CFMEU Tasmania Worker Autumn 2018

23% PAY RISE FOR CFMEU CONSTRUCTION WORKERS!

NEW HOURLY UNION RATES UNION RATE (Trade Rate CW3)

1 May 2018

1 May 2019

1 May 2020

$33.25

$35.00

$36.80

TRAVEL ALLOWANCE IS UP! DAILY TRAVEL

1 May 2018

1 May 2019

1 May 2020

$35

$35

$37

There may be minor variation across different companies, ring your union for more information.

RICHIE’S EDITORIAL FROM THE SUB-BRANCH SECRETARY

IT PAYS TO BE UNION It seems like time has flown since the last edition of the magazine. As officials we’ve been busy finalising a number of EBAs with companies that seemed intent on dragging the chain and prolonging the process in order to piss our members off.

Despite this, the membership has stuck fat and kept its eye on the ball, not wavering through these prolonged negotiations. Currently with both Fairbrother and Vos now over the line, that wraps up the majors. Now we need to focus in on contractors and tier 2 builders.

This campaign will kick off the start of May and we ask our membership to involve themselves simply by having conversations with other construction workers/potential members who aren’t receiving the union rate.

STATE OF PLAY Currently the industry is running low with jobs being delayed for many bullshit reasons. We call on the current state government to pull their fingers out of their arses by cutting red tape and making it easier for these developments to get over the line where possible.

Many companies have been feeling this downturn, but all the bosses that we have spoken to are saying they won’t have

enough workers for later on. Vos, as an example, have made it clear to the union that they don’t want to take any more work on as their books are full for the foreseeable future.

One disappointing aspect of this small/short downturn has been that a number of bosses have been stringing along members, asking them to take annual leave, RDOs, or go and find some cashies to see them through, all to try and avoid paying redundancy. If this is happening to you, contact your union.

The union has been able to assist with a number of local Tasmanians gaining employment at the Royal Hobart Hospital. We trust that those members are enjoying the opportunity to get a taste of the Victorian rates of pay that are on offer and hopefully a lot more will get this opportunity. If you are interested in gaining employment on that project, contact the office to register your interest.

Finally, on a lighter note, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all those members, both past and present, that took the time out to contact me while I’ve been off dealing with health issues. Their support was greatly appreciated and it strengthened my resolve to continue to achieve what we set out to achieve in Tasmania for CFMEU members and our industry.

NYRSTAR No one man is greater than this union’s collective strength out at the smelter. The CFMEU has a proud and rich history of representing workers that are the heart and soul of the plant and made this company billions of dollars of profit over many decades. I have no doubt that over the coming months and years management will continue their anti-union agenda and try to divide and conquer its own workforce.

It is important now more than ever that all workers at the smelter come together on a united front in order to achieve outcomes that suit them best. The double-standards surrounding safety and targeting of members needs to stop, but the only way to do this is by showing a united front.

Those people that are currently not members of a union need to be reminded that this union will always be a strong, militant, resourceful and progressive union, we won’t be deterred by individual’s self-interest.

I WANT TO START BY THANKING AND CONGRATULATING ALL THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE STOOD STRONG, STUCK TOGETHER AND BACKED THEMSELVES AS A UNION TO GET NEW AGREEMENTS OVER THE LINE. You’ve won 23% pay increases, increased travel allowance and other significant benefits.

This is what being in a union is all about, you’ve led the way for other construction workers, set us up for the next round of negotiations and for future generations that will follow behind us.

We didn’t get everything, I have to say that in a few cases the apprentice rates of pay are not as good as they could be and their travel is still stuck in the last century when apprentices lived at home or didn’t drive cars.

We all pay the same for fuel, we should all have the same travel allowance. There’s always more to be done, this is something to consider for the next round.

EBAs are now in place with the major companies and we need to protect those rates. All of us can start focusing on contractors and the next level down, talk to your mates and spread the word, this is all just the beginning of a longer term plan.

CONTINUED ON BACK PAGE

KeV's Edi torial

KEV’S EDITORIAL CONT’D THE FUTURE One of our biggest issues going into this EBA campaign was having such a variety in EBAs across the industry – different rates of pay, different classifications, and different allowances.

We now have the Union Rate and EBAs that end around the same time, when all the rates line up.

That puts us in a strong position for the next round of negotiations – we start with all the players on equal footing, we can truly negotiate across the industry with a level playing field.

What we include as our priority claims will be up to you as members – RDOs, paid leave, wage increases, apprentice rates, it will be up to you.

The main thing is, we’ll be in the strong position with a decent Union Rate in place and some equity across the industry.

You have also shown that you are willing to fight for better pay and if you stick together, we can win. The bosses won’t forget that, and neither should we.