospitality and retail workers had just been announced

Grand Prix with James Brock BROCKY APPEAL

BUILDING A MAJOR EVENT DOIN’ IT FOR THE KIDS

LES TWENTYMAN FIRE HELP PICNIC DAY 2016

“It’s the people’s park, so public protection is huge,” says shop steward James Gianchino. “We leave it open right up until the weekend so we’re talking cars, people walking dogs, cyclists and spectators.”

While James’ dad Peter was of course ‘King of the Mountain’, he was also “on the board of the Grand Prix, raced here, ran a team and worked with manufacturers who are here.”

By: Mark Richards This is the first time James has had a chance to look at the work that goes into setting the whole thing up and it’s an impressive job.

What’s James most proud of? “We’re the only majority unionised F1 track in the world.”

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their doors.

These days, James Unemployment works in mechanical in local towns like engineering and driver training.

Morwell is at 20.2%He and Moe is at 14.4%, there with some of the raced the Australian V8upUte racing highest of unemployment series and Australian GTregions Championship in Australia. We had no chance. a few years back.

“The Melbourne GP is one of the most popular races for the teams, everyone loves coming here.”

Workers like me were going to

pushed out of the region – we BACK ON THEbeMOUNTAIN

would have had no choice but to

James Brock will be the MGelsewhere. I go leading looking for work Motorsport team in the 2017 Australian was even looking at work in other countries operating large power production car series.

They’re building stations. a car at the moment and getting ready So the deal that was announced by for the championship.

Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews,

is a hugethe relief for me, “We’re very excitedlast toFriday be entering mySeries colleagues and theas region. That 2017 Production Car with MG deal achieves something that was our partner,” Brock said. pushed by my union, the CFMEU,

FLYING THE FLAG

The Melbourne Grand Prix, brought to you by CFMEU Members.

YOUR WAGES

future. Our jobs are skilled and

He is rapt with hisspecialised, custom CFMEU and nearby small-toGood Friday Appeal hard hat and proudwere not medium-sized businesses cope with to wave the flag togoing raisetomoney fora large sick number of newly-unemployed knocking on kids.

James has also enjoyed indulging fully in the event as a spectator.

A UNIQUE JOB

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

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It was to promote the Good Friday While some of the Appeal and the Union’s efforts to older raiseworkers willChildren’s be OK with taking a money for the Royal Hospital redundancy package and early that sees James meeting with Members retirement, hundreds of younger and flying the flag.workers like me were given no

It’s not James’ first time on the Albert Park track of course. He has raced here, worked the Grand Prix event before and was on the Jaguar stand this year doing product demonstration and fun rides.

A huge thanks to the Members and companies generously supporting the CFMEU’s Good Friday Appeal campaign, including Linfox, McMahon and Waco.

but which has neverabeen done in “We’re looking forward to making Australia before. competitive presence in 2017, kicking off It provides another company in with an attack on the famedforBathurst the same industry to provide jobs mountain race track.”

James has been friends with CFMEU shop steward James Gianchino for a long time

Hazelwood closure - Mark’s story

CFMEU WORKER

I was thrown a lifeline last Friday. Along with at least 150 of my work colleagues, and hopefully many more, I will be given the opportunity to continue to work in the Latrobe Valley power industry, despite the closure of the Hazelwood power station, my workplace of the last 28 years.

All that came crashing on 3 November with an SMS for a meeting with Engie announcing the closure with just a few months notice. It brought the entire Latrobe Valley community crashing down too. Hazelwood is one of just four brown-coal power stations in Australia, all located within a short distance of each other. Along with a paper mill, they are the largest employers in the region, and pay wages to a The closure of Hazelwood was announced in early skilled workforce that are higher than most jobs in country November for the end of March and my redundancy areas. effective at 7am on April Fools Day (seriously). The 750 or so workers all knew that Hazelwood was The Committee for Gippsland, which represents major one of the oldest and certainly the most emissions- stakeholders in the area, reckons more jobs would be lost intensive power station in Australia. We knew it was outside the power station – that for every power station going to close. But in the last few years the owners job lost, there would be more than one other job lost in the had been employing new young people, and they businesses that supply the power station, or sell goods and had been told that the jobs would last until at least services to the workforce.

2025 in their interviews.

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AUTUMN 2017

for redundant Hazelwood workers while also offering redundancies to its own workforce to make room for AUTUMN 2017 those redeployed workers. Friday’s announcement was about AGL, the operator of the Loy Yang A power station, agreeing to the deal with unions and with Victorian government support. We hope that Energy Australia, operator of the Yallourn power station, will also enter the arrangement. And Engie will seek to redeploy workers from Hazelwood to the Loy Yang B station that it also operates.

This also benefits the community as older workers who volunteer for redundancy in order to retire early are more likely to stay in the

AUTUMN 2017

Stop the War on Jobs rally

CFMEU WORKER

and his first job out of school was a builders labourer.

As the son of Peter Brock, it comes as no surprise to see James Brock on the racing track, but how he came to be holding a CFMEU Good Friday Appeal flag and custom hard hat is almost a story of fate.

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region and continue to support local businesses. Younger workers like me also get to stay in the region and keep doing the jobs we love.

Most importantly, our families and community are not broken apart unnecessarily.

future in our home town if I’m one of the successful applicants. It will do the same for hundreds of other workers and their families, and give the region more breathing space to develop a future that relies less on power stations.

We know that all the coal power stations have grim prospects.

Unless something like carbon capture and storage becomes much more viable as a way to massively reduce global warming emissions from coal power, they will close.

It took a great deal of work – thanks are due to my union the CFMEU for pushing this hard along with the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council (GTLC). The Andrews government appointed ex-federal minister Simon Crean to bring the parties together – thanks to them too. The power companies that have come to the deal have done the right thing in helping the community in which they operate. AGL led the way by signing up to the scheme first.

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Victoria’s

DEADLY SURFING

We need longer notice of closures, and a plan for the region to host high skill, high wage jobs as the energy system shifts away from coal power. The Victorian government has made a raft of announcements to stimulate construction and investment in the region – that’s really good to see. Personally, I would like to see an alternative use for coal besides burning it, as we are talking about a 500+ year resource.

One example could be coal to carbon fibre as a strong lightweight material for industry.

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AUTUMN 2017

AWARDS To avoid more of these social disasters we need a national energy policy that has long-term bipartisan support and we need planned and agreed closure dates. To do this, a national energy transition authority with sufficient powers and resources to plan and coordinate the transition in the energy sector needs to be created. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) exists to manage the national electricity market but has no role in managing the impacts of major electricity system restructuring. We need an overarching body that can deliver a fair and just transition for working people, their families and communities.

The strange thing is that what we are seeing in the pooled redundancy and redeployment scheme, and which we now see as new and outside of the box, is what would have happened if the power stations had stayed in public hands. When AUTUMN 2017 the power stations were run by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), the workforce was moved around as the industry This worker transfer scheme isn’t developed. If power stations were the grand solution to the coal Thethe19th power Woorrangalook problem. But it’s a big step going to be closed, again jobs annual would have been moved around to Koori in the Surf right direction. that says Victorian TitlesOne was reduce the impacts. workers and communities have to held on the weekend of the 18th be at the forefront of public and Having a large pile ofFebruary private at Urquhart Bluff on private decision-making about companies in the industry is the Great Ocean Road, proudly our energy system, rather than an making it that much harder to work afterthought. supported out a way to transition the industry once again by the to a different future. CFMEU.

Koori surf competition

While not all workers will be A total of 75 indigenous surfers from covered, this transition deal is good across the state gathered to celebrate – it’s given my wife and I a potential

the event, which brings communities together for a fun weekend of surfing and culture.

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Surf conditions were tricky with large onshore surf and squalls of rain throughout the day. Junior competitive divisions, Open Women and Masters Women were finalised by the end of the first day.

Sunday saw both the Open and Masters men’s competing in a clean, increasing swell. Jordie Campbell of Sandy Point won his 9th consecutive Open Men’s Title and gained a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach.

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Winners U/6 MIXED: David Tournier (Geelong)

U/10 GIRLS: Grace Tournier (Geelong) U/10 BOYS: Freddy Collins (Mornington Peninsular)

CFMEU Victorian and Tasmanian Branch, Construction & General Division Communities represented at the event included East Gippsland, Portland and the South West, Koroit, Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton, Metropolitan Melbourne, Bass Coast, Mornington Peninsula and a strong contingent from the local Geelong and Surf Coast.

Executive Secretary John Setka Assistant Secretaries Shaun Reardon Elias Spernovasilis President Ralph Edwards Senior Vice President Derek Christopher Vice President Robert Graauwmans

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Organisers and Specialist Staff Field Officers Gerry Benstead Nigel Davies John Duggan Steve Long Ian Markham Malcolm Smith Billy Beattie Mark Tait (Fozzie) Theo Theodorou Mark Travers John Ayers Drew McDonald Adam Hall Toby Thornton Mark McMillan Gerry McQuaid Brendan Pitt Joe Myles John Perkovic Peter Booth Richie Hassett (TAS) Fergal Doyle Dean Dando Kane Pearson Adam Olsen James Simpson

Wage Claims Officer Frank Akbari Training Unit Coordinator Anne Duggan Teachers and Trainers Karen Odermatt Mark Devereaux Jacky Gamble Barry Kearney Jennifer Pignataro Rose Nechwatel Paul Allwood Owen Waiomio Craig Lynch Sue Bull Lorella DiPietro Dorothy Saristavros Tony Minchin Andy Duff Dan Phelan Robert Rowan Communications Officer Jon Stanger

The event was opened on Saturday by the Deadly Dancers from the local Wathaurong community and cleansed with a traditional smoking ceremony.

Offices

Under 16 Girls Champion Amelia Bell from Koroit win the Encouragement Award.

She was awarded a surfboard, donated by 3X World Champion Mick Fanning with custom Indigenous artwork by Nathan Patterson.

The Good Sports Award sponsored by the Department of Justice was awarded to Taj Simpson, a keen local Torquay surfer.

The CFMEU BBQ got smoking next with Liam O’Hearn and John Ayers helping to make sure everyone was fed.

Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety Unit Manager Gerry Ayers Safety Officers Alex Tadic Christine Thomas Peter Clark Steve Roach WorkCover Legal Officer Neil Browne Industrial/Legal Officers Amanda Swayn Jean Maloney Kristen Reid India Shearer Boyd Apprentice Liaison Officer Liam O’Hearn Research & Campaigns Officer Clancy Dobbyn

Melbourne 500 Swanston St Carlton South 3053 T: (03) 9341 3444 F: (03) 9341 3427 056

CFMEU WORKER

Morwell Wing 5, Lignite Court Morwell 3840 T: (03) 5134 3311 F: (03) 5133 7058 Geelong 78 Fyans St Geelong Sth 3220 T: (03) 5229 8921 F: (03) 5223 1845 Bendigo Bendigo TLC 40 View St Bendigo 3550 T: (03) 5443 5173 F: (03) 5442 5961

U/13 GIRLS: Gretta Bell (Koroit)

U/13 BOYS: Seth Ohern (Templestowe) U/16 GIRLS: Amelia Bell (Koroit)

U/16 BOYS: Zade Kennedy (Geelong)

U/18 GIRLS: Taleena Black (Geelong) U/18 BOYS: Jordan Plunkett (Coleraine) OPEN WOMEN: Amber Harrison (Lakes Entrance) OPEN MEN: Jordie Campbell (Sandy Point) MASTERS WOMEN: Corrina O’Toole (Geelong)

The Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles is presented by VicHealth, Play It Safe by the Water and HIF Australia and Supported by Wathaurong Co-Op, Wathaurong Glass, Australian Government National Land Care Project, Corangamite Catchment Authority, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, CFMEU, Parks Victoria, Department of Justice, ONABAC, Quiksilver and Farm Foods.

MASTERS MEN: Rhys Collins (Mornington Peninsula)

Wodonga Shop 3-4, 22 Stanley St Wodonga 3690 T: (02) 6024 1099 F: (02) 6056 5565

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Portland South West TLC 31 Percy St Portland 3305 T: (03) 5523 4272 F: (03) 5523 3358 Hobart 33A New Town Rd New Town 7008 T: (03) 6228 9595 F: (03) 6228 9594

vic.cfmeu.org.au Authorised by John Setka, Secretary CFMEU Victoria. CFMEU Worker is proudly designed by union members.

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Trigwell, Afghanistan veteran and Builders Labourer on the Level Crossi Removal Project.

Construction workers know that Turnbull’s Building Code attacks local jobs, our RDO calendar, apprenticeships, secure work, representation on site, labour hire limits and Christmas and Easter shutdowns.

INDEPENDENT 4WD REVIEW

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It was an appropriate anthem because construction workers have been sold out in dirty deals between Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal Government and Senators Derryn Hinch, Nick Xenophon and Pauline Hanson.

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When government announced the conclusion to the nation’s longest ever war with little fanfare, Dan acknowledged that many service personnel would look to exit the military and commence the next phase of their lives. He assessed that these veterans would either return home or move to the cities where there was betterCOPY employment prospects. Many INSERT would require some assistance in starting second careers.

From combat to construction

20,000 people hit the streets of Melbourne to the sound of ‘Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap’ on Thursday 9th March.

REAL ABORIGINAL WORK

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That’s where Veterans in Construction comes into play. Along with the COPY CFMEU, the organisationINSERT offers advice, mentoring, support, camaraderie and connections for the current generation of veterans looking to gain a start in the construction industry.

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– NICK KARAMITOS IS VINDICATED, BUT IT’S THREE YEARS TOO LATE.

BANKS AREN’T SUPER

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What happens next? The ABCC get involved. The ABCC launch a prosecution. They allege that the CFMEU

Not content with their previous efforts going after CFMEU Officials, the ABCC attacks a member with public allegations and threats of massive fines for doing his job. They failed, but the damage is done.

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re-joining the workforce after active

The Veterans in Construction initiative was conceptualised by Dan Cairnes in late 2015, a CFMEU member who works fulltime in the industry with Multiplex.

For many, finding work – even in fields they are ideally suited to – can be a challenge due to the stigmas often attached to those returning from active service.

Possibly most alarming is the faulty handrail above the driveway entrance that would fail to prevent a worker plunging three meters potentially causing a serious and catastrophic incident. In short, the safety measures on site are abominable.

Who is standing over who?

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a 24 Not many Aussies would look at they c walking down the street and think ty The but that could well be the case.

7. RANK AND VILE 3. CUPPA WITH A MATE 1. SICK KID FLAG BANS

- FOR TRULY EXPOSING THEIR SOUL.

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CFMEU Members, like the rest of Melbourne, were shocked at the appalling tragedy of Friday 20th January that killed six innocent people in Bourke St. The victims included a three-month-old baby boy, 10-year-old girl and four adults.

Many more were seriously injured and psychologically scarred by the incident.

Site meetings observed 1 minute silence to recognise those affected by the tragedy and collections raised money for the families.

All funds raised went to the Victorian Government Trust, with 100% going to the immediate families of the deceased.

On Monday 23rd January cranes around the CBD blasted their horns to begin 1 minute silence across the jobs nearest the tragic events.

Thank you to all members who generously contributed, a total of $52,614 was raised and handed over to the families through the Trust.

$52,614 RAISED

Four years on, a single bunch of flowers with a tag that says it all: “Marie, you will never be forgotten.

We miss you! Love, Mum, Dad and the whole family xoxo”

“Alexander (Zander) and Bridget Jones were students at the University of Melbourne. Brother and sister, they were devoted to each other, their family and their friends.”

Three young lives were taken on 28 March 2013 when Grocon’s Swanston St wall collapsed on innocent passers-by.

“Our sadness at the loss of these amazing young people, who had just started out on life’s journey, will be with us always.”

Memorials at the site read: “Dr Marie-Faith Fiawoo (1979-2013), a highly skilled scientist working in the department of material engineering and electron microscopy at Monash University, was studying the atomic structure of metals and how to strengthen them. She lost her life suddenly on this pavement with two others.”

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Four years have passed, but you’re still in our hearts and thoughts every day.

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NEW ACTU SECRETARY SHOWS HOW IT’S DONE John Setka Branch Secretary

Sally McManus has got guts.

She’s the new Secretary of the Australian Council of Trades Unions (ACTU) and was elected to represent the union movement in March. On day one in the job, she demonstrated what a real trade union leader looks like:

“I BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW WHERE THE LAW IS FAIR AND RIGHT BUT WHEN IT’S UNJUST, I DON’T THINK THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH BREAKING IT.” That was her first interview.

Will Sally be distancing herself from the CFMEU?

“THERE’S NO WAY. I’LL TELL YOU THIS: THE CFMEU, WHEN THEY’VE BEEN FINED, THEY’VE BEEN FINED FOR TAKING INDUSTRIAL ACTION IT MIGHT BE ILLEGAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION ACCORDING TO OUR CURRENT LAWS AND OUR CURRENT LAWS ARE WRONG.” Sally shot back.

UNFORTUNATELY, UNION LEADERS AND POLITICIANS WHO ARE PREPARED TO CALL OUT THIS BULLSHIT FOR WHAT IT IS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

In construction, we’ve always known that’s the case. They’ve been trying to break the CFMEU for as long as I can remember. At the same time, successive Liberal governments and some previous Labor governments have been changing the laws to rig the game.

Our industrial system is broken. It’s been broken by the successive Liberal governments who’ e bent over backwards for their mates in big business. All in the name of profits. They want to increase profits by cutting your wages, slashing your conditions and attacking workplace safety.

THAT’S BEEN THE PLAY BOOK ALL ALONG: THEY USE PARLIAMENT TO CHANGE THE LAWS; SET UP THE ABCC TO ACT AS THEIR ATTACK DOGS, AND THEN APPOINT THEIR LACKY JUDGES TO RULE OUR WORK AS UNION OFFICIALS ILLEGAL THEY’VE BROKEN THE SYSTEM TO MAKE IT UNJUST.

I wonder how these people can live with themselves knowing that they’re destroying regular people’s livelihoods and putting lives in danger just to increase profits. It’s because they’ve never done a hard day’s work in their lives. They’ve never stood out in the summer’s heat and the winter’s cold. They’ve never laid the grey, or tied steel, or rigged from heights, or stayed back late to jump a crane. And they’ve never lost a mate or brother or a son on a building site in yet another bloody workplace tragedy.

Suffragettes broke unjust laws to win women the right to vote. When the union movement went on strike to stop iron ore being shipped to Japan before WWII, it was illegal. When the Civil Rights Movement defied racial segregation and discrimination, it was illegal. Aboriginal Australians broke the law to end segregation, win citizenship and the right to vote. When Mandela opposed the apartheid regime, it was illegal.

Sally’s right: when laws are unjust, they should be broken.

The CFMEU has been at the forefront of a war with the Liberals and their big business mates. They hate us because we’re not afraid to fight this war and we won’t play by the rules.

What’s worse, Sally’s comments came as a shock to many people. She actually told the truth. “And know this: that union gets fined more than the companies that actually kill workers,” Sally said, stating the obvious.

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NEW LEADERSHIP

The media’s lame attempt to condemn new ACTU Secretary Sally McManus includes the claim: “There would justly be outcry should a major mining company or business group declare that it was sometimes ok to break the law”.

Which is good news.

They’ve cleared their throats, we can’t wait to hear their cries.

They’ll cry out that Lend Lease had slave labour operating at Bendigo Hospital with workers unpaid for up to 12 weeks.

They’ll cry out soon about Hanssen Construction’s deliberate exploitation of backpackers on dangerous WA construction sites, about the very idea that work would continue on a construction site after someone had fallen to their death there.

They’ll cry out soon about the job ads unlawfully targeting overseas workers while youth unemployment skyrockets and apprentice numbers plummet.

They’ll cry out soon about CPB once again breaking the Occupational Health and Safety Act and putting workers lives at risk just 70mm from heavy vehicles travelling at 80km/h.

They’ll cry out soon about Jaxon Construction’s refusal to comply with their lawful obligation to allow the union to inspect the construction site in the weeks before two young Irish men died there.

They’ll cry out soon about asbestos, the banned, deadly substance being discovered in cheap imported building materials around the country. They’ll be shocked to hear too, that it was a CFMEU delegate in Queensland who raised the alarm, and that John Holland threatened workers with the sack if they sought to leave a contaminated construction site.

They’ll cry out soon about the fact that Chevron, while getting rich off our finite natural resources couldn’t bring themselves to follow the rule

of law. Tax law -- not a democratic protest about safety -- paying the lawful amount of tax. There will surely be righteous handwringing and dismay about the Federal Court ruling that orders Chevron to pay $322million in tax for the years 2004-08.

The false equivalence drawn between the interests of a handful of shareholders and those of millions of working people is laughable.

There are times where laws are manifestly wrong and they deserve to be tested.

Those laws are not our tax laws, or our workplace safety laws, or indeed, the industrial manslaughter laws that we don’t even have.

It’s the media’s priorities and biases that decide a fair statement from a union official receives condemnation while criminal behaviour from big businesses goes unreported.

SALLY MCMANUS IS THE 10TH ELECTED ACTU SECRETARY IN THE ORGANISATION’S 90-YEAR HISTORY AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THE POSITION. PRIOR TO JOINING THE ACTU SALLY WAS SECRETARY AND ORGANISER WITH THE ASU IN NSW FOR 22 YEARS. AUTUMN 2017

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WORDS INTO ACTION FOR A STRONGER FUTURE

Elias Spernovasilas Assistant Secretary

When we were elected, the CFMEU executive made a commitment to the membership that we’d strive to make this union as powerful as it could be. One of the key elements of delivering on that commitment was to ensure the CFMEU would not only be strong now, but ensure the CFMEU had a strong future.

The development of the Young Activists has been central to laying the foundations to this strong future.

Held every two months, the Young Activists’ meetings have been attracting over fifty young members to every meeting.

At these meetings, we made it clear to the Young Activists, that if they demonstrated a commitment to the union, discipline and a fighting spirt, we would train them up and give them every opportunity to progress through the union ranks.

The meetings have covered a range of topics to give the Young Activists a solid understanding of the Union, its history and

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modern industrial tactics. We’ve covered the history of the union movement; the history of the CFMEU; our battles – from the deregistration of the BLF to the Myer Emporium dispute to our political battles with various Liberal governments; and we’ve made sure they have a solid understanding of who our real industrial and political enemies are.

All of this has equipped this new generation of CFMEU fighters with the ability to step up when their union calls on them.

I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE NOW HAVE SEEN TEN OF THE YOUNG ACTIVISTS PROMOTED TO SHOP STEWARD AND THREE YOUNG ACTIVISTS PROMOTED AS ORGANISERS.

I’m proud that we’ve turned our words into actions.

These future leaders represent a new generation in many ways. They’re learning from our mistakes and know how to box smarter. They’re also embracing new technologies and tactics.

This commitment to the reinvigoration of the branch is setting us up for a very strong future. I’ve often said, organising is a young person’s game. But the reality is that the best mix for the union is a combination of youthful energy and agro, with the experience organisers have after years of fighting bosses, recouping stolen wages and negotiating agreements.

Our Young Activists are self-motivated and disciplined. They attend the regular meetings and volunteer their spare time when the unions needs them most.

They’re the envy of the Australian union movement.

ANDREW HOUSTON

BEN CORDIER

CAM JONES

ERROL HUGHES

GERRY MCCRUDDEN

MARK ‘CLETUS’ HENRY

MARK PALMER

PAUL TSIMAS

TERRANCE MCNAMARA

WILLY NIUMATA

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Meetings every 2 months | All members under 35 welcome Meet - learn - get involved Call or text for info: 0427 397 313 (Young activists) NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY 7th JUNE 5:30PM CFMEU OFFICE 500 SWANSTON ST, CARLTON SOUTH AUTUMN 2017

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HAVE YOU HAD A PAY RISE? Ralph Edwards President

Have you had two pay rises since July 2016?

If not, why not? Yes, some bosses are terrified by the Turnbull Government propaganda and blackmail, the complicity of employer groups like the MBA, AIG etc., and the relentless media campaign against construction workers and their wages and conditions.

Other bosses are trying to take advantage of the code confusion to avoid dipping into their pockets. After all, the construction industry is only about money, nothing else.

So whether it is the Turnbull Government claiming it is our wages and conditions that are destroying investment – in the middle of a sustained boom – and undermining the economy. Or bosses just trying to save a quid, it’s all about keeping hold of the money we make for them.

So where is your money, your share of the wealth being created in this city and this state? There has been a sustained and continuing construction boom since the mid-1990s. Bosses have made a quid and the Union and its members have ensured workers have got a fair share. Despite the never-ending political campaign against our wages and conditions.

So if you have NOT received the two 5% increases since July 2016, the time has well and truly arrived to put the pressure on to get your pay rises. Even

those bosses intimidated by the Turnbull Government, the ABCC and the anti-Union media, and don’t want to sign the new EBA – have found a way to pay the money.

They have paid and got on with business.

In this confused time and with lots of new work and increasing demands for labour, get on your hind legs and demand your share of the wealth being created. Ring your local Organiser, ring the office, start the push, you are the only loser if you don’t get a pay rise.

A UNION IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS MEMBERS

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• Votes with the Turnbull Liberal Party 88% of the time (compared to 40% from Labor and 29% from Independent Jacqui Lambie).

• Supports income cuts that are hurting ordinary struggling families.

• Voted for Turnbull’s anti-worker ABCC • Voted for Turnbull’s Building Code that puts Aussie jobs at risk and cuts opportunities for apprentices and older workers.

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FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

THE GOOD AND BAD FOR VICTORIA Shaun Reardon Assistant Secretary

No doubt about it, there’s some great things happening in Victoria.

We’re one of the most productive construction industries in the world and there’s a good pipeline of infrastructure coming on.

There’s the Tullamarine Widening, Level Crossing Removals, Mernda Rail, Metro, Sky Rail and the Western Distributor on the way. It’s great for jobs, great for Membership and good for the economy.

Nothing’s perfect of course and when politics meets the construction industry it’s far from it. When the government goes the cheap option, it’s at the expense of jobs for Members, safety and conditions.

SMALL POND When you’re playing in a small pool of multinational companies you might find it’s full of sharks. The level of ethics amongst Lend Lease, CPB and John Holland and their records on industrial relations and safety is questionable at best.

We are working every day to get Members in work, get them paid right and get them home safely at the end of the day.

We have some good agreements in place that have seen indigenous workers and returned veterans getting employment opportunities.

When we’re forced to play with the right wing ideologues of the industry, battling to keep the job safe is a big task in itself. These multinationals continue to try and resist the right of construction workers to be properly represented by the construction union that covers them.

Their political agenda is try and remove the right of the CFMEU to cover these projects because they know we’re strong and get good outcomes for Members in terms of wages, conditions and safety.

Nothing has changed, just take a look at their records – how many lives have been lost and families destroyed by these companies?

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FAILURE – AS SIMPLE ABCC

TAXING ISSUES

Meanwhile, the industrial wing of the Liberal Party, otherwise known as the ABCC, has been taking a few hits without needing much help. They tried to ban our Good Friday Appeal fundraising flags for sick kids, they’ve had cases against officials thrown out as a waste of time, they’re trying to ban apprentice ratios while opportunities for young people dry up and even judges are calling them out.

Most politicians simply don’t understand our industry and they need to tread carefully. A Victorian Government proposal to put a 7% stamp duty surcharge on foreign investment projects, plus a 1.5% surcharge on some land tax, might sound alright. It’s understandable in the domestic market where young people are outbid for a home to live in by a foreign investor who will never come near the house.

Now we learn that Victoria Police have withdrawn from the Heracles Taskforce – a leftover from the anti-union Royal Commission. It’s good to see police getting back to tackling real crime that affects our communities instead of running the political agenda of the Liberal Party.

WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING IN A SMALL POOL OF MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES YOU MIGHT FIND IT’S FULL OF SHARKS. THE LEVEL OF ETHICS AMONGST LEND LEASE, CPB AND JOHN HOLLAND AND THEIR RECORDS ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND SAFETY IS QUESTIONABLE AT BEST.

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When it comes to large commercial buildings and apartments though, foreign investment can be the difference between a project going ahead or not.

Other states are having a look at their foreign investment policies and the Victorian Government needs to be careful – killing off jobs doesn’t make housing more affordable, it just makes people unemployed.

While we’re on the good and the bad, there’s nothing worse than a politician with their snout in the trough. Labor should leave the rorting to the Liberals, it’s in their blood. We’ve got a state government actually delivering jobs and growth instead of just talking out their ass.

Anyone filling their own pockets needs to be dealt with quickly because jobs and infrastructure are too important to be distracted.

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COPY YOUR FAMILY ISINSERT OUR FAMILY

MOIRA KELLY

We always love to see Moira and the family.

Moira Kelly’s ‘Global Gardens of Peace’ creates family friendly, child focused natural play spaces for children and communities affected by war or natural disaster. For children to be children.

The Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation builds on Moira’s decades of work caring for sick and needy children and their families. It provides comfort, hope, protection and safety to children and families who need it most.

The CFMEU has always supported Moira’s work with children in need wherever we can. You can find out more and make a donation on her website: www.creatinghopefoundation.org.au “Its a funny world we live in really, where what passport you own determines whether you will live or die. Someone really has to change that.” – Moira Kelly

IN MEMORY OF JOHN MCPARTLIN

A Passionate Bloke and a Committed BL

H

e was passionate about his job; he was passionate about the industry; he was passionate about the identity of the builders labourers; and, he was passionate about his mates.

throughout the formation of the CFMEU.

John looked after a lot of people in the industry. But it wasn’t just a job for him. No matter how long or hard the day, he’d visit sick or injured members at home or in hospital when he’d knocked off, and he’d follow-up with their families to make sure they were all alright too.

John fought hard to ensure the BLs were equally represented in all forums of the industry.

His work as a builders labourer, rigger dogman and scaffolder took him all around Australia as well as up to Papua New Guinea. Throughout his years in the industry, he remained committed to safeguarding the identity of the BLs. This was particularly important to during the years of the BWIU and

John was a BL through-andthrough and would do anything do defend their turf. But ultimately he cared about the industry and his commitment to the BLs was a commitment to making sure it was, and continues to be, an industry for all.

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While he cared about the entire industry, he believed the BLs were the backbone of the industry.

Even though they sometimes drove him mad, John took it upon himself to look after the scaffolders through their committee along with John Canning and John Cummins.

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Geelong born and raised, Rob Graauwmans worked in rural and regional Australia before returning to his home town to work for a mobile crane company, eventually becoming a delegate then organiser for the CFMEU. “My first go being a shop steward was at the Bunnings store in Geelong. FEDFA organiser Maurie Hill recruited me and I haven’t looked back,” says Rob. But Rob had been a unionist from way back. He considers himself lucky that in one of his first jobs for the Tomago Aluminium Smelter in Newcastle, his fellow workers, all staunch union men took the time to explain the importance of being organised and the collective spirit.

“They gave me a bit of a history lesson about how unions were responsible for improved safety, working hours and other conditions. I was committed from there on in,” he says.

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Rob, who was recently elected to the position of junior vice president for the Victorian branch says he knows how different conditions are on sites where there is no union presence.

“I’ve spent a long time in the industry and you get to see people work and the positive difference a union makes.

“The way I see it, you have to work, you may as well make a contribution.”

Rob says his experience working in both country and city gives him a broader view on how people live and the issues of importance to them.

“However, at the end of the day, people are the same. Country or city, people want to be treated with respect at work.”

Rob is proud that he was elected to the Executive of the union.

“There’s no doubt it’s become harder.

Our political enemies have become more vicious, more aggressive. The Right are hell bent on destroying us.”

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Delegate Claude Zagame, who first met Rob on a picket line on Grocon job six years ago, said he was taken with Rob’s positive and inspiring attitude.

“His communication skills are second to none. When he’s giving a talk or a speech, he comes across as a man who knows what he’s talking about. He gets everyone enthused.

“He is a passionate man and he loves the CFMEU. We need more people like him.”

For his part, Rob says he is proud to be part of the union leadership at a time when it is going forward on promoting diversity in its ranks.

“Getting more women, indigenous people and returned soldiers in the industry is an exciting initiative and it’s great to be a part of that.”

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Vale Martin McGuinness Irish Republican and peacemaker Martin McGuinness died on Tuesday 21 March aged 66, after a short illness.

Thousands of people packed the streets of his native Bogside, a republican area of Derry, as his funeral took place, and many followed the coffin of Mr McGuinness onward to the city cemetery.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin paid tribute: “Martin was and will remain a great inspiration for all people who aspire for justice, freedom and independence as a basis for human dignity and rights. His long commitment to those rights in Ireland was equally important to all who struggle for those same recognitions in every place in this world.”

“Martin knew the importance of the collective and of community. A true son of Free Derry found work far beyond the local injustice prejudice and division of his childhood landscape. We are much stronger and more secure everywhere because of that journey and his unerring faith that it would inevitably be rewarded with the success of peace and freedom at many points.

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“Vale comrade McGuinness . Man of peace and freedom. Fighter for justice and rights. Family man, Irishman and internationalist. Now at rest after a mighty effort.”

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams gave the following graveside oration: “This week, Ireland lost a hero. Derry lost a son. Sinn Fein lost a leader and I lost a dear friend and a comrade.”

“But Martin’s family has suffered the biggest loss of all. They have lost a loving, caring, dedicated husband, father and grandfather. A brother and an uncle.”

“Martin McGuinness was not a terrorist.

Martin McGuinness was a Freedom Fighter. He was also a political prisoner, a negotiator, a peacemaker, a healer.”

In 2007, Martin became deputy First Minister and an equal partner to Ian Paisley in government. They forged a friendship that demonstrated the progress made in Ireland.

His reconciliation and outreach work, and his work on behalf of

victims and for peace, in Ireland and internationally, have been widely applauded.

Gerry Adams also said: “Martin rejected any suggestion that gender or race or class or skin colour or disability or sexual orientation or religion should exclude citizens from their full rights and entitlements.”

“That is a legacy we must build upon.”

“Of course, while much progress has been made - not least in the numerous lives saved in the last 20 years nevertheless Irish republicans know that a long, long road, with many twists and turns, still lies ahead.”

“It’s all about rights. Civil rights.

Human rights. Religious rights.

Language rights. LGBT rights. Social and economic rights. Rights for women.

National rights. The right to freedom.”

“These rights can’t be left to any political party.”

If you want change, fight for it. Vale Martin McGuinness.

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The CFMEU is often accused of stand over tactics. We’ve heard it all before. A Royal Commission was called, in part, because of it.

Since its reincarnation the ABCC has launched a number of ridiculous and frivolous cases that even the courts have slammed. The public and you as members should know about.

It is becoming apparent from these cases that it is not the CFMEU that is standing over anyone, but Nigel Hadgkiss and his henchmen, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). The ABCC is blatantly standing over members of the public as a tactic in its ideological war against the CFMEU. These cases, the CFMEU must defend or face

fines of up to $180,000. To defend these cases costs money: CFMEU members’ money. YOUR MONEY. To prosecute these cases costs money. The ABCC spends taxpayers’ money. YOUR MONEY. Hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Nationwide there have been many of these cases but in Victoria alone they are piling up, and the question that must be asked is, Who is Standing Over Who? Alex Tadic stands over workplace inspector for abismal safety on site?

It’s a cold, dark, June winter morning and by chance CFMEU officials Alex Tadic and Nigel Davies notice the Castlemaine Police Station construction site is very poorly lit. It’s approximately 7.30am and the work day has begun, construction workers are going about their

3. CUPPA WITH A MATE 1. SICK KID FLAG BANS The ABCC tries to pressure CPB and Lend Lease to refuse to fly Good Friday Appeal flags that raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

- FOR TRULY EXPOSING THEIR SOUL. 2. NO COLLECTION CPB refuse to assist with collection for a member who suffered serious head injury on their Tullamarine Widening job. They cite concerns from ABCC.

ZERO STARS – COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. 014

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Honestly, you stick with the current mob for a while and they try to ban having a cup of tea with a friend? $100,000s for what the judge called “a miniscule, insignificant affair.”

- FROM JUSTICE NORTH: “FOR GOODNESS SAKE, I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE INSPECTORATE IS DOING” 4. MASTERS, NO APPRENTICES

One in four young people are unemployed and apprentices are falling fast, but the ABCC bans quotas that would see more apprentices employed.

ZERO STARS - THIS WAS NOT A WORK OF GENIUS. AUTUMN 2017

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business. In the dark. The risks are numerous and obvious.

The two men stop and Tadic, with decades of experience in the industry and a valid right of entry permit does the paperwork and enters site with Davies, also holding a valid right of entry permit.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The police are called.

Worksafe inspector Jason Sharples arrives and a site visit ensues. Not only is the lighting inadequate, but there is exposed electrical wiring, a heavy pane of glass that is not secured, no clear access/egress points on site and there is building rubbish throughout the dimly lit site.

Possibly most alarming is the faulty handrail above the driveway entrance that would fail to prevent a worker plunging three meters potentially causing a serious and catastrophic incident. In short, the safety measures on site are abominable.

What happens next? The ABCC get involved. The ABCC launch a prosecution. They allege that the CFMEU CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

7. RANK AND VILE 5. A MAN’S WORLD Simply questioning whether it’s right that a female worker is forced to have a man accompany her to the bathroom rather than have a female toilet provided is enough to have the book thrown at you.

- DISGRACEFUL. 6. POWER AND THE PASSION Preventing injury or death on a dodgy Castlemaine cop shop site gets the mud thrown at CFMEU safety officials Tadic and Davies.

- FROM JUSTICE NORTH FOR ALEX TADIC WHOSE SAFETY CONCERNS WERE JUSTIFIED. AUTUMN 2017

Not content with their previous efforts going after CFMEU Officials, the ABCC attacks a member with public allegations and threats of massive fines for doing his job. They failed, but the damage is done.

– NICK KARAMITOS IS VINDICATED, BUT IT’S THREE YEARS TOO LATE.

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STANDOVER TACTICS

Alex Tadic and Tadic abuse and intimidate a WorkSafe inspector. Quite rightly, in March this year, the Federal Court dismiss the case. Sharples, a man who has worked in a maximum security prison for 13 years who, declares in court himself, is not easily intimidated.

A win for the CFMEU. But is it really?

Tadic has been accused of being rude, aggressive and abusive, a media release has been published about him on the ABCC website publicly announcing these allegations. Tadic has waited two years for the case to be resolved and had his right of entry permit suspended when all he is guilty of is being passionate about workers’ safety on site. It’s costs the Union over $40,000 to defend and who knows how much its cost the ABCC to prosecute. They used two barristers, one a Senior Counsel and enlisted Maddox Lawyers to assist, who charge thousands of billable hours to the taxpayer. Don’t forget this is YOUR MONEY. And it’s Hadkiss accusing Tadic of standing over Sharples when in fact the court found it was Hadkiss, in the compulsory interview with Sharples, who was conducting himself

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gerry benstead & steve long inappropriately. During the interview the court found that Hadgkiss was being biased in his questioning and attempting to illicit the answers from Sharples that he wanted to strengthen his case against the CFMEU. THE QUESTION. WHO IS STANDING OVER WHO? Benstead and Long stand over subbie for a woman’s toilet on site?

Leanne Graham is working at a Brighton construction site in 2015. There is no female toilet on site. The protocol is that if Leanne wants to use the toilet, she tells a male co-worker who will follow her to the male toilet and wait outside until she has finished.

The site construction director tells CFMEU officials Gerry Benstead and Steve Long that this is a sufficient protocol for Leanne. Benstead and Long point out to the construction director that perhaps this isn’t sufficient. They point out that there is no female toilet on site.

What happens next? The ABCC get involved. The ABCC launch a prosecution. The CFMEU, Benstead and Long are facing large fines for pointing

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out that perhaps, it’s not a nice feeling, having someone stand directly outside and wait for you to use the toilet.

The Federal Court is yet to make its decision. The CFMEU should win. But is it a win really? Benstead and Long have been accused of engaging in unlawful conduct and the ABCC has published a media release saying just that. The two officials have waited two years for a result. The CFMEU has spent over $45,000 of members’ money, the ABCC has likely spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. YOUR MONEY. Benstead and Long are accused of standing over the subcontractor to get a female toilet. But what about the witnesses dragged in for compulsory interviews by the ABCC? Listen to an interview and you hear the worker trying to be stoic, trying to be strong.

Listen closely and you can hear the slight wavering of his voice, as he answers the questions the best that he can.

AGAIN, IT MUST BE ASKED, WHO IS STANDING OVER WHO?

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STANDOVER TACTICS

mark travers & adam hall Travers and Hall stand over site supervisor over a cup of tea?

It’s 2014, and CFMEU organisers Mark Travers and Adam Hall, decide to pull into a McConnell Dowell building site at the Melbourne airport to visit a mate who was working on the site. They arrive to the site shed and they have a cup of tea. They talk about a recent holiday and four wheel drives.

What happens next? The police are called. Four officers arrive. They come and go realising there is absolutely nothing going on.

What happens next? The ABCC get involved. The ABCC launch a prosecution. During the hearing Justice North states that it is “astounding” that Hadkiss has had briefed Senior Counsel and a law firm and spent taxpayers money over “such a miniscule, insignificant affair.”

The Federal Court is yet to make its decision. The CFMEU should win. But is it a win really? Hall and Travers have been alleged to threaten war on a building manager. A media release has been published about them on the ABCC website publicly announcing these allegations. Thousands of dollars wasted, members’ money, taxpayers’ money, YOUR MONEY. AUTUMN 2017

And again, Hadgkiss called the witnesses brought forward by the ABCC into compulsory interrogations.

A case where the Judge has stated “For goodness sake, I don’t know what the inspectorate is doing”

What happens next? The ABCC get involved. The ABCC launch a prosecution. Quite rightly, in January this year, the Federal Court dismiss the case. A win for the CFMEU. But again, is it really?

AGAIN, IT MUST BE ASKED, WHO IS STANDING OVER WHO?

Karamitos was alleged to have bullied the men off site. A media release was put up on the ABCC website publically detailing the allegations against Karamitos. He faced thousands of dollars in potential fines and had to wait three years to be vindicated.

Union member stands over subbie for not having swms and insurances?

This time the ABCC go after, not just the CFMEU, but a rank and file member. A construction worker who turns up to work on 20 November 2013, just trying to do his job. It’s approximately 7.00am and Abseal Pty Ltd arrive to the site where Nick Karamitos is working.

The CFMEU delegate on the site is sick this day and so Karamitos takes it upon himself to stand in and do the site inductions. He asks the two workers of Abseal if they have their Safe Work Method Statements and insurances. This is of particular significance as Abseal engages in high risk construction work. The Abseal employees don’t have the requisite paperwork and so Karamitos can’t induct them. They are asked to leave the site, and not by Karamitos.

More money spent defending the case, more money spent prosecuting the case.

YOUR MONEY. Hadgkiss alleged that Karamitos stood over the Abseal workers to get them off site. But it wasn’t Karamitos standing over the Abseal workers. The worker in question refused to give evidence to assist the ABCC in its case against the CFMEU. So what did Hadkiss and the ABCC do? They have the worker arrested in front of his family and he spends the night alone in jail.

Again, the question must be asked, WHO IS STANDING OVER WHO?

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Helping

JACK TRADES with all

Jackson Eales, a young 27 year old scaffolder loved the CFMEU; everywhere he went he was wearing his CFMEU clothes. On Boxing Day 2016, he was killed in a tragic road accident as he was driving home.

Jack was still the man of his mum Geraldine’s house and looked after her and his siblings. As well as renovating his own house, he’d done some work on his mum’s place and was about to start on the deck and garden.

to be done and got together donations, materials and labour.

Ben did the pre-work, Norris did the concreting. As a landscaper and close friend of Jack’s, Ben and Webscapes Landscaping did a huge amount.

Corey McLean with CBM Fencing and Jack Whiting with Flowright Plumbing also contributed very generously.

On the 11th March on the long weekend, Jackson’s mates, CFMEU Members, ETU Members and others - 22 people all up, did a treat of a backyard blitz.

Ben Webster was a friend of Jack’s, they had already made plans on what they were going to do. Before they could start work, Jackson was tragically killed.

“Turf, screen, steps and the bulk of the work was done in one day. Everyone put in, it was very humbling,” said friend and CFMEU organiser Peter Booth.

That’s where Jackson’s workmates and the CFMEU came in, met with Geraldine and Ben and looked at what was needed

“The respect they have for Jackson and his mother is immense. The family are so grateful for what everyone has done.”

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Jack’s mates have now pooled their money and their time and labour to buy and fix up a car for Geraldine, but they won’t stop there.

Jackson’s partner Mel was in the car on that tragic Boxing Day and after a long time in hospital is still recovering. While Mel is currently living with Jack’s mum Geraldine, her and Jack’s house was also part-way through renovations.

So having finished their work at Geraldine’s, Jack’s friends and workmates will move on to Mel’s house to finish the work there next. It will need to be made accessible to suit Mel’s condition.

It’s a tough time for everyone, to find the spirit to do this work while they struggle without having Jackson there. Big hearts, plenty of shoulders to lean on and some hard work will see them all through.

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R.I.P. Chris Koutrigaros Our industry was shaken early in the year when painter Chris Koutrigaros was killed as a result of a fall on a VCON/Element Five winery job in Merricks North on the Mornington Peninsula.

Chris was 69 years old and of course nobody suffers the loss more than his family, particularly wife Tina and sons Nicholas and Johnny.

Another tragic loss to a family, to workmates and to our industry should serve as a reminder of how serious safety in our industry is.

We are very humbled by the opportunity to share this message from Chris’ family:

Chris was the most loving husband and a proud father of two sons. Everyone who met him instantly became his friend.

While we are devastated at the sudden loss of such a tremendous man the donation of his organs to four recipients is a testament to the healthy life he lived.

We would like to thank all those who knew and worked alongside Chris during his more than 30 years in the construction industry.

We would also like to thank the CFMEU for their support.

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AWA R D WINNINGR O E F F O RT F

Oscar was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age 5 and is now wheelchair bound. His mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago and passed away late last year.

It’s been a tough year for the family, with Oscar’s father Andrew unable to work and looking after Oscar almost full-time.

It is almost impossible to imagine Oscar’s luck getting worse. Instead, things got a bit better thanks to Oscar’s grandfather Bobby and his generous workmates at the LU Simon job in Glen Waverley.

It wasn’t hard for shop steward Theo Fragos to get together support for Bobby’s grandson Oscar.

“He’s so popular on site,” says Theo.

“I haven’t had to chase anyone about kicking in. We’ve had people coming through the door to donate.”

Bobby has been very grateful, with $11,000 raised for young Oscar, a huge effort.

“I feel like I’m part of the family in the building industry,” says Bobby. “It’s been so good. It was bred into me: when the bell goes, you just start working.”

Bobby has been a union member since he started in forestry at age 15. His CFMEU member number is 25!

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NEW ORGANISER

YOUNG BLOOD

SIMMO HITS THE CIVIL CIRCUIT New organiser James Simpson, known fondly as Simmo, says his stint being a boss was not a great experience.

“A couple of builders went broke and owed me $60,000 and that was the end of that.”

He shut up shop in the domestic side of construction and went into commercial bricklaying. His first surprise was being told by the delegate, Phil Castalado, that he had to stop work because his super wasn’t in order.

“It was my first day on the job and he’s someone who doesn’t know me, looking out for me,” he recalls.

That was in 2011 and since that day, Simmo aspired to being an organiser.

CBUS coordinator Danny Gardiner was a family friend so Simmo sought his advice. Danny suggested he attend branch meetings where he met Assistant Secretary Elias Spernovasilis.

“The worse thing Elias did was give me his phone number because after that, I phoned him every day. It’s only now I

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release how busy he is, that I can’t believe he gave me so much time,” he says.

Simmo began attending the young activists meetings and was apprenticed to an experienced delegate, Darko, to learn more about the union’s role on site.

“Both Elias and Darko have been mentors. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them,” says Simmo.

Darko believes Simmo’s heart is in the right place and thinks the new organiser will go a long way.

“He’s put his hand up to do a difficult job at a relatively young age.”

Elias is of the same view.

“He’s energetic, young and nothing’s too much trouble.”

As the grandson of footballer Frank Curcio who once captained Fitzroy, Simmo is emulating the qualities of leadership passed down to him in his family.

“I feel that we need more young people taking on these roles in the union so that what the older blokes achieved, doesn’t go down the drain.”

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a 24-year-old guy or girl at ok lo d ul wo s ie ss Au y an m ot N r veteran wa a be d ul co ey th k in th d an et walking down the stre pical age for veterans ty e Th . se ca e th be ll we d ul co but that is mid to late 20s. e ic rv se e tiv ac r te af e rc fo rk wo re-joining the The Veterans in Construction initiative was conceptualised by Dan Cairnes in late 2015, a CFMEU member who works fulltime in the industry with Multiplex.

For many, finding work – even in fields they are ideally suited to – can be a challenge due to the stigmas often attached to those returning from active service.

That’s where Veterans in Construction comes into play. Along with the CFMEU, the organisation offers advice, mentoring, support, camaraderie and connections for the current generation of veterans looking to gain a start in the construction industry.

When government announced the conclusion to the nation’s longest ever war with little fanfare, Dan acknowledged that many service personnel would look to exit the military and commence the next phase of their lives. He assessed that these veterans would either return home or move to the cities where there was better employment prospects. Many would require some assistance in starting second careers.

The current generation of veterans has served Australia honourably, with considerable sacrifice and little recognition. When it comes to a second career, the construction industry is not a bad fit for these people.

“Building sites are really similar to the Army environment. Instead of combat uniforms, webbing and armoured vehicles - there is high-vis clothing, hardhats and heavy machinery.” Neil

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Trigwell, Afghanistan veteran and Builders Labourer on the Level Crossing Removal Project.

“Every day on site has structured timings and the atmosphere of the sheds at smoko or lunchtime is like eating in a mess hall.” Andrew Edwards, Afghanistan veteran and dogman on the Level Crossing Removal Project.

After a strong liaison effort with a multitude of stakeholders, a pilot program was launched during 2016 which enabled a group of former sailors and soldiers to gain employment as CWs with a few of the tier one construction firms.

Upon the success of these placements and Dan’s further lobbying of key stakeholders, more veterans have been employed during 2017. Victoria’s largest current construction project, the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project (LCRP) has seen huge potential and benefit in what the Veterans in Construction initiative has to offer.

Former service personnel display initiative, discipline, mechanical reasoning and are accustomed to working in teams within high pressure environments – skills and attributes which are highly sought after on work sites. The first couple of candidates on the LCRP have seamlessly integrated into the high risk work fields of rigging and mobile crane operations.

money. Its focus is on forging industry connections to provide a hand up to returning war veterans interested in construction careers.

As in all industries it is not ‘what you know’ but ‘who you know.’ The Veterans in Construction scheme is simply evening things out by facilitating industry connections to veterans who have missed out on developing networks because they spent the first part of their life serving the nation in Australia or overseas. All opportunities offered are based on merit and skillsets - it is still up to each candidate to ‘sell themselves’ to the hiring authority.

Veterans in Construction and the CFMEU are achieving ‘Mission Success’ by assisting our veterans in gaining stable employment to support their families and establish homes.

So if you’ve got family or friends who are currently serving in the Australian Defence Force or who have recently discharged and want to get into the industry - encourage them to register their interest at www.veteransinconstruction.com or email info@veteransinconstruction.com

The Veterans in Construction scheme is not a charity and does not raise

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INSERT MEET THE COPY TRAINERS

Anne Duggan Co-ordinator

WORK BACKGROUND 24 years with CFMEU, in worker’s education and trade unions most of my working life.

WORK BACKGROUND Bachelor of Business Management, ran a small business. CFMEU Training Unit since 2003.

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Go to gigs, play music, stand on my head, read, watch the doggies play footy, walk the dogs, cook, eat, travel, hit the streets with the comrades, hang out with family and friends and spend stress free time with Frank.

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Spend time with family and friends.

Irene Chong Administration

WORK BACKGROUND Manager PA in large Hong Kong company, CFMEU admin since 1999

WORK BACKGROUND Accounts & Finance for over 6 years, CFMEU from 2014

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Cook and catching up with friends during weekends

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Explore new foodie hotspots and spend time with my family and friends

Cindy Leung Administration

Joey Tham Administration

WORK BACKGROUND Worked in banking, automotive, and legal before CFMEU

WORK BACKGROUND CFMEU for over 7 years while studying psychology.

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Spend quality time with my hubby and my 2 girls.

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Garden and spend time with family and friends, work on my creative skills and go to gigs.

Maria Hui Administration

Elaine Chong Administration

WORK BACKGROUND 40 years, primarily as a crane driver and rigger. Training unit since 2000.

WORK BACKGROUND Since 1989, starting as a brickies labourer and then apprentice bricklayer in domestic. Scaffolding in 1996, Union Delegate & Safety Rep, CFMEU Training Unit since 2005.

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Study Irish history and follow the footy

Barry Kearney

High Risk Work team

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Paul Allwood

High Risk Work team

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WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Spend time with family and friends, go boating, dirt bike riding & camping. I love training in karate and like to keep fit.

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INSERT COPY MEET THE TRAINERS WORK BACKGROUND In the industry since arriving in Australia in the early 1980’s. Labourer, dogman/ rigger, plant operator i.e. Tower Crane, shop steward/OH&S rep.

Tony Minchin

High Risk Work team

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Spend time with family and friends, play a little golf and go free camping whenever we can.

WORK BACKGROUND Been with the unit about 3 ½ years now.

Before that I spent over 30 years working as a rigger, scaffolder and crane operator.

Owen Waiomio

High Risk Work team

WORK BACKGROUND 15 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy including cranes and rigging, confined spaces, plant operator and general labouring. Over 10 years in general labouring, cranes and rigging and plant operator.

Dan Phelan

High Risk Work team

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Fish, swim, follow AFL and spend quality time with my wife and 2 kids. I am a foster child carer with Ozchild and I’m the president of my sons school board.

WORK BACKGROUND Trained emergency response teams at large industrial plants and defence sites across Australia. Commercial and industrial refrigeration mechanic and a graduate paramedic.

Robert Rowan First-aid team

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WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO I’m usually doing things outside with my son - tinkering with motorcycles, fishing/ snorkelling/spearfishing, hiking with our dog, collecting antiques or making bonsai trees.

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO Jump out of perfectly good planes, play rugby or more watch these days with a cold refreshment

WORK BACKGROUND Started training First Aid with the CFMEU in 2002. Prior to that I was an aircraft mechanic for Ansett Airlines.

Mark Devereaux First-aid team

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I LIKE TO I have unrealistic and unachievable expectations of success by following the mighty mighty Tigers.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! MEET THE OH&S AND TRADES TEAMS IN THE SPRING 2017 CFMEU WORKER MAGAZINE

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INSERT COPY TRAINING NEWS

CFMEU APPRENTICES – THE DREAM TEAM The first team of CFMEU pre-apps are now 2nd year carpenters and they’re an impressive bunch.

They’re hard at it, constructing eaves at our trade school in Port Melbourne.

They erected the scaffold, pitched the roof and now they are installing fascias and eave sheets. No quickie courses here! Lucky the employers who have a CFMEU apprentice.

TRAINING UNIT ADDS SCREENS The CFMEU Education and Training Unit has added a perimeter safety screen to its already extensive list of equipment. CFMEU 2nd year apprentices helped complete the platform deck prior to the screen being installed at the Union’s High Risk Work Training Centre in Port Melbourne.

The screen, supplied by Omniform is up to current industry standards and will be used in a range of courses. These will include refresher training for riggers and in our High Risk Work Licence courses as part of the Basic Rigging scope of work.

HAZELWOOD WORKERS GET CFMEU TRAINING The CFMEU Training Unit held Work Safely at Heights training for 15 students and a construction induction card for 20 Hazelwood workers at the ETU/AMWU office in Morwell.

Organisers Steve Dodd (AMWU) and Peter Mooney (ETU) joined a lunch time meeting with Labor MP Harriet Shing. There was a discussion about what was happening regarding the closure of Hazelwood between these parties.

The students thanked the CFMEU for conducting training in Morwell and the workers, amongst other things, asked for more training to be provided.

Andy Duff, CFMEU High Risk Work Trainer and Assessor, reports that both days of training were productive with great enthusiasm from the students.

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INSERT COPY

These rogue politicians all supported turnbull’s abcc and building code that bans: Protecting Aussie jobs RDO Calendar More apprentices Limits on casual employment

Ratios of women employed Worker representation Labour hire limits Christmas/Easter shutdowns

RESTORE JOB SECURITY, SAFETY AND WORKERS RIGHTS – SUPPORT YOUR UNION AND REJECT THE ABCC AND THE CRIMINALS WHO SUPPORT IT

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INSERTAREN’T BANKS COPY SUPER

WILL THEY LET Big banks continue to lobby for changes to the Australian super system. Their changes would put the fox in charge of the henhouse.

Big banks are trying to disrupt the industry fund model to get a greater share of people’s super savings.

Cbus, as an industry superannuation fund, believes that in the long term, this could have a detrimental impact on people’s retirement outcomes.

There are fundamental differences between bank-owned retail super funds and industry funds such as Cbus which could affect you: BANKS OPERATE ON A MODEL OF MAKING PROFIT FOR SHAREHOLDERS Industry funds operate on an allprofits-to-members model. We do not pay dividends to shareholders.

Industry funds consistently outperform the bank owned retail funds Over the past 20 years, industry funds have, on average returned 6.3% per annum compared to the bank owned funds returning 4.5%*.

INDUSTRY FUND BOARDS HAVE EQUAL EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES The industry fund governance model means our Boards are made up of equal representatives of employer and employee associations. In Cbus’ case they are drawn from the construction and building industry. They act solely in members’ best interests and they understand the industry that most of our members work in.

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In the case of Cbus, this means investing back into the construction and building industry, providing strong returns, creating work for tens of thousands of our members, and supporting our economy.

INDUSTRY FUNDS ARE THE DEFAULT NOMINATED FUNDS IN MOST AWARDS AND AGREEMENTS This means people starting jobs who haven’t made a choice or do not have enough knowledge to make a choice about which fund they are in, are placed in an all-profit-to-member fund that looks after their interests.

NO COMMISSIONS OR SALES INCENTIVES FOR ADVICE FROM INDUSTRY FUNDS Cbus and other industry funds don’t pay commissions or provide sales incentives to financial advisers to market our funds. It would be easy to lose count of the scandals that have engulfed the big banks around poor financial advice and the selling of products that are not in their customer’s best interest, including superannuation.

WATCH THE TV AD

www.banksarentsuper.com

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The big banks want this all to change.

THE BIG BANKS WANT OUR FEDERAL POLITICIANS TO: •

Disrupt the model of not-for-profit super funds that are run only to benefit members and don’t generate profits for shareholders; and

•

Remove protections in the system which provide quality approved funds as the workplace default funds.

Cbus, along with other industry funds, think Australians deserve to know what is going on. After all, your super is your money and the superannuation system should be working for you – not bank shareholders.

Because most Australians agree that super funds should be run on a notfor-profit basis, industry super funds launched a new campaign Banks Aren’t Super. Find out more about what’s going on with our superannuation system and what the big banks are up to at www.banksarentsuper.com.

Remember – keep your super in good hands.

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INSERTSUPER COPY BANKS AREN’T

THE FOXES IN? *Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

This information does not take your specific needs, objectives and requirements into consideration so you should look at your own financial position, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide whether Cbus is right for you.

Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262

NEVER WORK ALONE

By Dr Gerry Ayers, CFMEU Safety Unit manager.

Two tragic, preventable fatalities in Victoria have once again shocked our industry, leaving families, friends and workmates devastated and looking for explanation.

On October 26, 2016 while working on the ProBuild Melbourne Convention Centre expansion a 54 year old boilermaker was killed in a crushing incident while operating a knuckleboom.

On February 19, 2017 a 69 year old painter fell 3-4 meters on a VCON site in Balnarring (between Hastings and Flinders). He died in hospital two days later.

What do they have in common? Other than the tragic impact these fatalities have on the families, friends and colleagues, both were working alone when the incidents occurred.

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If we can take something from these tragedies, it is that there should always be someone working with you to assist if something goes wrong.

NEVER WORK ALONE. If any employer says you are able to work alone, say no. It is simply not a safe system of work.

Every worker has the right to a safe workplace and the right to go home at the end of the day.

If you’re not sure: Stand Up, Speak Out, Come Home.

Contact the CFMEU Safety Unit if you have any concerns: 03 9341 3444 CFMEU WORKER

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BUILDING A MAJOR EVENT DOIN’ IT FOR THE KIDS A huge thanks to the Members and companies generously supporting the CFMEU’s Good Friday Appeal campaign, including Linfox, McMahon and Waco.

A UNIQUE JOB “It’s the people’s park, so public protection is huge,” says shop steward James Gianchino. “We leave it open right up until the weekend so we’re talking cars, people walking dogs, cyclists and spectators.”

What’s James most proud of? “We’re the only majority unionised F1 track in the world.”

The Melbourne Grand Prix, brought to you by CFMEU Members.

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BROCKY APPEAL As the son of Peter Brock, it comes as no surprise to see James Brock on the racing track, but how he came to be holding a CFMEU Good Friday Appeal flag and custom hard hat is almost a story of fate.

It’s not James’ first time on the Albert Park track of course. He has raced here, worked the Grand Prix event before and was on the Jaguar stand this year doing product demonstration and fun rides.

James has also enjoyed indulging fully in the event as a spectator.

“The Melbourne GP is one of the most popular races for the teams, everyone loves coming here.”

While James’ dad Peter was of course ‘King of the Mountain’, he was also “on the board of the Grand Prix, raced here, ran a team and worked with manufacturers who are here.”

This is the first time James has had a chance to look at the work that goes into setting the whole thing up and it’s an impressive job.

FLYING THE FLAG James has been friends with CFMEU shop steward James Gianchino for a long time

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and his first job out of school was a builders labourer.

It was to promote the Good Friday Appeal and the Union’s efforts to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital that sees James meeting with Members and flying the flag.

He is rapt with his custom CFMEU Good Friday Appeal hard hat and proud to wave the flag to raise money for sick kids.

These days, James works in mechanical engineering and driver training. He raced the Australian V8 Ute racing series and Australian GT Championship a few years back.

BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN James Brock will be leading the MG Motorsport team in the 2017 Australian production car series. They’re building a car at the moment and getting ready for the championship.

“We’re very excited to be entering the 2017 Production Car Series with MG as our partner,” Brock said.

“We’re looking forward to making a competitive presence in 2017, kicking off with an attack on the famed Bathurst mountain race track.”

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COPY WE BUILTINSERT THIS EVENT

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DOIN IT FOR THE KIDS

GOOD FRIDA CFMEU Members are flying the flag a little prouder as we celebrate reaching our $1,000,000 fundraising target for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Thanks to a huge effort from Members, Delegates, staff and Officials, we have raised the amount required to reach a big milestone, adding to our 2016 total to date of $825,530.

The CFMEU is consistently in the top 10 donors for the Good Friday Appeal and it’s something to be proud of.

Ruby, the young 7 year old who won the kids art competition to have her design on the 2017 flags, bandanas and t-shirts, attended the flag raising with her family at the Mirvac Collins St job above Southern Cross Station.

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DOIN IT FOR THE KIDS

AY APPEAL

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ONSITE ABD Caulfield

LU simon Glen Waverley

Barwon Water Geelong - Monaco Hickey 034

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Simmonds Stadium Geelong - kane

Worksafe Geelong - Built AUTUMN 2017

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ONSITE

Eye and Ear Hospital

Rod Laver Arena 036

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Gerard Benstead may be just a little bit less of a danger on the roads after a quick driving lesson with James Brock. His main advice after hearing a few stories from Steve Long? Make sure you put the handbrake on when you park Buzza!

buzza’s gp driving lesson

JOHN SETKA ONSITE

collins arch

CCL AUTUMN 2017

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FRANK NADINIC STRIKES AGAIN

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The Spring 2016 CFMEU Worker magazine said “Beware! Don’t work for this guy” and “Is Octane Australia (High Octane?) just another company setup to burn workers and subbies? We’ll find out soon enough.”

True to form, Subcontracting Serices Pty Ltd (Octane) have unpaid debts to contractors of more than $500,000 for their service station job in Learmonth Rd, Wendouree.

Sally Stevens, on behalf of several creditors, writes that “While all contractors agree that Frank Nadinic did not refer to himself as the Director of Octane Australia Pty Ltd or its head contractor for Subcontracting Services Pty Ltd, we do wish to point out that clearly he was the main man behind these companies, making all the decisions, and being the head point of contact in the construction progress meetings between Octane, Case Meallin, Walsh Group, S.H.A Premier Constructions and Norman Disney & Young Architects. He was, I believe,

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the person in effective control of the company.”

“The simple reality is that “phoenixing” isn’t hard to do because of the gaping hole in the law which allows individuals to set up companies without any requirement to provide identification. There are also clearly other gaps in the law that need closing regarding insolvency laws and creditors security on liabilities owed to them.

“Not one of the creditors listed would like to see another honest hard working Australian go through the heartache of seeing their life’s work destroyed by people like Frank Nadinic.”

We hope people listen to Sally and knowing Frank Nadinic’s record, do not work for him or any company he is involved with.

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The Spring 2016 CFMEU Worker that warned about Frank Nadinic and Octane.

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09 AUTUMN 2017 CFMEU WO

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SUPER INVESTMENT INSERT COPY

Construction of the landmark Cbus Property development, Collins Arch, is underway. With its unique design, this iconic building will create more than 7,000 jobs for our sector.

With two towers linked by a skybridge, Collins Arch will be instantly recognisable on Melbourne’s skyline. It also represents one of the city’s largest mixed-use developments – worth more than $1.25 billion.

Sitting on a whole city block with a prime Collins Street address, it will house residential apartments, high quality office accommodation and a five-star hotel. A mix of retail and AUTUMN 2017

food tenancies are also planned for lower levels, alongside a large public space.

Work commenced on Collins Arch in late 2016. Cbus Property is targeting a 5 Star NABERS Rating and a 5 Star Green Star Rating for Collins Arch. Current estimates are for the creation of over 7,000 direct jobs during the construction phase with Multiplex the head contractor.

As a part of the industry super fund for building, construction and allied workers, Cbus Property has an important relationship with people working on sites like Collins Arch. Cbus invests money back into building and construction through

Cbus Property – creating jobs and contributing to our sector.

Already proving its appeal, just over 40% of the 49,000 square metres of premium office space has a been leased to three high profile legal firms. The 294-room hotel will be the first W hotel in Melbourne, one of the premium hotel groups owned by the Marriott group.

It will be an exciting project to watch – and for our members to be involved with – over the next few years. Completion is currently due in late 2019.

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INSERT COPY NATIONAL RALLY

20,000 people hit the streets of Melbourne to the sound of ‘Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap’ on Thursday 9th March.

It was an appropriate anthem because construction workers have been sold out in dirty deals between Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal Government and Senators Derryn Hinch, Nick Xenophon and Pauline Hanson.

The Liberal Party’s war on workers hit a new low with the ABCC and new Building Code relegating construction workers to second class citizens.

Construction workers know that Turnbull’s Building Code attacks local jobs, our RDO calendar, apprenticeships, secure work, representation on site, labour hire limits and Christmas and Easter shutdowns.

Worst of all, under the last ABCC, the rate of construction worker fatalities almost doubled.

The National Day of Action was supported by a broad range of unions and the wider community as cuts to weekend penalty rates for hospitality and retail workers had just been announced.

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INSERTRALLY COPY NATIONAL

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INSERT COPY BUILDING ON COUNTRY

ars, For more than 10 ye entoring m en be Christian has people and young Aboriginal unionconnecting them to d good backed training an nditions. co jobs with decent get a foot It’s helping people aking sure in the door, but m door is safe what’s behind the and 100% union. y’s work “It’s about a good da y”, says for a good day’s pa Christian. ns means Working with unio ining and the best possible tra g jobs with the most rewardin conditions. the best safety and d RAW Where Christian an sist is to Recruitment also as e safe ar make sure people lly and at work both physica culturally. is RAW Recruitment d an d ne Aboriginal ow ople pe l employs Aborigina e first to and Christian is th the CFMEU acknowledge that along the has been a big help n, John way. Shaun Reardo

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Ayers, Joe Myles and all the organisers and delegates get a big chop out from Christian who now has 40 people in work and training and 10 apprentice carpenters.

RAW Recruitment has other well-known and respected identities as mentors and directors such as world champion boxer Robbie ‘Bomber’ Peden, two-time Olympian and IBF Super Featherweight title holder.

Christian himself has 20 years’ experience in the construction industry and is all about keeping big companies accountable and making sure they do the right thing by taking on young Australian apprentices. As a carpenter by trade and shop steward, he knows his way around the industry and was approached by the state government to start something up after great success finding jobs for people he was mentoring while coaching at the Braybrook Football Club.

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RAW Recruitment arrange cultural training fo r employers and anyone else in terested – Shaun Reardon, Robbie Graauwmans and Theo Theodorou have be en up north for the expe rience and learned a lot. Empl oyers can be worried about ta king on young apprentices , but RAW Recruitment breaks down prejudice to make sure people are judged on their work.

After all, what bette r people to have building our cities than the people whose co untry it is that we’re building on?

There’s a reason Ch ristian works with quality providers like our own CFMEU Education and Training Unit: “the others are just about bum s on seats.”

Plus, as soon as yo u put someone into the CF MEU, Christian reckons they “instantly have thou sands of mentors – every sh oppie in Australia!”

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INSERT COPY SKY RAIL LEGENDS

The CFMEU and RAW Recruitment have worked together to ensure the Sky Rail project in the south eastern suburbs includes some Real Aboriginal Work and it’s been a big success already.

“Brilliant,” Nova says about the project. “There’s so much economic prosperity happening down here.”

“Part of that growth, if you can bring people with you, it becomes a totally inclusive project.”

RAW has over 30 people working on the job and the partnership is ensuring the work and training opportunities on the job are shared around the whole community.

Sky Rail is a great example of the wide-ranging benefits that come from a government investing in infrastructure, jobs and training.

FOOTY LEGEND AFL great Michael Long has been involved from the early days and has seen it grow from the start to this. “We have people working on the gates to landscaping to apprentices.”

“It’s one of the leading projects in Victoria.”

“With the CFMEU, it’s been part of the EBA, the bargaining agreement on the Sky Rail project.”

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“Hand on heart, we can say everyone’s been involved in it.”

“Raw and CFMEU together are making the on-ground progress.”

“The project leads the way to engagement with the local indigenous community.”

“We can leverage this for the next project. Lots of opportunities for our people in labouring and trades.”

GOLD MEDAL PROJECT Nova Peris, the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic Gold Medal as part of the Hockeyroos, an Olympic athlete and politician, is a proud supporter of RAW Recruitment.

“As an ambassador I’ve always said if it’s a good thing, it’s a good thing.”

Nova is back working in Aboriginal health, sport and recreation.

“Having a healthy lifestyle with sport and recreation fits in the health and wellbeing.”

“Having a job is everything. Having a job puts food on the table and a roof over the head.”

“We also want everyone to get home safely.”

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INSERT TOP ENDCOPY LEARNING

CFMEU officials Shaun Reardon, Theo Theodorou and Gerry McQuaid joined a cultural exchange trip to the top end. The goal is to really understand the battles that remote communities face, experience some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and make connections that can change lives for everyone involved.

Language is really important to culture, but of course coming from a remote community some people have no English at all and it’s a real barrier to work outside their communities.

The remoteness and cultural differences can make mainstream work a challenging transition. The CFMEU and RAW are working to

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break down barriers and promote cultural understanding.

Shaun Reardon says it was an amazing experience, particularly meeting the impressive Joel Shackleton, a proud Gunditjmara man from South West Victoria and previous heavyweight boxer.

Joel got his start in the industry as an A-Grade sparky and is now mentoring a new generation and promoting the opportunities that the construction industry provides through RAW. “To hear Shaks talk about his personal tragedies and to see the outstanding man he’s become speaks volumes,” says Shaun Reardon.

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Joel had done eight years of service in the industry when he got made redundant. Christian Gaylard was starting up RAW Recruitment and got Joel involved. “It might be less money,” says Joel, “but it gives you a great feeling at the end of the day.”

A big inspiration to everyone is Michael Long and his Learning and Leadership Centre that is a key part of the cultural exchange trip.

“If it wasn’t for blokes like Longie, we wouldn’t be able to give kids the chances they’re getting now” says Joel. “These kids speak three languages other than English.”

The Learning and Leadership Centre harnesses the power of footy to give young Indigenous people the same opportunities as nonIndigenous Australians.

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INSERT COPY TOP END LEARNING It doesn’t matter if they’re the best footy players in Australia, if they’re not at school or working, they don’t play footy,” says Joel.

It’s really a first class facility and with RAW there’s a real sense of hope – a job in the building industry, the ability to support a family and even buy a house.

“Jobs like these just haven’t been an option for many,” says Joel. “A lack of understanding means people just believe the lazy stereotypes.”

“My old man is stolen generations.

We just want to break down the stereotypes. Don’t look down on people, you don’t know what their story is, what they’ve been through.”

“Some kids might be just out of jail, their parents may be drug addicted or in jail themselves. This gives young people a second chance.”

“I was no angel, that’s why I can relate to these kids.”

“We’re building all these buildings on their land, let’s get them working on the job, get some skills and they can pass them on to their kids.”

“It changes your life, working on site.

The boys working with me love it.”

“Looking back, you could make a documentary out of it,” says Shaun Reardon. “The attitude of the indigenous mob that never blink an eye at stuff that makes a city dweller sweat makes it a real experience.”

“Some kids have nothing but the t-shirt on their back – to see their faces when given a simple gift like a footy is a bit different to the spoilt kids screaming for a new iPad or the latest smart phone that hasn’t been invented yet.”

Where there is understanding, there is hope.

Find out more: facebook.com/MLLLCentre/

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INSERT COPY CAR REVIEWS INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT 4 More and more Australians are buying soft-roader SUVs. Big jacked-up wagons that you wouldn’t dare take off road. Some don’t even have four-wheel drive as an option.

There are still a few alternatives if you want to chuck your fishing rod in the boot and head bush for the weekend – an off-roader that will keep you safe on and off the road.

If you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of the Flinders Ranges, pick a 4WD wagon that has proven goanywhere ability.

Some people take risks when they head to the outback in something that might look the part, but couldn’t hop over a rock if it tried.

Look for appropriate off-road tyres, features such as winches and hooks in case you get into trouble and even snorkels for the odd river crossing.

Recent tech features such as hill descent control and the like do all of the work for you when descending a steep bit of terrain. You might think it takes the fun out of doing it yourself, but it is pretty neat bit of technology.

We have picked out two of the oldest, but still most capable 4WD wagons to take to your favourite out-of-the-way camping spot.

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Toyota LandCruiser Troopcarrier GXL

By ROBBIE WALLIS Another off-roader that has been around for eons is Toyota’s LandCruiser 70 Series Troopcarrier, but unlike Nissan’s Y61 Patrol, Toyota upgraded its 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 to comply with Euro 5 emissions standards so it can remain on sale in Australia.

The 151kW/430Nm engine is teamed to a five-speed manual transmission with part-time four-wheel drive and a lowrange gearbox. It boasts a 3500kg braked towing capacity, and 750kg unbraked.

On paper, the outputs of the Troopcarrier’s engine seem slightly underwhelming – its power and torque figures are no more impressive than most four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines found in today’s pick-ups.

However, once driving you understand that the LandCruiser’s V8 is a different beast altogether – from the noise of the engine revving through the gears to the hefty dose of torque even from less than 1000rpm, the diesel V8 is clearly an engine made for hard yakka.

Employing the low-range gearbox offroad helps the LandCruiser conquer any hills and obstacles thrown at it, and

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also makes steep descents fun. There is something about putting it in first gear low, taking your feet off the pedals and watching almost two-and-a-half tonnes of truck edge down a steep hill using only the engine’s torque to brake that brings a smile to your face.

Taking the Troopy off-road on steep firebreaks and rocky, rutted hills shows how immensely capable Toyota’s king of the bush is, handling some genuinely tough terrain with ease.

Whether in high or low range, it never missed a beat powering up steep, rocky tracks with minimal wheel spin, and the large profile tyres helped give it sizeable ground clearance. The Troopcarrier has an approach angle of 35 degrees and departure angle of 25 degrees.

One particular path we encountered was especially treacherous, a steep decline with deep ruts and large rocks scattered along the descent. With the exception of a scrape on the rear passenger side bumper, the Troopy handled the track with aplomb, crawling down the slope in first gear low and negotiating each obstacle confidently.

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INSERT COPY INDEPENDENT CAR REVIEWS

4WD ROAD TEST Nissan Patrol Y61 Legend Edition

By DANIEL GARDNER There can’t be many models that still sold at a rate of about 150 a month after being on the market virtually unchanged for nearly two decades, but the Y61-series Nissan Patrol has done exactly that.

Dated features and the upcoming Euro 5 diesel emissions standards were the final nails in the coffin, but Nissan is selling examples of the 300 Legend Editions before it calls it a day.

For $57,990 driveaway, customers are offered the same package as the manual Patrol ST plus more than $10,000 worth of extra kit, including a roo-bar with electric winch, tow bar, seriously tough roof rack and a snorkel.

With a modest 118kW and 354Nm from its 3.0-litre four-pot diesel, on-road performance is as you would expect from a large SUV that weighs 2.5 tonnes.

Even in pure rear-drive and high-range gear ratios, the Patrol handled almost everything we threw at it, and only had to switch the good old-fashioned levers into 4WD and low-range for some serious groundwork.

drive, the Y61 is still up there with some much newer hardware when the trail gets tough.

We particularly like the commercial vehicle-like seating position that gives the driver a good view of surroundings, regardless of the gradient, and offers a comfortable place to sit even when the Patrol has been bucking over challenging obstacles most of the day.

Passengers are offered a good selection of panic handles to keep themselves in place when off road. We frequently used them.

On typical corrugated unsealed tracks the Y61 is not very good at insulating the cabin from vibration and noise. This could become exhausting after extended journeys.

100% independent reviews by:

GoAuto.com.au Š GoAuto.com.au 2016

With a combination of simple diesel torque and nuts-and-bolts four-wheel

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047

INSERT COPY MARK’S SHUTDOWN STORY

By: Mark Richards

I was thrown a lifeline last Friday. Along with at least 150 of my work colleagues, and hopefully many more, I will be given the opportunity to continue to work in the Latrobe Valley power industry, despite the closure of the Hazelwood power station, my workplace of the last 28 years.

All that came crashing on 3 November with an SMS for a meeting with Engie announcing the closure with just a few months’ notice. It brought the entire Latrobe Valley community crashing down too. Hazelwood is one of just four brown-coal power stations in Australia, all located within a short distance of each other. Along with a paper mill, they are the largest employers in the region, and pay wages to a The closure of Hazelwood was announced in early skilled workforce that are higher than most jobs in country November for the end of March and my redundancy areas. effective at 7am on April Fools Day (seriously). The 750 or so workers all knew that Hazelwood was The Committee for Gippsland, which represents major one of the oldest and certainly the most emissions- stakeholders in the area, reckons more jobs would be lost intensive power station in Australia. We knew it was outside the power station – that for every power station going to close. But in the last few years the owners job lost, there would be more than one other job lost in the had been employing new young people, and they businesses that supply the power station, or sell goods and had been told that the jobs would last until at least services to the workforce.

2025 in their interviews.

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INSERTSTORY COPY MARK’S SHUTDOWN While some of the older workers will be OK with taking a redundancy package and early retirement, hundreds of younger workers like me were given no future. Our jobs are skilled and specialised, and nearby small-tomedium-sized businesses were not going to cope with a large number of newly-unemployed knocking on their doors.

Unemployment in local towns like Morwell is at 20.2% and Moe is at 14.4%, up there with some of the highest regions of unemployment in Australia. We had no chance.

Workers like me were going to be pushed out of the region – we would have had no choice but to go looking for work elsewhere. I was even looking at work in other countries operating large power stations.

So the deal that was announced by Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, last Friday is a huge relief for me, my colleagues and the region. That deal achieves something that was pushed by my union, the CFMEU, but which has never been done in Australia before.

It provides for another company in the same industry to provide jobs for redundant Hazelwood workers while also offering redundancies to its own workforce to make room for those redeployed workers. Friday’s announcement was about AGL, the operator of the Loy Yang A power station, agreeing to the deal with unions and with Victorian government support. We hope that Energy Australia, operator of the Yallourn power station, will also enter the arrangement. And Engie will seek to redeploy workers from Hazelwood to the Loy Yang B station that it also operates.

This also benefits the community as older workers who volunteer for redundancy in order to retire early are more likely to stay in the

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region and continue to support local businesses. Younger workers like me also get to stay in the region and keep doing the jobs we love.

Most importantly, our families and community are not broken apart unnecessarily.

potential future in our home town if I’m one of the successful applicants.

It will do the same for hundreds of other workers and their families, and give the region more breathing space to develop a future that relies less on power stations.

We know that all the coal power stations have grim prospects.

Unless something like carbon capture and storage becomes much more viable as a way to massively reduce global warming emissions from coal power, they will close.

It took a great deal of work – thanks are due to my union the CFMEU for pushing this hard along with the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council (GTLC). The Andrews government appointed ex-federal minister Simon Crean to bring the parties together – thanks to them too. The power companies that have come to the deal have done the right thing in helping the community in which they operate. AGL led the way by signing up to the scheme first.

We need longer notice of closures, and a plan for the region to host high skill, high wage jobs as the energy system shifts away from coal power. The Victorian government has made a raft of announcements to stimulate construction and investment in the region – that’s really good to see. Personally, I would like to see an alternative use for coal besides burning it, as we are talking about a 500+ year resource.

One example could be coal to carbon fibre as a strong lightweight material for industry.

The strange thing is that what we are seeing in the pooled redundancy and redeployment scheme, and which we now see as new and outside of the box, is what would have happened if the power stations had stayed in public hands. When the power stations were run by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), the workforce was moved around as the industry developed. If power stations were going to be closed, again the jobs would have been moved around to reduce the impacts.

Having a large pile of private companies in the industry is making it that much harder to work out a way to transition the industry to a different future.

To avoid more of these social disasters we need a national energy policy that has long-term bipartisan support and we need planned and agreed closure dates. To do this, a national energy transition authority with sufficient powers and resources to plan and coordinate the transition in the energy sector needs to be created. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) exists to manage the national electricity market but has no role in managing the impacts of major electricity system restructuring. We need an overarching body that can deliver a fair and just transition for working people, their families and communities.

This worker transfer scheme isn’t the grand solution to the coal power problem. But it’s a big step in the right direction. One that says workers and communities have to be at the forefront of public and private decision-making about our energy system, rather than an afterthought.

While not all workers will be covered, this transition deal is good – it’s given my wife and me a

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INSERT COPY FOOTSCRAY FIRE RECOVERY

On 13 December 2016, the Les Twentyman Foundation “Back-toSchool” office was destroyed by fire. The office, located on the top floor of Footscray’s “Little Saigon Market” was completely destroyed, also affecting many local businesses and jobs.

The Back-to-School office distributed text-books, stationery and book-vouchers to disadvantaged young people whose living and financial circumstances prevented them from accessing the basic needs for their education.

The program, founded by Richard Tregear and Les Twentyman has helped over 16,000 young people stay in school and over 400 in University throughout its 27 years of operation.

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The fire was a devastating blow to the Foundation as we lost over 6,000 text-books, thousands of dollars’ worth of stationery and thousands of dollars’ worth of office equipment. Renovations, worth over 15 thousand dollars and donated by a kind supporter had also just been completed.

Further added to the pain was the loss of over 250 Christmas gifts, donated by the public and wrapped by a team of volunteers in

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anticipation for the approaching “Annual Kids Christmas Party”, run by the Foundation every year on Christmas Day. CFMEU RESPONDS The CFMEU responded immediately, committing $10,000 to make sure kids wouldn’t miss out as a result of the fire.

Media coverage of the fire and loss of the program also rallied the Victorian public who donated over

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INSERT COPY FOOTSCRAY FIRE RECOVERY $300,000, provided much in-kind support and as a result saved both the Back-to-School Program and the Annual Kids Christmas Party.

The CFMEU were a great support, providing a warehouse space in West Melbourne for delivery and storage of Christmas gifts, along with providing a utility to help with transporting materials to and from makeshift offices.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT Brimbank Council offered the Foundation their recently vacated Council offices and with the support of many companies and local businesses, the Back-toSchool Program managed to run on schedule and we are proud to say that over 480 young people were able to return to school in 2017.

The Annual Kids Christmas Party also ran according to plan and over 360 children and their families were able to experience the joy of Christmas.

Les Twentyman Foundation CEO, Wayne Owens says “Good things happen, when good people act.

Unfortunately, it took a devastating incident to create awareness, but the Victorian public ensured no kids missed out on what most of us take for granted.”

“A broader community awareness of those young people doing it tough would mean many more educated, happy healthy Victorian kids”.

The Les Twentyman Foundation (formerly the 20th Man Fund) was founded in 1984 by Ron Coleman and Les Twentyman OAM. It provides crucial programs and services for Melbourne’s at-risk youth.

To find out how your company or business can help via “WorkplaceGiving”, or to learn more about the Les Twentyman Foundation, visit www.LTFoundation.com.au

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INSERTDAY UNION COPY OUT

C I N C PI Y A D 6 1 20 Picnic Day was a huge hit with Members once again, continuing a great tradition of family time on the first Monday of December.

Yamaha mini-bikes, iPads and PS4s attracted a lot of entries to the picnic raffle and made for some very happy winners.

Around 23,000 people attended in 2016 in another record-breaking picnic.

The CFMEU merchandise tent was kept very busy with Members and their families keen to wear their union pride.

All the best rides were kept busy all day, including ‘The Beast’ sending brave riders spinning and swinging 47 metres high into the air.

The roving Troll dolls and Paw Patrol stage show kept younger kids entertained, along with the always-popular Santa’s Magical Kingdom.

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Of course for 2017 the picnic organisers will be looking for ways to improve the experience and make Picnic Day on Monday 4th December bigger and better than ever!

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INSERT UNION DAYCOPY OUT

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053

INSERT COPY WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

The Women’s Rights at Work festival in March was just one week in a busy time progressing the participation of women in the construction industry.

The CFMEU is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable industry. During the recent WRAW FEST, organised by Victorian Trades Hall Council, the CFMEU organised and participated in a number of events.

A 20-strong CFMEU delegation of officials and delegates attended a ‘Stop Gendered Violence in the Workplace’ Conference. They discussed the findings of a Trades Hall report and learnt strategies to deal with and eliminate gendered violence at work. The CFMEU was the largest blue collar union present at the conference and the union participation was welcomed.

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On March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD), 30 CFMEU Construction Women participated in an OHS Women’s Training Day. A number of training sessions essential to Women in Construction were held and members then joined the largest ever Victorian IWD rally on the steps of Parliament House.

The Women were supported by Secretary John Setka and many Officials, Delegates and Members.

At the 20,000 strong ‘STOP THE WAR ON JOBS’ Rally, CFMEU Women united with fellow unionists, demonstrating and chanting for an end to the war on workers. The CFMEU Women felt they were part of their union. They felt a sense of belonging. They are proud to be Union!

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If we want to attract and retain young girls and women into the industry it needs to be a safer place for women to work. The CFMEU is willing to work hard on changing attitudes and perceptions. We need to understand the issues and effects that bullying, harassment and gendered violence have in the workplace and adopt a zero tolerance policy on site.

We are working both within the Union and out in the workplace to promote respectful relationships and to support members to eradicate violence towards women and children in both working lives and family lives.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2017 was ‘be bold for change’. It works for us – we’re bold, we’re proud and together we will make change!

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INSERT COPY WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

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INSERT COPY WOORRANGALOOK SURF COMP

s ’ a i r o t c Vi

KOORI SURF

TITLES The 19th annual Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles was held on the weekend of the 18th February at Urquhart Bluff on the Great Ocean Road, proudly supported once again by the CFMEU. A total of 75 indigenous surfers from across the state gathered to celebrate the event, which brings communities together for a fun weekend of surfing and culture.

Communities represented at the event included East Gippsland, Portland and the South West, Koroit, Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton, Metropolitan Melbourne, Bass Coast, Mornington Peninsula and a strong contingent from the local Geelong and Surf Coast.

The event was opened on Saturday by the Deadly Dancers from the local Wathaurong community and cleansed with a traditional smoking ceremony.

Surf conditions were tricky with large onshore surf and squalls of rain throughout the day. Junior competitive divisions, Open Women and Masters Women were finalised by the end of the first day.

Sunday saw both the Open and Masters men’s competing in a clean, increasing swell. Jordie Campbell of Sandy Point won his 9th consecutive Open Men’s Title and gained a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Trials at Bells Beach.

Under 16 Girls Champion Amelia Bell from Koroit won the Encouragement Award.

She was awarded a surfboard, donated by 3X World Champion Mick Fanning with custom Indigenous artwork by Nathan Patterson.

The Good Sports Award sponsored by the Department of Justice was awarded to Taj Simpson, a keen local Torquay surfer.

The CFMEU BBQ got smoking next with Liam O’Hearn and John Ayers helping to make sure everyone was fed.

The Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surf Titles is presented by VicHealth, Play It Safe by the Water and HIF Australia and Supported by Wathaurong Co-Op, Wathaurong Glass, Australian Government National Land Care Project, Corangamite Catchment Authority, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, CFMEU, Parks Victoria, Department of Justice, ONABAC, Quiksilver and Farm Foods.

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Winners U/6 MIXED: David Tournier (Geelong)

U/10 GIRLS: Grace Tournier (Geelong) U/10 BOYS: Freddy Collins (Mornington Peninsular) U/13 GIRLS: Gretta Bell (Koroit) U/13 BOYS: Seth Ohern (Templestowe) U/16 GIRLS: Amelia Bell (Koroit) U/16 BOYS: Zade Kennedy (Geelong) U/18 GIRLS: Taleena Black (Geelong) U/18 BOYS: Jordan Plunkett (Coleraine) OPEN WOMEN: Amber Harrison (Lakes Entrance) OPEN MEN: Jordie Campbell (Sandy Point) MASTERS WOMEN: Corrina O’Toole (Geelong) MASTERS MEN: Rhys Collins (Mornington Peninsula)

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INSERT COPY WOORRANGALOOK SURF COMP

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057

INSERT COPY GROWING OUR MOVEMENT

ERNS SUMMER INT 2017 UNION d Italian nthropology an DOM: studies A niversity and at Melbourne U ed in a number has been involv rough Trades of campaigns th h the Melbourne Hall and throug ent union.

University stud ash Arts/Law at Mon LIANA: studies layton. She has University in C not-for-profit volunteered for services and and community in the union became involved ugh an interest movement thro lations and in industrial re social justice.

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INSERT COPY GROWING OUR MOVEMENT A BIT OF BACKGROUND Travelling with organisers to construction sites, our training centre and offsite factories, Dom and Liana developed some ideas about ‘engaging with young workers’. They decided it is committed CFMEU members who can best engage young people within and outside their workplaces and encourage them to not only join their union, but to become committed unionists themselves.

Dom and Liana’s time with the CFMEU involved speaking with a number of organisers and shop stewards about their experiences engaging with young workers and their own reasons for being unionists.

THE MESSAGE Dom and Liana’s proposal is to empower and encourage already committed unionists to have persuasive and consistent discussions with young people in their workplaces and outside

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the workplace, including their own families.

Thinking beyond the CFMEU, they recognise we need people in all industries to get involved in their unions. Here are a few tips on how to effectively encourage more young people to become committed union members.

1.

Reflect. Ask yourself:

Why did you join?

When did you realise the CFMEU is vital in protecting your safety and rights?

Reflect on your own reasons for commitment to your union and your first experiences with unions. Providing this kind of information to a young people can provide context and a relatable story

2.

Have Conversations

Talk to members, kids and young people about the importance of unions and listen and respond to any questions and challenges they raise.

This may include acknowledging bad experiences, educating new members about what the union has done for them and breaking down misconceptions.

Off the job, this may include explaining to your children or young people in your family what the role of a union actually is and directing them to the union in their industry. Whether these conversations happen at work, at the pub or at home, all are crucial in building our movement.

3.

Create Relationships

It is most important to follow up on these conversations and maintain those relationships. This includes checking in with the young person and maintaining consistent discussions and support.

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INSERT COPY CRITICAL RESPONSE

Dealing with a critical incident Have you experienced a critical incident and after you feel not quite right? It’s a normal reaction and so we asked Incolink for more information to help deal with an incident you may have witnessed on site.

WHAT IS A CRITICAL INCIDENT? A critical incident is any event which may overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of a group of people. Because it often occurs suddenly it has strong emotional impact even on well trained and experienced people. Examples of critical incidents include fatalities/ death on site or off site, injuries on site and near misses on site. Stress responses to a traumatic event such as these are normal responses to an abnormal event WHAT HAS STRESS GOT TO DO WITH IT? The key differences between normal everyday stress and critical incident stress is that critical incident stress is usually sudden, unexpected and potentially life-threatening.

Most stress reactions resolve in the short term. However, if such reactions seem especially severe or prolonged, then the person may be experiencing trauma and may require specialised support.

CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS REACTIONS INCLUDE •

Loss of concentration

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Confusion, disorientation

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Flashbacks and vivid memories of the event

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Loss of motivation

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Anxiety

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Anger

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Grief, sadness

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Restlessness

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Withdrawal

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Fatigue

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Sleep difficulties

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Sudden sweating / trembling

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Nausea

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Heart racing

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Headaches, chest pain, backaches

WHAT TO DO? •

Accept that flashbacks, recurring thoughts and dreams about the incident are normal – don’t try to fight them. They should decrease over time and become less painful

•

Try to rest a bit more than normal

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Eat balanced and regular meals – even when you don’t feel like it

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Supplement your diet with vitamins if you find you are not eating properly

INCOLINK IS THERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT

•

Incolink counsellors attend sites upon request when there is a critical incident. They provide an opportunity for workers who have experienced a critical incident to talk over their experience. This gives them an opportunity to speak about the incident in a way that may help the recovery process

Exercise as much as possible.

Within the first 24–48 hours, periods of strenuous exercise alternated with relaxation will alleviate some of the physical reactions

•

Structure your time, maintain a reasonable level of activity, keep busy and avoid boredom

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•

Tell yourself, “I’m normal and having normal reactions” – avoid labelling yourself or thinking, “I must be going crazy”

•

Talk to people. Talking and sharing will help heal the pain. Avoid thinking, “I can’t tell this person because they weren’t there, they wouldn’t understand.” Make the effort even though you mightn’t feel like it

•

Avoid numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol

•

Reach out to others – people DO care

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Spend time with others, and LISTEN if they tell you they notice changes in your behaviour

•

Give yourself permission to feel rotten, and share this with others

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Keep a journal and write your way through those sleepless hours

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Do things that feel good for you

If your feelings become prolonged or too intense, seek professional help – talk to an Incolink counsellor, a psychologist or social worker.

Call Incolink on 9668 3061 or 0419 568 605

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INSERT COPY MEMBER BENEFITS

Incolink – here for members Incolink is there for members when the job finishes and when times are tough. By checking your account regularly you can make sure your redundancy payments are up to date and there is money for you when the job is finished.

And with your Incolink account there are unique benefits and services which offer a safety net for you and your family.

1. Redundancy Funds When a job is finished you can apply for your redundancy funds via phone, email or go to www.incolink.org.au. You get your funds quickly with most payments landing in your bank account in less than 2 working days – less than 24 hours if you put your claim in before 12pm.

2. Insurance Unique to Incolink are the insurances that provide security for accidents in your leisure time – insurances like Accident and Illness Benefits, Journey Cover, Emergency Transport and Accidental Dental.

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3. Wellbeing & Support Services include: •

Counselling for when times are tough and you need to talk to someone,

•

Health Checks on site can help you avoid chronic diseases,

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Critical incident de-briefing on site,

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Drug and alcohol counselling and support,

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Incolink Job Support service which can link you up with your next job and

•

Financial Rights support for members who are experiencing a debt crisis

Incolink Industry Liaison Officers can come out on site to do a toolbox about the types of Incolink accounts you can choose from, how to claim your insurance benefits or give an overview about any other Incolink service.

Russell Wilson Phone: 0408 607 737 Email: russellw@incolink.org.au

Tony Cordier Phone: 0448 870 225 Email: tonyc@incolink.org.au

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CLASSIDIED ADS

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INSERT COPY LEGAL CLAIMS

NOT AT WORK, NOT ON THE ROAD? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS A worker who suffers an injury at work can access legal entitlements by making a WorkCover claim. If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, you have legal rights after making a claim with the Transport Accident Commission. Most people generally know about their entitlements in these situations.

However, what happens if you are injured and it is not whilst working or not in a motor vehicle accident?

• Your friend is at the local football club watching a game on a Saturday afternoon on the sidelines, when a large tree branch unexpectedly snaps and lands on them. This causes them to suffer a serious concussion with ongoing memory difficulties.

• You purchase a new electric blanket for your child and they suffer third degree burns to their body after the blanket malfunctions and overheats during the

Would you know what potential rights were if the following scenarios occurred?

• Your partner throws their back out at the gym after they were directed to lift a particularly heavy set of weights by their personal trainer. After scans, it is revealed she has a disc bulge and there is no other heavy lifting that she had performed around that time which could have caused the injury.

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If these types of situations arise, people can suffer significant financial loss and restrictions to their day to day life

night. They have extensive treatment, including skin grafts, but are left with extremely sensitive and permanently scarred skin.

• Your grandmother breaks her hip after a fall whilst dancing at a dinner-dance hosted by her retirement home. You later find out that she was encouraged to dance by one of the carers at the home, despite the fact that she has a known history of falls.

If these types of situations arise, people can suffer significant financial loss and restrictions to their day to day life, often with little understanding as to what their rights are or how to go about accessing them.

All of these above scenarios, and countless others that occur in day to day life, may give rise to potential claims for pain and suffering damages,

recouping of past and future medical and like expenses and claims for lost earnings under the law of public liability.

If you, your partner, your child or anyone you know has been injured whilst going about their usual everyday activities and it’s something that could or should have been prevented, you should obtain legal advice regarding potential rights. Time limits do exist for these sorts of claims, so it’s important to speak to a lawyer as early as possible so they can provide tailored advice to your specific legal scenario and guide you through the process.

Talk to Slater + Gordon through the CFMEU Office.

Call 9341 3444.

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INSERT COPY CLASSIFIED ADS

Empire Commercial Building Solutions Pty Ltd 20 Trade Place, Vermont, Vic. 3133 Ph: (03) 9873 5833 CW 23/1

L & Y Commercial 147 Westall Road Clayton South, Vic. 3169 Ph: (03) 9546 2229 Fax: (03) 9546 2223 www.lnycommercial.com E: info@lnycommercial.com

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Supporting the CFMEU

ADCO Constructions Vic. Pty Ltd Level 9, 75 Dorcas Street South Melbourne, Vic. 3205

Phone: 03 9832 1400

Absolute Surveying Pty Ltd

Schiavello Construction

Suite 5/11 Sabre Drive Port Melbourne, Vic. 3207

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Complex Facade Installations Pty Ltd

P.O. Box 2147, Mount Waverley, Vic. 3149

Jose Mobile: 0419 565 674

Mobile: 0411 701 417

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Fax: (03) 9330 8899

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Find us on Facebook:

12 Palamino Valley Court Greenvale, Vic. 3059

PABCON Pty Ltd

facebook.com/cfmeuvic

Fax: (03) 9338 8460 Email: joe@complexaustralia.com.au

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Oak Park Tullamarine Pty Ltd Specialise in Concrete Formwork

Mob: 0419 002 154 or 0425 830 773

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Supporting the CFMEU

Cam Hammond Floors Pty Ltd

P.O. Box 364, Altona North, Vic. 3025

Phone : 03 9398 5155 Mobile : 0417 334 271 Email: cobrien@rigcon.com.au Web: www.rigcon.com.au

Specialists in Quality Flooring PO Box 45, Mentone, Vic. 3194

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217 Heath Street Port Melbourne, Vic 3207

Mob: 0401 498 988 Ph: (03) 9793 4737

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Email: renee@optulla.com.au

29-31 Dingley Ave, Dandenong, Vic. 3175

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P.O. Box 2129, Ringwood North, Vic. 3134

Ph: (03) 9584 1833 Fax: (03) 9584 3888 Email: info@camhammondfloors.com

PO Box 975 Melton, Vic. 3337

Ph: (03) 9312 3688 Fax: (03) 9312 1735

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P: 03 9338 8955 E: Sales@ntta.com.au W: www.nutechtiling.com.au

With over 20 years of commercial experience, we specialise in the Supply, Installation of: * Stone & Reconstituted Benchtops Ceramic & Porcelain Tiles *Stone Tiling *Waterproofing Membrane Torch on Membrane *Screed & Self Levelling And our New Line Brick Snaps

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CFMEU WORKER

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Supporting the CFMEU

Concorp Group

H Purple Hills Painting

1300 999 747

Accuracy Interiors Pty Ltd Commercial plasterers Specialising in stud framing and ceiling systems

www.purplehills.com.au

Ph: 0431 098 605

H Multi-Site Rebranding H Painting & Decorating

– VICTORIA –

VICTORIA CW 23/1

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Pty Ltd

OCON GROUP PTY LTD

Concrete Placement

62 De Havilland Road Mordialloc, Vic. 3195

Factory 3, 5-7 Macauley Street Williamstown, Vic. 3016

Tel: (03) 9580 8224

Phone: 03 9397 1539

Email: admin@concorp.com.au CW 23/1

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H Wayfinding H Architectural Signage

Committed to Health, Safety & the Environment in the Workplace

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Lexicon Site Pay your Services Pty Ltd dues online: vic.cfmeu.org.au Mobile:

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Supporting the CFMEU

Rising Star Interior Pty Ltd 506 Fullarton Road, Airport West, Vic. 3042

0412 374 526

Ph: (03) 9988 3355 CW 23/1

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I & D Group P/L 1/50 Hudson Street, Spotswood, Vic. 3015

Ph:

(03) 9041 1490

E: office@kospolinteriors.com.au CW 23/1

AUTUMN 2017

In support of the CFMEU & Workplace Safety

Unit 4/3 Faigh Street, Mulgrave, Vic. 3170

P: 03 9560 1812

CFMEU WORKER

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065

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MP Flooring Pty Ltd Timber flooring solutions

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HIGHRISE CARPENTRY FIXING – FITOUTS – FIRE DOORS

Northern Masonry

COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC FACTORY 8, 27 ASCOT VALE ROAD FLEMINGTON, VIC. 3031

344 Mascoma Street Strathmore, Vic. 3041

PH: 03 9376 6333

Ph: 0418 354 764

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Mobile: 0428 970 631

Ph: 8746 4232 Fax: 8746 4216 CW 23/1

066

www.bauenconcrete.com.au

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MP Interior Linings Pty Ltd

Ph: 03 8774 2508

Matt Boyer 0438 770 360 PO Box 521 North Melbourne, Vic 3051 mboyer@rapidcrete.com.au

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DAAC Holdings Pty Ltd Commercial Window Furnishings 105-109 Munster Terrace North Melbourne, Vic. 3051

Ph:03 9329 8600

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Dascon Commercial Interiors Commercial fit-outs and carpentry services

Find us on Facebook:

KEEN EDGE CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD

PO Box 462, Bulleen, Vic. 3105

CONCRETE FORMWORK SPECIALISTS

facebook.com/cfmeuvic

PH: 0414 224 852

Ph: 0418 386 643

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4 Kororoit Court Kurunjang 3337

Ph: 0422 862 842

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DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL

Commercial concreting & structure projects in the Melbourne metropolitan area

Ph: 0434 691 350

Factory 1/15-17 Bryants Road Dandenong, Vic. 3175

DGL SAWING PTY LTD

Bauen Concrete

Factory 3/27-31 Sharnet Court Pakenham, Vic. 3810

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Concreting, Formwork & General Building Contractors

Wayne Roller Shutters P/L

H Commercial facade specialists Suppliers & Installers

Ph: 0477 170 828

m 0418 578 900 e harrisconstructions@live.com.au

Custom Facades Pty Ltd

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CW 23/1

Anglo Italian Concrete Industrial super flat concrete floors

220 Normanby Avenue Thornbury, Vic. 3071

20 Lionel Road Mt Waverley, Vic. 3149

Mobile:

Ph: 03 9544 5511

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CFMEU WORKER

CW 23/1

0412 520 863 CW 23/1

AUTUMN 2017

INSERT COPY CLASSIFIED ADS

MELBOURNE OFFICE: 2 Tennyson Street Williamstown, Victoria, 3016

PO Box 3017 Willoughby North NSW 2068

P.O. Box 183, Altona North Victoria 3025

P: 02 9417 7297

P: 03 9397 8350 F: 03 9399 8083

F: 02 9417 5271 E: kerry@cityrendering.com.au

www.pbdemoasb.com.au CW 22/3

Express Interiors 1 Buckland Street Clayton, Vic. 3166

Mobile: 0437 481 288

Ph: (03) 9548 7322

VICTORIA

Fax: (03) 9548 7255 CW 23/1

A Class Cladding

H COMMERCIAL PAINTING

P.O. Box 657 Mornington, Vic. 3931

Ph: 0418 143 152

Ph: 0429 414 824

E: aclasscladding@gmail.com CW 23/1

AUTUMN 2017

Constructions Pty Ltd

320 Hume Highway Craigieburn, Vic 3064

Mobile:

Camillo Constructions

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Cleanworx Services Pty Ltd 4A Bond Street Caulfield North, Vic. 3161

Ph: 0402 925 894 www.cleanworx.com.au CW 23/1

INDEPENDENT CRANES PTY LTD 108 Hume Highway

262 Salmon Street Port Melbourne, Vic. 3207

Ph: (03) 9646 2188

Somerton, Vic. 3062

Ph: 03 9308 8111

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16-18 Sunshine Stree Campbellfield, Vic. 3061

Phone:

(03) 9359 3266

0421 611 023

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Straightline Contractors Pty Ltd

P.O. Box 4231 Narre Warren, Vic. 3805

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facebook.com/cfmeuvic

Caelli

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Melbourne Construct Solutions Pty Ltd

Find us on Facebook:

Supporting the CFMEU

Pty Ltd

H MAINTENANCE SERVICES

GOVERNMENT

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Pty Ltd

INDUSTRIAL

E: cnc-pro@hotmail.com

Tel: (03) 9305 7733

AAJT Group

COMMERCIAL

M: 0411 174 767 F: 03 8768 8322

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J. Simos Steel Fixing Pty Ltd

Pty Ltd

8 Luisa Avenue Dandenong South, Vic. 3175

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Brad Potter Director

First Class Coolrooms Pty Ltd P.O. Box 2229 Blackburn South Vic 3130

Tel: 0404 321 825 ABN - 90 153 677 484

ACN - 153 677 484

E-mail: brad@firstclasscoolrooms.com

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CFMEU WORKER

067

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Moncor Investments Pty Ltd Trading as

MCM Tile & Stone

P.O. Box 489 Kew East, Vic. 3102

Ph: (03) 9354 9322

Mobile: 0404 446 633

1 Milkman Street, Coburg, Vic. 3058 Fax: (03) 9354 9344

Email: vlad@ccserv.com.au CW 23/1

Julian McCarthy Landscapes Pty Ltd

BROWNS PILING

1/ 8a Railway Avenue, Oakleigh, Vic 3166

4/2 John Street, Dandenong South

The Piling Professionals

Ph: (03) 9421 5887 Fax: (03) 9429 5887 CW 23/1

Vic. Ph: (03) 9791 6983 W.A. Ph: (08) 9261 7722

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BRIDAN PTY LTD 21 Gilbert Road, Ivanhoe, Vic 3079 Phone: 9499 2524 Fax: 9499 4520

Providing solutions for all of your commercial and industrial needs

Find us on Facebook:

facebook.com/cfmeuvic Phone: 03 9238 4560

www.a1precision.com.au CW 23/1

HIGHRISE BUILDING SERVICES PTY LTD 96 Barry Road, Campbellfield, Vic. 3061 Phone: 1300 654 915 Fax: (03) 9357 7995 Email: melbourne@highriseservices.com.au Web: www.highriseservices.com.au INTERFACE CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD 89 Rokeby Street, Collingwood, Vic. 3066 Phone: (03) 9419 8959 Mobile: 0411 432 213 Email: hello@interfaceconstructions.com.au Website: www.interfaceconstructions.com.au

47 Albert Street Abbotsford, Vic. 3067

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E: info@hamiltonmarino.com.au W: www.hamiltonmarino.com.au

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T: 03 9912 4999 F: 03 8648 6842

Dellermay Pty Ltd T +61 3 8353 2333 F +61 3 8353 2334 M +61 412 528 470

Masterafix Steelfixing Pty Ltd ABN: 72 132 502 222

www.dellermay.com.au info@dellermay.com.au CW 23/1

Wilfit Pay your Interiors duesPty Ltd online:

96 Wedgewood Road, Hallam, Vic. 3803

Mob: 0416 181 212 (Theo)

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Mob: 0414 680 118 Ph: 03 9326 7795 Fax: 03 9326 5778 Email: aaron@kpiconstruction.com.au

Ph: (03) 9708 6877

vic.cfmeu.org.au Fax: (03) 9708 6871 CW 23/1

MERCURY INDUSTRY PTY LTD 28 Wren Road, Moorabbin, Vic. 3189 Phone: (03) 9532 2889 Fax: (03) 9532 0682 Mobile: 0413 789 518 Marty Email: info@mercuryindustry.com.au NEMO CARPENTRY SERVICES PTY LTD PO Box 7053 Banyule, Vic. 3084 Mobile: 0404 876 938 Email: paul@nemo.melbourne Web: www.nemo.melbourne

masterafix@bigpond.com

103 Derrimut Drive, Derrimut, VIC, Australia 3030

068

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STILCON SCAFFOLDING PTY LTD 134-140 Fairbairn Road, West Sunshine, Vic. 3013 Mobile: 0418 912 772 Email: daryl@stilcon.com.au

VERTILUX CORORATION PTY LTD Manufacturers of quality window furnishings 65 Assembly Drive, Tullamarine, Vic. 3043 Phone: (03) 9330 1577

CFMEU WORKER

AUTUMN 2017

INSERT COPY CLASSIFIED ADS

AYWON CARPET CONTRACTORS PTY LTD

Aussie Lift & Shift (Melb) Pty Ltd

36 Berwick Road, Campbellfield, Vic. 3061 P: (03) 9357 0000 F: (03) 9357 0352 Email: stuart@aywoncarpets.com.au

59 Tanbridge Way Warranwood, Vic. 3134

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Mobile: 0419

SEAHAVEN SERVICES M 0434 210 502 P 03 9789 1114 F 03 9789 1555 E brett@urban1.com.au

542 575

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DEMOLITION CONTRACTORS Factory 4, 53-55 Spalding Ave, Sunshine, Vic. 3020

P: 03 9311 7382 M: 0400 076 947 Email: seahavenservices@bigpond.com

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Apprentices for hire for the time you require!

Supporting the CFMEU

P.R.I. Pty Ltd 5/121 Fairbairn Road Sunshine, Vic. 30121

Unit 3, 10 Princes Hwy, Doveton, Vic. 3177 P: 03 9794 0880 M: 0424 860 000

0403 060 607 Peter

E: onewaysaf@gmail.com W: www.onewayconstructions.com.au CW 23/1

Most Building Trades Covered

Email: pschafer@priptyltd.com CW 23/1

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Tasmanian Building Group Apprenticeship Scheme

175 Campbell Street, Hobart

Ph 6234 3844 Fax 6234 3775

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i4 Design & Construction Pty Ltd Post Tensioning & Suspended Concrete Slab Design Contractors

R E T A I L

T: (03) 9702 4557 W: www.auspt.net.au E: tenders@auspt.net.au

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COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL & RETAIL BUILDERS & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

S H O P F I T T I N G

24 Brand Drive, Thomastown, Vic. 3074

Phone: 0418 246 547 www.i4designandconstruction.com.au

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Brady Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd

MABEN GROUP PTY LTD ABN 63 255 276 365

Commercial Construction

22 Blackwood Street North Melbourne Victoria 3051

Specialising in Design & Build

Ph: (03) 8622 8100

t 03 9329 2166 f 03 9329 2188 CW 23/1

www.bradygroup.com.au

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EURO

PRECAST 8787 8991

Ardreagh Formwork Pty Ltd

Commercial & Industrial Formworkers

2-10 Arkwright Drive, Dandenong South, Vic. 3175

Factory 1/131 Proximity Drive, Sunshine West, Vic. 3020

Ph: (03) 9314 4404

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CFMEU WORKER

069

INSERT YOUR WAGES COPY

EBA WAGE RATES ONSITE 36-HOUR WEEK: The new EBA brings increases in wages, allowances, superannuation and Incolink contributions.

Be paid-up and proud, it’s worth it!

For sector EBA’s see vic.cfmeu.org.au/wages (civil, contract scaffold, precast, traffic control, demolition, apprentices, mobile cranes, steel erection, shop fitting) RATE PER HOUR

RATE PER WEEK

WEEKLY PRO-RATA ANNUAL LEAVE

WEEKLY PRORATA A/ L LOADING

$43.34

$1,560.24

$120.02

$23.90

Painter – new work

$42.37

$1,525.32

$117.33

$23.43

Painter – re-paint

$42.32

$1,523.52

$117.19

$23.40

Marker/Setter-out, Letter Cutter

$45.12

$1,624.32

$124.95

$24.76

Signwriter

$44.17

$1,590.12

$122.32

$24.30

$46.82

$1,685.52

$129.66

$25.58

$42.13

$1,516.68

$116.67

$23.31

$40.74

$1,466.64

$112.82

$22.64

$39.49

$1,421.64

$109.36

$22.03

(36 HOUR WEEK)

Tradespersons Carpenter/Joiner Tile-layer Stonemason Artificial Stoneworker Marble & Slate-worker Plasterer Cladding Fixer Bricklayer

Roof-tiler Special Class Tradesperson: Carver * All Rates include Tool Allowance

Labourers GRADE 1 - CW3 - 100% Rigger Dogman Sign industry worker

GRADE 2 - CW2 - 96% Scaffolder Hoist/Winch Driver Steel Fixer Concrete Finisher

GRADE 3 - CW1 - 92.4% Trades Labourer Concrete Gang Jack Hammerman Concrete Cutting Machine Operator

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CFMEU WORKER

AUTUMN 2017

INSERT COPY YOUR WAGES

Crane Crews - Building Sites TOWER CRANE CREW - CW7 - 120% Operator and Dogman/Crane hands

$49.08

$1,766.88

$135.91

$26.68

Trainee Dogman/Crane hand (fixed cranes)

$45.64

$1,643.04

$126.39

$25.01

Plant operators PCW7 - 120% - Excavators over 115 tonnes, Crawler Tractors over 350kw, Graders experienced final trim $48.02

$1,728.72

$132.98

$26.17

PCW6 - 115% - Excavators 65 to 115 tonnes, Wheel & Track Loaders over 300kw, Crawler Tractors 200 to 350kw, Graders final trim, Construction Trucks over 200 tonnes, Tower Cranes $46.26

$1,665.36

$128.10

$25.31

PCW5 - 110% - Compactors over 200kw, Excavators 25 to 65 tonnes, Wheel & Track Loaders 200 to 300kw, Scrapers over 400kw, Crawler Tractors 100 to 200kw, Graders over 130kw, Construction Trucks 120 to 200 tonnes, Mobile Cranes 15 to 100 tonnes $44.49

$1,601.64

$123.20

$24.45

PCW4 - 105% - Compactors up to 200kw, Excavators 16 to 25 tonnes, Wheel & Track Loaders 100 to 200kw, Scrapers 300 to 400kw, Crawler Tractors up to 100kw, Graders up to 130kw, Construction Trucks 60 to 120 tonnes, Mobile Cranes up to 15 tonnes $42.77

$1,539.72

$118.44

$23.62

PCW3 - 100% - Rollers over 10 tonnes, Skid Steer & Backhoe/Loaders over 200kw, Excavators up to 16 tonnes, Wheel & Track Loaders up to 100kw, Scrapers up to 300kw, Construction Trucks 12 to 60 tonnes, Forklift Operators, Winch Drivers & Mobile Hydraulic Platform Operators $41.07

$1,478.52

$113.73

$22.80

PCW2 - 96% - Rollers 5 to 10 tonnes, Skid Steer & Backhoe/Loaders to 200kw, Construction Trucks up to 12 tonnes $39.44

$1,419.84

$109.22

$22.01

$1,366.92

$105.15

$21.30

PCW1 - 92.4% - New Entrant for plant only, Rollers up to 5 tonnes $37.97

Note: If unsure if agreement applies to you, check with the Union for your company sector-specific EBA, e.g. Civil.

EBA Benefits and Allowances

Multi-storey Allowance

Travel allowance: $43.00 per day

Start to 15th floor

$0.54 per hour

Superannuation: $195 per week, or 9.5% of ordinary time earnings, whichever higher.

Floors 16 – 30

$0.64 per hour

Floors 31 – 45

$0.99 per hour

Floors 46 – 60

$1.28 per hour

Floors 61+

$1.57 per hour

Incolink payments: $76.35 per week paid into Incolink. Income protection, trauma insurance and portable sick leave are also available (paid into Incolink).

Long service leave: 13 weeks after ten years, pro rata after seven years (paid into CoInvest).

Overtime meal allowance: $25.33 when required to work overtime for one and a half hours or more on an ordinary working day.

Site & General Wage Related Allowances Service Core Allowance

$1.40 per hour

First Aid Allowance

Living away from home allowance: $770 per week

Minimum qualification

$2.82 per day

Site allowance: Check the CFMEU Allowances Schedule for more information: cfmeu.vic.org.au/wages

Higher qualification

$4.46 per day

As well as a 5% pay rise every year for three-years, all overtime is double-time, fares and travel are up, living away is up, super is up, and meals are up. Stay paid-up and proud, it’s worth it!

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CFMEU WORKER

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