CFMEU Victoria Worker Summer 2017

VOLUME 24 SUMMER 2017

CONTENTS

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

Executive Secretary John Setka

Assistant Secretaries Shaun Reardon & Elias Spernovasilis President Ralph Edwards

22

38

We built this Hoodie

WAGE THEFT

Senior Vice President Derek Christopher Vice President Robert Graauwmans

40

Organisers and Field Officers Gerry Benstead . Nigel Davies . 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 . Lisa Zanatta . Kane Pearson Adam Olsen . James Simpson . Nick Vamvas John Thomson . Paul Tzimas

Specialist Staff 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

FAMILY CARS REVIEWED

COVER

Merry Christmas.

Santa only comes once a year but the CFMEU delivers every day.

04-12 EXECUTIVE COLUMNS

Communications Officer Jon Stanger

Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety Unit Manager Gerry Ayers Safety Officers Alex Tadic . Christine Thomas . Peter Clark Steve Roach

14

42 26 WIND POWER JOBS

28 CREATING A SUPER UNION

Corporate Greed

WorkCover Legal Officer Neil Browne

30

Industrial/Legal Officers Amanda Swayn . Jean Maloney . Kristen Reid India Shearer Boyd . David Vroland

Westgate memorial

Bunjil Place

48 NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Apprentice Liaison Officer Liam O’Hearn Research & Campaigns Officer Clancy Dobbyn

50

Offices

ASBESTOS FIGHT CONTINUES

Melbourne 500 Swanston St, Carlton South 3053 540 Elizabeth St, Melbourne 3000 T: (03) 9341 3444 / F: (03) 9341 3427 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 Wodonga Shop 3-4, 22 Stanley St, Wodonga 3690 T: (02) 6024 1099 / F: (02) 6056 5565 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

16 A PERFECT STORM FOR APPRENTICES

20 PHOTO COMPETITION WINNERS

52 34

HOOKED AND COOKED

Onsite Photos

54 TRAINING NEWS

66 YOUR WAGES

Authorised by John Setka, Secretary CFMEU Victoria.

02

CFMEU WORKER

ON THE M VE New office for CFMEU Members, refurbished by CFMEU Members

NEW CFMEU OFFICE LOCATION: 540 ELIZABETH ST, MELBOURNE Thanks to all the CFMEU and ETU Members who have put the work in to get the new CFMEU Office refurbished and fitted out before Christmas.

Look out for official opening events in the new year, but it is planned that all CFMEU Member Services will be relocated by the 18th December 2017.

We are very proud to announce, what was the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation building will have a new name when occupied by the CFMEU:

John Cummins Building

SUMMER 2017

03

FROM THE SECRETARY

SEEING OFF OUR ENEMIES when the Liberal Party put him up as leader, well that didn’t last long.

Damien Mantach

O

ur slogan in the BL days was always “Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win”. We struggled and we won: amenities, health and safety, clothing issue, the 36 hour week, decent wages, superannuation, redundancy, sick leave and long service leave.

“If you don’t fight, you lose” was the second part, but I’ve got to say, these days it’s “if you take on the CFMEU, you lose”. Our enemies don’t have the fight in them and we’re seeing them off one by one.

I’m not talking about dual citizenships knocking off politician after politician; other than our Aboriginal and Islander brothers and sisters, we’re all immigrants.

I’m talking about the ones who picked a fight and fell.

For me, I like “The Most Committed Wins” as a saying because it’s true. That’s why we win and that’s why we see off our enemies, because we’re committed to what we do and we won’t back down.

Tony Abbott picked a fight with unions when he introduced WorkChoices with John Howard. We never forgot what he tried to do to workers and

04

was the Victorian Liberal Party Director who orchestrated the campaign that tried to knock out the Labor Party by tying them to us, the FMEU. They ran TV ads with my face and the CFMEU all over them. Not only did the Liberal Party lose that election, Damian Mantach is in jail for $1.5 million of fraud.

Dyson Heydon ran the latest Royal Commission designed to bring down the union movement and almost nothing has come of that. After being exposed as the Liberal Party’s special guest for a fundraiser, he refused to front up and face questioning himself at a Senate Inquiry into the ABCC. He obviously thought he was above the law, which was exactly what he accused the CFMEU of thinking.

Nigel Hadgkiss has been waging war on the CFMEU and the union movement with his ABCC for years. He’s gone, we’re still here. His illegal raids, failed prosecutions and misleading advice didn’t just make him an embarrassment to the Liberals, it landed him in court, pleading guilty to breaking the very laws he was supposed to enforce.

John Setka Branch Secretary

Government, Cash fled the scene rather than face the music and resign after being caught out conducting raids on union offices as a media stunt.

She’s not committed, not like we are. Just like raids on CFMEU offices have been found to be illegal and documents have been returned, the raids on the AWU will result in nothing. It’s a pathetic PR stunt for a government that’s falling apart and hated – behind in the polls and turning on each other.

We are the most committed and it’s easy to see why. We’re fighting for the lives of workers, for our families, for our jobs and for the future of our industry and country.

They just want to win the next election.

A proud history going back well over 100 years, wages and conditions fought for by generations of union members and safety that means we get home at the end of the day. Yes we’re committed, yes we’ll win and yes we’ll continue to see off our enemies because in the end, they’re fighting for nothing.

Michaelia Cash

Now we have the apparent Minister for Employment. Another embarrassment for the imploding Turnbull

CFMEU WORKER

How would some of these cases go in front of a jury instead of a judge with this kind of history?

You might get members of a jury who stepped a foot on a construction site, done a day’s honest work or been a member of a union!

While the vast majority of judges are fair and trying to deliver justice, it’s people like this who shoot their mouths off and bring the whole federal court into disrepute. They are pariahs, determined to attack the union and dish out massive fines.

JUSTICE IN AUSTRALIA? Even federal court judges have joined the hounds attacking the CFMEU, but take a closer look at who we’re dealing with.

Judge Vasta: a long family lineage back to the Joh Bjellke-Peterson days of the National Party, when crooks and corruption ruled Queensland with ‘the hillbilly dictator’ Joh in charge.

Judge Flick:

fined the union in NSW $2.2 million for standing up for a

SUMMER 2017

Judge Jessup: a lawyer for

These judges have nothing to say about builders when they kill a construction worker. Nothing to say about the Commonwealth Bank laundering millions of dollars of drug cartel money or major corporations caught avoiding tax, costing taxpayers billions of dollars a year.

anti-union firm Freehills who jailed CFMEU officials including me, John Cummins and Ralph Edwards for being at a picket line trying to get people their jobs back.

They are absolutely silent when it comes to some of the atrocities these companies commit, but they don’t mind having a crack at us.

Judge Tracey: lead prosecutor for the Cole Royal Commission against the union.

Martin Luther King Jr. said “There can be no justice without peace. And there can be no peace without justice.”

These are the people who now sit in judgement on the CFMEU. After hearing this, what kind of justice do you think the CFMEU and our members are going to get?

In Australia, for workers and our union, there is no justice.

shop steward at the Barangaroo project, which is just what unions do. He never condemned the company for trying to sack the delegate and leave workers without representation.

05

FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

INDUSTRIAL MANSLAUGHTER Queensland’s Industrial Relations Minister said at the time,

“It’s simply not good enough that a company and its senior officers can negligently cause the death of a worker and evade justice due to the veil of corporate anonymity.”

We couldn’t agree more.

You know there is something wrong with the political landscape when the Federal Liberal Government is more interested in passing laws to criminalise basic union organising than protecting workers’ lives.

Under Queensland’s laws, an individual convicted with industrial manslaughter could face a maximum penalty of 20 years jail and a fine of up to $10 million for a corporate offender.

All deaths on construction sites are avoidable. Yet bosses who make decisions in the name of profits that kill workers, are able to walk away scot-free.

However, the Queensland legislation was based on a report that recommended the crime of industrial manslaughter is legislated under the OHS Act and is not deemed a criminal act under the criminal code.

In October this year, Queensland’s Labor Government passed legislation that means bosses can be charged with the new offense of industrial manslaughter if someone dies on the job.

Shaun Reardon Assistant Secretary

The CFMEU Vic Branch believes that corporate greed or negligence that results in the death of a worker should be deemed a criminal act.

Every day CFMEU members and officials fight for safer workplaces. We have to fight because we know that if given an inch, the corporate interests will take a mile and lives will be lost. We see this with companies like Element Five/VCON who under-pay their workers while cutting corners with safety just to save a dollar.

And if you’re in any doubt about the rest of the industry, just look at those Australian companies operating overseas who demonstrate, time and time again, that they’re willing to cut corners and put workers lives at risk if given the chance.

When we allow a corporate climate of profit over safety to dominate, lives will be lost will be lost as a result. It’s time the Victorian Government criminalised industrial manslaughter.

The CFMEU has been calling for the criminalisation of industrial manslaughter since before I started as an official. More times than I care to count, I have shared a moment’s silence with other officials as we hear of the workplace death of another construction worker. More times than I care to count, I have consoled family members as they ask me why their loved one was killed on the job.

The legislation in Queensland was introduced to Parliament following a series of workplace deaths, including the Dreamworld tragedy.

06

CFMEU WORKER

24/7 Counselling & Support Incolink is there for members and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Drug, Alcohol and Gambling

Anxiety and Depression

Financial and Debt Problems

Stress

Relationship Difficulties

Grief and Loss

Anger

Need to talk?

For a free and confidential chat anywhere in Victoria and Tasmania

call 1300 000 129 incolink.org.au 1 Pelham Street, Carlton VIC 3053 Ph: (03) 9668 3061 | 1800 337 789

FROM THE PRESIDENT

TURNBULL’S ANTIUNION LEGISLATION can decide who can be elected to any position in the Union, including as a Delegate/Shop Steward. Not the Union’s members.

2.Industry Super Funds Kelly O’Dwyer - Deputy Treasurer

Malcolm Turnbull’s Government has introduced anti-Union legislation in three areas: 1.“Ensuring Integrity” Bill Michaela Cash – Minister for Industrial Relations Amends the Fair Work Act to allow the government to prevent CFMEU members from standing for election or holding a position in the Union – simply because they have been found guilty of breaking an industrial law (the ABCC legislation, the Fair Work Act, or any other anti-Union law).

Eg. an Organiser breaches Right of Entry Laws to service the members – breaks the law – DISQUALIFIED! A Delegate/ Shop Steward refuses to answer ABCC questions, tells the ABCC inspector to “fuck off” – breaks the law about obstructing a Commonwealth Official – DISQUALIFIED! Any member found to have failed to follow an order of a Court eg. failure to stop picketing – guilty of contempt – DISQUALIFIED! etc etc.

Result: Government and its ROC (Registered Organisations Commission)

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Three pieces of legislation to interfere in the operation of industry funds ie. CBUS, started by construction unions in the 1980s to look after our Super and have done it well ever since.

Private funds run by the banks and insurance companies don’t want competition that eats into their profits.

The government wants to remove Union nominated directors from the Board of CBUS, so decisions are made only by employer nominated directors and so called professional “independent” directors.

Result: Decisions about investment in the property market, that create work for CFMEU/CBUS members, can be determined by non-industry targets and against the interests of our members.

3.“Proper Use of Worker Benefits” Bill Michaela Cash – Minister for IR A completely new piece of legislation that would prevent the Board of Incolink from putting surplus funds back into the Industry – creating jobs by funding construction projects, providing workers with a safety net of insurance (income protection, funerals, broken teeth, extended worker’s comp benefits etc), funding industry training to help members get employment, health and safety grants to put OHS officers across the industry,

Ralph Edwards President

physical health checks, counselling, just to mention a few.

In Victoria, even the employer associations – MBA and Master Plumbers – are both campaigning with Unions, to stop Incolink being undermined. The Turnbull Government has offered to make some minor changes – apparently cutting suicide counselling services is not a political winner! But the Bill still gives the government the power through the ROC to make “Rules” that will dictate what Incolink can do and how.

Even down to the investment decisions that have kept our fund as the biggest redundancy fund for nearly 30 years.

WHY? They hope this anti-Union and coordinated campaign will take people’s minds off their failings as a government. They also have to justify the $60 million plus spent on a Royal Commission that only exposed a couple of individuals in other Unions and some employers. They did NOT produce evidence of wrong doing or incompetence by the CFMEU, Incolink or CBUS. But why would Turnbull let the facts get in the way of a good story? Especially when you are a government with a one seat majority, citizenship problems, continual bad decisions, hopeless and irrelevant policies – a government going nowhere.

As the dust settles on who is a properly elected politician and who is not, then the CFMEU will and must crank up the campaign against the five bills Turnbull has been trying to pass. The lobbying of the ALP, Greens, and cross-benches has alerted them to the problems we face, but we will have to give them the back bone to totally oppose every piece of anti-Union legislation.

CFMEU WORKER

A great day off

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* To claim this offer, the CFMEU member must present a valid CFMEU membership card in cinema to purchase tickets. This offer is valid at Village Cinemas locations only for sessions commencing prior to 5pm for CFMEU recognised RDO’s. Limit of 5 tickets per session per day. Surcharges apply for Vmax, Vpremium, Vjunior, Dolby Atmos and 3D sessions. 3D glasses (if required) are available to purchase from the cinema location. Offer excludes Special Events, Movie Marathons, group bookings and is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion unless stated. This offer may only be purchased in cinema. Offer expires June 30, 2018.

TICKETS AVAILABLE IN CINEMA SUMMER 2017

09

UNDER ATTACK ANTI-UNION LAWS HURT WORKING PEOPLE

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fter passing anti-worker ABCC and Registered Organisations laws, you w ould think the Turnbull Government might have better things to do than to continue its obsession with attacking us and our unions. But rather than fixing record low wage growth, or the massive casualisation and exploitation of workers, the Government is spending all its time protecting big business and trying to prevent unions standing up for working people.

The Turnbull Government is demanding the Senate pass even more bad laws to try and prevent us fighting for workers’ rights.

They now have 5 new pieces of legislation before the Parliament which are direct attack on unions and union members.

10 010

There are two pieces of legislation (the Ensuring Integrity Bill and the Proper Use of Workers Benefits Bill) that give more power to Michaelia Cash and the Registered Organisations Commission, to make it harder for the CFMEU to stand up for you. There are also three bills that allow the big banks to get their hands on your superannuation.

THESE LAWS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICAL MOTIVATED ATTACK AGAINST WORKING PEOPLE, THEIR UNIONS, AND THE CFMEU.

The Turnbull Government’s anti-democratic, anti-worker Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill gives political organisations and big corporations the ability to interfere with our union’s democratic processes by putting more regulation on unions than it does on corporations. It allows big business and the Government to interfere in how the CFMEU operates. It denies you free choice about how your union is run!

The bill allows Michaelia Cash or anyone with a ‘sufficient interest’ to seek to disqualify our democratically elected union officials or request union deregistration. 'Anyone' CFMEU WORKER

could include big business and dodgy builders.

It introduces a ‘fit and proper person test’, which would stop anyone who has broken certain laws from holding an elected position in the union. These laws could include refusal to comply with a denial of entry to inspect a dangerous worksite or to check for exploitation and underpayment of workers.

This could mean any of our democratically elected officials who have broken bad laws to protect workers, will no longer be able to be an elected official.

Worse yet, the application to remove an official you voted for, could be made by the very same business that is ripping off workers and putting their safety at risk!

It’s also an attempt to block the CFMEU’s merger with the MUA and TCFUA, by placing a ‘public interest test’ on union mergers.

Michaelia Cash or big business could seek to block our merger, even though the merger has been freely supported by members. This takes away the rights of CFMEU members to choose to make our union stronger.

The Fair Work Amendments (Proper Use of Workers Benefits) Bill is another politically motivated attack on unions and union members. The bill makes it illegal for workers to run funds for insurance cover, redundancy protection, training, as well as for charitable community causes.

running of these funds, and will make it harder for the CFMEU to deliver lifesaving programs and could lead to the loss of apprentice jobs.

Interest from these funds supports our health, safety and welfare programs, as well as our training and education programs. These programs include suicide prevention (the construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide), high risk licensing training, drug and alcohol treatment, skin cancer awareness, and other vocational training and education in the industry.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW OUR UNION IS RUN, ARE CFMEU MEMBERS. NOT THE TURNBULL GOVERNMENT, NOT MICHAELIA CASH, AND NOT BIG BUSINESS.

The bill prohibits donations to welfare or charitable organisations, meaning support for programs such as ‘Mates in Construction’ would stop. It would also give independent directors the power of veto over funds being used for training and welfare purposes.

These bills are nothing but a direct attack on workers and their unions.

If this bill passes the Senate, it makes it easier for Michaelia Cash to interfere with the

WE ARE STANDING UP

AND FIGHTING BACK

SUMMER 2017

011 11

FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

THE FUTURE IS HERE

Elias Spernovasilas Assistant Secretary john thomson civil rail

kane pearson western suburbs

adam olsen north eastern suburbs

Just like we say work smart, not hard, this is a union that boxes smart. For years we’ve been under attack, but that hasn’t stopped us planning for the future.

paul tzimas civil

gerry mcquaid civil

james simpson western district

Now the future is here. We’ve got seven new organisers who have started in the last two years.

nick vamvas precast

Some of our new guns started the young activists, showed what they could do and worked their way up. Others are some of the most experienced people in their field – including civil and precast.

For members, this means while we face some of our greatest challenges, you have new strength and renewed commitment.

It also means the future of our union is secure, as younger officials learn the ropes and develop their leadership qualities.

New technologies, changes in the industry and new political attacks arrive every week, but the groundwork we’ve done has paid off and we’re not only ready to meet new challenges, we’re going back into areas like civil in a way we haven’t done for a long time.

Lisa Zanatta, our first female organiser, is organising women members and helping our industry and union shift into modern times

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lisa zanatta women and traffic management

as a more inclusive and respectful option for all workers. She’s a qualified tradesperson and teacher who has served our union for many years.

We’re not done yet Led by our younger organisers and a team of delegates and rank and file members, the CFMEU Young Activists continues to go strongly. We’re not done growing the strength and numbers of our youth movement and we’re not done employing new organisers from a group that continues to impress.

Amongst all the mud thrown at

construction workers and our union, it’s easy to miss the good news. We’re strong, united and we’re building strong foundations for the future.

I strongly encourage all younger members to get along to the first young activists meeting of 2018. We welcome all members under 35, meetings are held every two months.

To get on a contact list for meeting reminders or to find out more, CONTACT: Simo: 0427 397 313 Paul: 0458 747 732 CFMEU WORKER

carpentry, all the tricks.

He jumped in for the heavy lifting, they gave him the skills and experience on how to do things.

“I kept up the schooling, I knew I had a right to do that part of my apprenticeship too.”

In the end that meant Paul got cut off the job early, but it didn’t bother him, the apprenticeship was done.

“I walked straight into the ProBuild office on the job across the road. They sent me up to Caelli’s and they must have been impressed that I was straight there from another job ready to work, they had me on in under a week.”

NEW BLOOD NEW ENERGY Paul was in university studying human movement and sports science but they couldn’t guarantee work, so he started doing some carpentry with a mate. That lead to a formal apprenticeship in domestic but there was a lull in the housing market so it was hard to keep up work as an apprentice.

“I had enough, so I started applying for commercial work with formworkers and builders.”

“I had a union background, my old man was a shoppie in the automotive industry with Ford, but nobody was in construction.”

Paul was the first one in the family to get into construction. A lady at TAFE saw him struggling for work, and put him onto an opportunity with a big builder. It happened to be Grocon.

“It was at the end of the dispute, but I didn’t know anything about SUMMER 2017

Paul got talking with the Shop Steward, Lee, on the job and he says to him “you’re not stupid, where are you heading with this?”

Paul Tzimas

“I was passionate about OHS because my dad was involved in a workplace incident, hit by a fork, lucky to walk again. That got me into the CFMEU Young Activists, it had just started up and it was the place for passionate members to get active.”

it. I was calling them every day, over and over until finally they gave up, gave me an interview and put me on.”

When a shop steward went on leave, Paul got a go for a while and that led to being picked up to organise in civil.

“I started on the VCCC hospital, it was 3 days before my 21st in 2012.

The dispute was over. I’d seen stuff in the news, my old man was bagging them out, but I needed work.”

As well his dad’s union background, it was the experience on the job, the lessons from the older blokes and what the union does for you that gave Paul his passion for the CFMEU and safety.

My old man said “take it, but make sure you’re in the union.”

Paul is organising civil in the North, but the amount of work that’s on means organisers are all helping out with the bigger jobs.

Mernda Rail is big in the North, as is the Tullamarine Freeway where Paul worked on the tools.

“We got flogged on that job. Four cranes, we were working massive hours.”

“I learnt everything about what not to do on a job.”

It was the old blokes on the job that grabbed Paul by the ear, made sure he joined up, “I jumped on the website and signed up.”

They dragged Paul out of the rain, out of the heat, but also passed on the trade – formwork

“You fight for every bit in civil, there’s a bunch of overseas owned builders that try to get away exploiting people, bad safety, undercutting wages and conditions.”

Paul is up for the fight.

13

WHAT IS CORPORATE GREED

A N D H O W I T A F F E C T S YO U

1

>>> Last month, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, overtook Bill Gates to become the richest person on earth.

How much money did he need to accomplish this? A mere $121 billion. Oxfam has found that just 8 men have as much money as half the world’s population – 3.6 billion people!

That’s enough people to fill the MCG 36,000 times, or the population of 150 Australias!

2

>>> Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has a fortune of around $21.5 billion. Her and billionaire realestate developer Harry Triguboff, have more money than the poorest 20% of the population.

That’s more than 5 million Australians!

About the same as the populations of Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania combined.

3

>>> Louis Gries, the CEO of James Hardie, took home more than $21 million in one year. At the same time, the average worker in the construction industry (union and non-union as calculated by the ABS) earned under $80,000 a year.

$12.3M A year = $47k a day

The CEO of James Hardie earned more in a day

than the average construction worker earned in a year!

4 14

>>> Ian Narev, the CEO of the Commonwealth Bank takes home $12.3 million a year. That’s over $47,000 a day. This is despite the CBA being accused of involvement in money laundering scandals and denying terminally ill people insurance CFMEU WORKER payments they are entitled to.

5

>>> the ceo of dominos makes more than $21 million, over $80,000 a day, that’s $10,000 an hour!

At the same time Dominos has been accused of paying workers as little as $12 an hour and selling migrant sponsorship for $150,000.

6

>>> And some people believe that these people actually EARN this money! That if we just worked a little bit harder, and a little bit smarter, that we too could have our chance at earning these big bucks.

If that’s true, the CEO of James Hardie must work over 250x harder and smarter than the average construction worker. If you work a 10 hour day, he must be working 2,500 hours a day to EARN his salary!!

He’s not.

7

>>> We can’t just sit back and say that’s the way it is, it doesn’t affect me. It does affect you. The richer are getting richer because: •

Wage growth is the lowest on record.

•

1 in 3 young people cannot find enough work.

•

1 in 4 workers are on casual contracts, not knowing if they have a job from day to day, with no sick leave, annual leave or time off to look after their family.

SUMMER 2017

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>>> temporary overseas workers are being exploited.

One 7/11 worker was found to be paid as little as 47c an hour. A Monash University study has revealed 80% of jobs advertised in Australia in a foreign language are paying below legal rates.

the system is broken #changetherules

15

A

USTRALIA’S APPRENTICESHIP AND TAFE SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS. SINCE 2012, THE NUMBER OF APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES HAS ALMOST HALVED, AND TRADE APPRENTICESHIPS HAVE DECLINED ALMOST 20 PER CENT. 16 016

CFMEU WORKER

T

here have been substantial arguments as to what is causing the decline in apprenticeships, and who is to blame. The answers being put forward are primarily autonomous causes and individual fixes. What this debate misses, is the bigger picture.

The decline in apprentices, and the deterioration of the TAFE sector more generally, are examples of the many symptoms that are the result of a much bigger problem: an economic system that is failing everyday working Australians.

Apprenticeships are in decline because the system has focused on the profits of individual corporations ahead of a functioning society that advantages the majority rather than a few, and the social benefits obtained from educating young Australians. Decentralisation and privatisation; increasing insecure and non-standard forms of employment; and the exploitation of temporary overseas workers and other cheaper forms of labour are other symptoms.

Symptoms that, in themselves, have made it increasingly impossible for those who want to train young workers to compete with those who don’t. The sense of mutual obligation for businesses to train the future workforce is being undermined.

To fix the problem, we need to fix the cause.

SUMMER 2017

The conservative narrative tells us that if the market is free from Government intervention; competition is encouraged. If labour market flexibility is increased, then more people will be employed. Then the economy will grow; and ultimately, the lives of every day Australians will improve. If conditions are improved for big business, they say the benefits will trickle down and we will all be better off.

This narrative has dominated Australian politics since the 1980s, and the ideology has penetrated all markets from trade in goods, to health and to education – including apprenticeships. The only problem is, it hasn’t improved the lives of everyday working Australians.

Instead it has led to insecure and precarious work and a growing gap between the rich and everyone else.

The conservative attack on Australia’s apprenticeship and vocational education system is no different.

Deregulation of TAFE funding combined with the restructuring of apprenticeship training to more portable modules, and the dismantling of regulatory institutions, has created a perfect storm for the destruction of apprenticeships in Australia.

Award restructuring in the 1980s led to a parallel reform of the TAFE and apprentice training system towards competency-based training, and away from time-served curriculum based

education. While the restructuring was largely supported by both unions and industry, its more modular nature coupled with the subsequent deregulation of funding allowed forprofit providers to cherry-pick units and courses with the lowest costs and highest subsidies, while passing off the more expensive units to the TAFE sector.

Inadequate requirements for time-served and unsatisfactory monitoring and enforcement of education quality has led to the rise of ‘tick and flick’ for-profit private providers rorting government funding.

The result has been a decline in apprenticeships, an undermining of the quality of education, the aggressive and predatory spruiking of courses for profit, and the undermining of Australia’s TAFE system.

The increased privatisation and outsourcing of public sector construction has negatively impacted apprenticeships. Competition in tendering for government jobs (and a government focused on cheapest price rather than wider value for money) has resulted in companies who do not invest in the training of apprentices being able to undercut the prices of those who do. The result is fewer apprentices.

Read the full report: vic.cfmeu.org. au/perfectstorm

17

UNION LEADS WAY IN RESPONSE TO IMPORTED BUILDING PRODUCTS EMERGENCY 18 018

CFMEU WORKER

T

he CFMEU’s campaign against the import and use of dodgy building products continues to gather momentum as governments grapple with the scale of the problem. vulputate, aliquet nulla suscipit, vestibulum odio.

Orci natoque The rise of ‘free trade’ and thevarius decline penatibus et magnis dis parturient of Australian manufacturing has left montes, nascetur mus. the construction industry ridiculus dependant Phasellus fringilla, metus eget on imports for a large number of inputs. luctus convallis, massa auctor In addition, some builderslacus cut corners ligula, nec eleifend leo magna vel by opting for imports just because nisi.

Etiam id commodo they are cheaper than Australianmauris. made Praesent tincidunt dapibus magna, materials and products. quis pretium risus molestie sed.

The problem is that the imports Phasellus vulputate nunc nec libero often dignissim do not conform quality finibustositthe amet sed nunc. standards which are required Cras maximus nec loremto a porttitor. ensureDonec the health andtristique safety ofdui in faucibus both workers and the community convallis. during construction and for Suspendisse varius nec nunc at occupants of buildings once efficitur.

Mauris blandit, erat in The union has provided three construction is complete. ullamcorper sagittis, metus risussubmissions to the Senate inquiry and Thesemper CFMEU been ex enim has provided verbal evidence at public elit,has id pretium instrumental id lacus. Proinin et exposing elit vitae neque hearings held by the Inquiry Committee theefficitur problem, sounding congue at eu velit. Sed in Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne theut alarm about porttitor nunc,dodgy ut dictum felis. and Adelaide. imported steel, electrical Vestibulum at blandit velit, eget cable, glass ornare nisl. and Morbiwindows, maximus elit euThe COAG group has recently commissioned an academic and aluminium, engineered dui laoreet molestie.

Pellentesque wood products, plasticblandit, a lawyer to examine the reasons iaculis, tortor at dapibus pipe andelit fittings, paint augue laoreet nisl, eu luctus behind the lack of compliance velit etcontaining mi. Suspendisse in and enforcement in Australia’s andneque products arcu scelerisque, pulvinar urna in,construction industry with the National asbestos.

Construction Code (NCC), which ultricies nibh. Pellentesque habitant In addition, in response to the both up to scratch and fit for morbi tristique senectus et netusrequires et Lacrosse fire at the Docklands, purpose products. The CFMEU has also malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. the CFMEU contacted all state and Ut quis arcu turpis. territory Governments demanding that Sedthe a egestas pretium they audit claddingmauris. used in Sed all high porta tortor, tempor urna rise buildings in theirnec jurisdictions.

It is tempus ut. Quisque now clear that the cladding, porttitor the type diam elit, non mollis metusofpellentesque of which caused the spread the fire et.

Vestibulum suscipit ex in velit at the tragic Grenfell inferno in London malesuada.

Vivamus where ultricies eighty people were killed, has pharetra, nuncinstalled sit amet been inappropriately ondapibus thousands of Australian buildings too.

The CFMEU campaign has resulted in a Senate inquiry which has been gathering evidence since June 2015 and looked at the general issue as well as specific inquiries into imported asbestos and cladding. The union campaign has also led to the issue being the number one item on the agenda of the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) Building Ministers Forum since July 2015.

SUMMER 2017

engaged in this process.

With both the Senate Inquiry’s Committee and the COAG Group’s academic and lawyer due to report on their findings and make recommendations in early 2018, the CFMEU has given an indication of what to expect if government’s response to this issue remains unsatisfactory.

The Federal Government’s failure to ban the import of dangerous cladding at the border has reiterated the importance of the union’s advice for members to resist the installation of cladding with a majority polyethylene core in the construction of the external walls of a building in Type A and Type B construction in relation to Class 2, 3 and 9 buildings.

Meanwhile, blacklists for high risk products imported from regions, countries and/or companies with a poor track record, particularly those with a history for exporting products containing asbestos, remains a live option.

If governments continue to fail to fix this problem they must know that the CFMEU will.

Get more information on cladding products and safety: vic.cfmeu. org.au/cladding

019 19

O T H P COMPETITION

WINNER 1st Shaun Bromley “Hooking up the boom on Bradys Vision Apartments tower”

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CFMEU WORKER

2nd

Dom Frisina

3rd

5th

Dom Frisina

Dom Frisina

Thank you to all the photo competition entries, we had over 100 photos entered and there were some great ones to choose from. Congratulations to our winner, Shaun Bromley, who won a GoPro Hero Black 5.

Keep sending your photos in, we love to see them and share the good ones on Facebook or in the magazine.

Email: viccomms@cfmeu.org Facebook: facebook.com/cfmeuvic (send in via private message) Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/cfmeupics

4th

Tyler Mitchell

SPECIAL MENTIONS

SUMMER 2017

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Meet the union members who make your CFMEU merchandise Ever wonder where your CFMEU top comes from and who made it?

Of course it’s got to be Australian made and with the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia amalgamating with the CFMEU, it’s a great chance to meet some of their members.

Qualitops is a Melbourne institution at around 40 years old. They started in Richmond and spent 30 years in Smith St Collingwood before moving to Reservoir around 5 years ago when the landlord sold up to build apartments.

The TCFUA developed the ‘ethical clothing’ campaign to combat exploitation in the industry both overseas and here in Australia.

Qualitops were the first company to sign up but it didn’t really require them to change anything. The tags back then read ‘no sweat shop’.

“It was great,” says Sandy Di Pitero “A lot of our customers like to see the label. The Brotherhood of St Lawrence and Oxfam started a trend, it’s part of their marketing. They still have the label on the outside of their shirts.”

Qualitops employs 21 people, some have been there for over 30 years.

“Most of our workers don’t go anywhere, they retire here. It’s a good thing,” says Sandy.

As well as union work, Qualitops do promotional work, fashion, workwear and still do some school uniforms.

“With the CFMEU on board, it’s been great,” says Sandy. “When I say Australian made, it’s Australian made.”

22 “We also always use Australian

fabric, no imports unless it can’t be made here. It’s knitted here, dyed here.”

Even Qualitops’ labels come from a local supplier. When garments they make need printing and embroidering they go elsewhere, but suppliers are chosen carefully as part of their ethical clothing commitments.

“Our niche is t-shirts, hoodies and polo shirts,” says Sandy. “We can do other stuff but you’re better sticking to what you’re good at.”

One long-term Qualitops employee is Giuseppina “Pina” Carbone, who has been there 24 years. This might be her last year, after 47 years of work, she’s dropping down her hours and looking towards a well-earned retirement.

Pina has done it all in textiles, “I can do a garment complete,” she says.

From swim wear to bridal gowns, Pina is highly skilled.

There have been problems along the way. Pina worked for Zora Fashion for 7 years and Maglia in Johnson St, until they closed down.

“We lost superannuation, everything, when they closed down,” says Pina.

“Some people worked there 16 years old to 67 and lost everything.”

Pina did work from home for a little while, but mostly she has worked in factories and she’s loyal to the right company. ”When I like it somewhere, I stay.”

When she first came to Qualitops, she “wasn’t sure for the first few months.

I got a raise and stayed.”

“I was doing work I like. But then a cover stitch woman left, the work piled up and they put me on cover stitch. Just until they find someone else, they said.”

“I know cover stitch, but I also know overlock, button hole, elasticator machine. Years later, I’m still in cover stitch.”

Pina passes on her wide range of skills and expertise, she’s shown them how to do a few things better.

The quality of the manufacturing is a big selling point and a big part of that is skill.

CFMEU WORKER

“It’s better here, some of the uniforms from kids schools, the men’s work wear, it doesn’t last.

Overseas stuff is not quality, it’s not sewn right.”

“With our stuff, it lasts, they can pass it on from older kids to the younger ones.”

“Australian made is best quality.”

Pina is noticing more work coming from unions like the CFMEU. “If unions don’t buy Australian Made, we’ll be gone.”

QUALIJOBS many employees have been with Qualitops long term, this photo taken around 10 years ago

What we wear matters.

Pina voted for the amalgamation with the CFMEU. “We’re becoming more strong, coming together. It’s better. When I was younger there were jobs everywhere, it’s harder now, but hopefully we come together and there will be more work.”

Pina has always been a union member, but how that came to be was interesting.

“When I first came to Australia, I work inspecting, packing meat in Altona.”

It was the time of changing to metric measurements (grams) from pounds and ounces. Giuseppina was helping with the change, teaching people.

“Some people came in, asked me for $60. I didn’t know what it is for, I didn’t want to pay.”

Work stopped.

“All these people stopped work, thousands, they’re pointing at me, I didn’t know why. They had signs, inside the factory, I didn’t understand.”

Pina didn’t speak English, but finally someone who spoke Italian explained it. It was the union, there to stop jobs going overseas and they wanted Pina to join. She did.

“The union helps you if there’s something wrong, with the job or with the boss.”

Now we can also support each other by buying union clothing, Australian made.

SUMMER 2017

LOOKING TO DO A JOB JUMPER OR T-SHIRT? Talk to Beck: beckp@cfmeu.org The CFMEU logo and other union logos are trademarked and cannot be used without union permission. Beck is also able to assist with design Qualitops will not assist with CFMEU clothing without going through Beck.

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APS have wrapped what is perhaps Melbourne’s most i Flinders St Station, in scaffold. It’s part of a $100 millio ment that will repair the façade and roof, make it struc restore the clock tower and heritage elements while imp and facilities for the public using the station.

SUMMER 2017

BIG SCAFF

Iconic Amcor Paper Mill site a blast from the past

NOW

THEN

The Amcor Paper Mill site on the corner of Heidelberg Rd and Grange Rd (Chandler Hwy) in Alphington/Fairfield has a long history. With a big demolition taking place, we take a look at the history of the site and one of the largest handmade brick structures built in Victoria.

The site for the Fairfield Mill was purchased in 1918 when increasing demand for paper production meant the Australian Paper Mills Company site first built in 1868 on the banks of the Yarra opposite Flinders St Station was no longer large enough.

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Opened in 1921, the Fairfield Mill became known as Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd (APM) and was extended and expanded from the 1920s to the 1940s. By 1949 the facility could produce 55,000 tons of paper annually.

New machinery also required an upgrade of power generation facilities and in 1954 Power Station B construction was completed.

Another expansion occurred in the 1960s but by the early 1970s Power Station B was largely redundant and was decommissioned in 1985.

The company changed their name to AMCOR Ltd in 1986 and the mill focused on recycled paper production until it closed in 2011.

The Power Station B building is to be retained as a site of significant industrial heritage, distinctive for its early and extensive use of curtain wall glazing technology that revealed the machinery operating within.

Nomad Scaffolding built the scaffold around the large brick buildings of the paper mill, briefly returning the site to how it looked when the brick work construction was being done between the 1940s and 1960s.

Delta have been doing the demolition and earth works preparing what is a massive site for development. Glenvill is developing the 16.46 hectare site with a mix of single houses, townhouses, apartments, aged care, supermarkets, shops and offices that will create a whole new inner city suburb known as YarraBend.

An elevated ‘Paper Trail’ and ‘Paper Square’ park, along with ‘Turbine Park’ around the retained Power Station B will maintain some links to the history of the site.

CFMEU WORKER

iconic building, on refurbishcturally sound, mproving access 25

Another icon surrounded in scaff

APS have wrapped what is perhaps Melbourne’s most iconic building, Flinders St Station, in scaffold. It’s part of a $100 million refurbishment that will repair the façade and roof, make it structurally sound, restore the clock tower and heritage elements while improving access and facilities for the public using the station.

SUMMER 2017

25

WINDPOWER JOBS BOOM OR HOT AIR?

A

fter a few years of slowdown resulting from the Liberal Party removing support for renewable energy development in Victoria, wind farm jobs are popping up across the state again.

The Andrews Labor Government is implementing a suite of policies designed to boost investment in renewable energy, create jobs, reduce power bills and cut pollution.

Victoria now has a renewable energy target of 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025. As part of the package, the Government wants the sector to build 650 megawatts of clean energy generation in what it calls a ‘reverse auction’.

That’s enough to power 389,000 homes.

The ‘reverse auction’ is expected to drive up to $1.3 billion in new capital expenditure, create 1,250 construction jobs and 90 ongoing roles. Most of the jobs are expected to be in regional Victoria where wind and solar projects are based.

But will the 1,250 construction jobs go to locals and will they pay the right rates?

Construction for the wind power industry has a chequered past, with rorting of temporary overseas work visas and the undercutting of industry standard wages and conditions.

Has anything changed? Is the Andrews Government confident their policies and investments will result in good jobs for local people that meet industry standards, or is the door still open to exploitation?

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Government Contracts = Social Contracts Companies with an existing planning permit to build a renewable energy facility can now bid for 15-year Support Agreements with the Victorian Government. These long-term contracts will create investment certainty to build new energy generation projects and reduce wholesale electricity prices.

Developers such as Pacific Hydro with their 14 turbine Yaloak South wind farm, just 15km south of Ballan, are an Australian company and have chosen local contractors who pay industry rates.

The 85m tall Yaloak South towers are being manufactured in Whyalla using Australian steel and Boom Logistics are doing the crane work on site.

Acciona also, at their 44 turbine Gellibrand wind farm, have contracted Boom Logistics and are very happy with the choice.

Project Manager Andrew Tshaikiwsky from Acciona says it’s a “blessing to have Boom, we’re building a relationship with them, the industry wants them here and we know they look after their people.” ““They’re a very experienced and reputable contractor in the wind industry,” says Andrew. “They’re almost the one of choice because they’ve got that professional approach.”

“We want people to be paid right,” adds Andrew. “Not a race to the bottom.”

When it comes to employing locals, Acciona were required to include local CFMEU WORKER

engagement in their government tender and they’ve made significant efforts. Andrew says: “It’s easier. If you can find people who can get home at the end of the day, it’s better.”

“We held an industry session in Colac, invited local businesses. A lot of businesses didn’t understand wind farms.

I broke it down to the stages, a list of skills that get involved in the project.”

“We went through the long list of services, consumables that will be needed. We registered the local businesses and invited the right ones to tender.”

Acciona also looked at what their contractors would do, for instance when it comes to the civil work contractor Andrew says “The main reason we chose Civilex is because they had done the most work on local relationships, they use local company R Slater & Sons for instance.”

“One of the other key things was to get the towers manufactured at Keppel Prince in Portland.”

“The quality of the Australian made is always better,” concludes Andrew.

Acciona even employ locals directly where they can, from the job’s Peggy to the cultural liaison and administration staff.

Next on Acciona’s list is the 42 turbine Mortlake South wind farm. Before this job can go ahead, the business needs to have a contract on the power or win another of the state government’s ‘reverse auctions’. So the Government continues to have a say and a role in creating jobs and determining what kind of jobs they are.

Companies like Sarens from Queensland, Mammoet from Netherlands and Windhoist from Scotland are undercutting wages and employ workers heavily from interstate and overseas.

There’s been a negative impact on safety and there’s no commitment to build local capacity to service an industry that has plenty of future in Victoria.

When it comes to employing locals and maintaining industry standards, the industry certainly talks the talk and some are walking the walk – but with plenty more projects to come, those commitments will be tested and the results of government policy will be closely watched.

The CFMEU will be working hard to turn hot air into a boom for members.

SUMMER 2017

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As we grow our strength and power to deliver better working lives for Members, it’s wor Despite the Turnbull’s Government’s attempts, by 2018 we will be united with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) a We have long, proud histories in different parts of our union and these will never be lost or forgotten. Just as we build on the hard work, struggle

Federated Engine Drivers & Firemens Association of Australasia (1908-1949)

Federated House & Ship Painters Paperhangers & Decorators Employees Association of Australasia (1910)

Operative Painters & Decorators of Australia (1915)

Operative Painters & Decorators Union of Australia (1918)

Australian Builders Labourers Federation (1911-1972)

Colliery Mechanics Mutual Protective Association Hunter River District, New South Wales (1926)

Barrier Branch of the Amalgamated Miners Association of Broken Hill (1908-1950) Victorian Coal Miners Association (1907-1914)

Australasian Coal Miners Association (1913)

Australasian Coal & Shale Employees Federation (1916)

Federated Mining Mechanics Association of Australasia (1929)

Victorian Fibrous Plasterers & Plaster Workers Union (1938) Victorian Fibrous Plasterers Union (1936)

Victorian Plasterers Society (1940)

“Victorian Quarrying employees Association (1913-1950) Federated Saw Mill Timber Yard & General Wood Workers Employees Association, Adelaide Branch (1906-1950)

Federated Saw Mill Timber Yard & General Wood Workers Employees Association of Australasia (1907) Federated Saw Mill Timber Yard & General Wood Workers Employees Association, Victorian Branch (1905-1950) Federated Furnishing Trade Societies of Australasia (1909)

1900’s

Australian Society of Progressive Carpenters & Joiners (1912-1923)

Federated Bricklayers Association of Australia (1916-1950)

Australian District of Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners (1911) Australian District of Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners (1911)

Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners of Australia (1922)

Building Workers Industrial Union of Australia (1945-1948)

Slaters Tilers & Shinglers Union of Australia (1928)

Slaters Tilers Shinglers & Roof Fixers Union of Australia (1944-1976)

Operative Stonemasons Society of Australia (1919-1991)

Pulp & Paper Workers Federation of Australia (1948)

Australian Paper Mill Employees Union (1913)

Amalgamated Timber Workers Union of Australia (1913-1918)

Australian Timber Workers Union (1918)

Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australasia (1914)

1910’s

Operative Plasterers Federation of Australia (1925)

1920’s

1930’s

1940’s

rth looking back at the history of how the CFMEU came together as one big union. and the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA), giving every Member more collective power. and success of Members of the past, we continue to unite where it can be of benefit to Members, just as we have for more than 100 years.

1993 Federated Engine Drivers & Firemens Association of Australasia (1950)

1992

Australian Building Construction Employees & Builders Labourers Federation (1976-1986)

Victorian Operative Bricklayers Society (1969)

Australian Building Construction Employees & Builders Labourers Federation (1972-1974) 1992-PRESENT

Victorian Plaster Industry Workers Union (1973)

Victorian State Building Trades Union (1988)

Slaters Tilers & Roofing Industry Union of Victoria (1970)

Victorian State Building Trades Union (1991)

FULL FORCE UNION

United Mineworkers Federation of Australia (1990)

“Sometimes we are fortunate to read history written by a participant, by one whose personal involvement shaped the events recounted.

Sometimes we are the participants, writing our history and shaping our future.”

ATAIU & BWIU Amalgamated Union (1991)

Building Workers Industrial Union of Australia (1962)

Australian Timber & Allied Industries Union (1991) Operative Plasterers & Plaster Workers Federation of Australia (1963)

1950’s

1960’s

1992

A nod to Dave Noonan’s forward in ‘Creating a Super Union’ by Tom McDonald (2010)

1993

1970’s

1980’s

1990’s

2017

- A SPIRITUAL CREATION ‘Bunjil Place’ is an impressive creation, built by CFMEU and other union members, as the new home for the City of Casey’s cultural and customer services in Narre Warren.

A $125 million job, the centre includes an outdoor community plaza, theatre, multipurpose studio, function centre, library, gallery and City of Casey Customer Service Centre.

Inspired by Bunjil, an ancestor and creator spirit of the First Nation Peoples often portrayed as a Wedge-Tailed Eagle, there’s barely a straight line in the building.

Bunjil is a very special spiritual being to the people of the Kulin Nation, including the language groups of the Wathaurong (Watha wurrung), Wurundjeri (Woi wurrung), Bunurong (Boon wurrung), Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung people.

As a spiritual creator, Bunjil is believed to have shaped and

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moulded the natural landscape and provided the plants and animals.

Bunjil also established the laws and bonds that connect people to their Country.

Each First Nations group has their own special relationship with and stories of Bunjil, but they include singing life into figures moulded from clay, preventing the rising of the oceans and flooding of land in return for people following the laws and becoming the bright star Altair after the protector crow Belin Belin released two bags of strong winds blowing Bunjil into the sky.

At Bunjil Place, the eagle influence is obvious with the beak-shaped nose of the front of the building, the two large wings and the timber legs behind the glass at the back of the building.

Jon Wiltshire was the Bunjil Place shop steward, a good representative of the members, joined by Stephen ‘Blackie’ Black and Paul ‘Harmsy’ Harman (ETU).

Jon started on the job in November 2015, Blackie shortly after in May 2016.

“It was a complex job,” says Jon. “Not a straight line in the place, a credit to all the trades.”

The timber ‘legs’ were prefabricated in Germany, COS Interiors did a lot of the internal panels, GVP Fabricators did a lot of the steel, including the bull nose out the front, Barden-Steeldeck Industries (BSI) did the roof, Form700 did early work, Casellos finished the carpentry, Phoenix were on traffic, Higgins on painting and Cleanex Group got it ready for handover.

Others included Anova on light and power, Rutledge for light and sound and LNL did the install for the auditorium.

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- THE KULIN NATION -

This map provides a general indication of Kulin boundaries.

However, as Boon wurrung people of the Bayside area explain, “Aboriginal ownership of country is a complex matter and there is a tendency to want to place fixed boundaries around the extent of traditional tribal territory. This probably did not reflect the reality of traditional occupation. The boundaries of territory between the Woiwurrung and Boon wurrung for example, were probably very fluid with frequent contact occurring between them."

Historian, Gary Presland, expands on the complexities surrounding Kulin land boundaries; “The boundaries of these language group territories were likely indicated by landscape features…

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These boundaries were well known to members of the different groups and never lightly crossed.

It would be a mistake, however, to think of these boundaries as fixed. In the traditional situation there may well have been some flexibility as to their location; they were boundaries intimately known to all the people concerned, but that might vary from time to time. Lines drawn on maps that represent clan or language group boundaries as seen by European observers should be regarded as approximate; they only reflect the situation at the time of first contact between Kulin people and Europeans, without any surety that earlier times are also reflected. Language group boundaries were really social in nature and cannot be accurately rendered on paper.”

Today, the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council makes decisions regarding Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs), who are the voice of Aboriginal people in the management and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria. If you want to find out who the Traditional Owners of your locality are, the RAPs map may assist you.

Visit: vic.cfmeu.org.au/raps_map

CFMEU WORKER

&

WIMDOI

WIMDOI, Women In Male Dominated Occupations and Industries, was founded by pioneering CFMEU Women in 1992.

The conference aims to bring together union women from across male dominated industries to collectively debate, organise and network issues that affect the lives of women, our families and communities. WIMDOI has a long and proud history of inspiring and developing women activists to become effective and strong unionists, delegates and officials.

The 2017 WIMDOI “Change the Rules – Stand Up and Fight Back” Conference saw over 130 Women Unionists, representing 15 unions across the country participate in a dynamic 3 day conference.

Guest speakers included powerful SUMMER 2017

women like Sally McManus and Ged Kearney from the ACTU, Ros McLennan (QCU), RTBU Secretary Luba Grigorovitch, CFMEU Senior Economist Kristy Jones, Indigenous Officer Lara Watson and so many more.

New Zealand Women from the RMTU and MUNZ joined forces to share their struggles against conservative employers and they detailed their fight to maintain workplace rights.

Conference delegates enjoyed rallying on the streets of Brisbane chanting against the LNP and Pauline Hanson parties ahead of the weekend’s election. Women also rallied with comrades from the ITF in support of PNG workers who are in a fight to protect their wages and conditions against the ICTSI.

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CFMEU WORKER

SUMMER 2017

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SKINNER CUP In a fitting tribute to a well-loved man, the Skinner Cup was a big day and great success in 2017. Held at Alma Park in St Kilda, union members across the building industry and union movement were invited to form teams and battle it out on the football field.

The mens final was between United Ireland, who beat Incolink in the semifinal, and AMWU, who were too good for the Nomads in the semi.

AMWU beat last year’s winners United Ireland 2-1 to take out the mens round.

Noel and Catrina McLaughlin, Skinner’s brother and sister, presented the mens trophy.

St Kilda Celtic beat Sinn Fein in the final for the womens competition and were presented with their medals by Father Bob Maguire.

As well as some entertaining football, there was bubble football, football darts, fire trucks and more to entertain the kids and the bar was kept busy on what was a warm Sunday.

As well as remembering Adrian ‘Skinner’ McLaughlin, the event is focused on raising money for important charities and this year a fantastic $20,000 was raised for homeless people through the Father Bob Maguire Foundation. Father Bob was there to gratefully accept the donation.

Three shirts were raffled off to help raise the money, one each for Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Liverpool, all signed by the whole team.

A big thanks to Gerry McQuaid, Dave Hawkins, Gerry McCrudden and Toby Patterson for putting in a lot of hard work to make the day a success, as well as the volunteers on the day behind the bar and helping out. JMF Catering did a great job cooking breakfast and lunch on the day for everybody.

Overall, a great day had by all, with everyone looking forward to next y ear’s event.

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CFMEU WORKER

CHANGING THE RULES FOR WORKING PEOPLE I

want to pay tribute to union movement legend Joe McDonald who has dedicated his working life to serve the working class and also wish Mick Buchan a speedy recovery.

This year the Turnbull Government has launched the biggest attack on working people since WorkChoices. The ABCC, the Registered Organisations Commission, and a raft of other anti-worker legislation have been rushed forward by a government which wants to destroy unions and make working people more vulnerable.

Inequality is at a 70-year high.

Since the Global Economic Crisis money has flowed upwards and it has not come back to us. We have told for 30 years that trickledown economics would bring better jobs and wages back to the working class. But this promise has turned out not to be true. The money has stayed with the rich, in offshore bank accounts and they have only become richer as our jobs have been casualised, offshored and outsourced, our services privatised and life has become harder.

So we need to commit ourselves to a once in a generation campaign to change the rules. We can turn around inequality by demanding the rich pay their fair share of tax SUMMER 2017

SALLY MCMANUS

and working people have better and stronger rights at work. This campaign needs to be lead at rank and file level where we take our demands to our communities to win over public opinion.

We know that when our mighty union movement campaigns together we can change the course of history. We have done this for generations and we will need to do it again.

We can change the rules to reverse the casualisation of jobs and so we have enough power to win pay rises and better rights for the next generation. This will also mean getting rid of the ABCC. Our opponents seem to be worried, and they should be. The lesson from our history is that united movements of working people can achieve great change, and no amount of intimidation from conservative governments will stop that.

So the message for those who oppose us is simple. You can sack us. You can outlaw us. You can vilify us every single day with all of your media might. You can set up Royal Commissions. You can tap our phones, you can raid our

offices. You can vilify and punish our leaders. You can bring in laws to police us. You can support laws that make our work hard, take away all support for unions to grow and all acknowledgement that we exist.

You can fine us, and jail us. You can do all this. But you will never defeat us. We are not going away. We will never go away. And the harder you fight us, the more you teach us. For you can never crush or destroy a belief – the right of all of us to be treated equally and fairly. And you can never take away our power – the power of unions – the simple act of working people deciding to stick together.

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$17 BILLION WAGE THEFT DEMANDS

ACTION

Cbus CEO David Atkin has urged the Government to align the payment of super with wages in the wake of reports that rogue employers have ripped off workers to the tune of $17 billion in unpaid superannuation.

He welcomed the announcement that the ATO is cracking down on employers who are ripping off workers, but said the Government needs to go further to address the widespread and serious problem which affects hundreds of thousands of workers in the construction and building industry.

“No matter how you cut it, unpaid super is a big problem that requires a big response from Government and regulators,” Mr Atkin said.

“Workers superannuation is not an ATM that can be used by companies short of 38

cash, it’s deferred wages for someone’s future”.

“We know that paying super with wages will go a long way in stopping non-payment – it’s common sense and reflects community expectations”.

“By the ATO Commissioner’s own admission of the scale of the problem, the antiquated quarterly payment system isn’t working for workers or businesses”.

“The millions of dollars of unpaid super contributions not paid into Cbus makes it harder for our members in retirement and increases reliance on the age pension”.

“Strengthening the current compliance regime including by holding directors personally responsible for non-payment of super as reports suggest are moves in the right direction”.

“These measures are important in redressing the unfair playing field for the vast majority of employers who adhere to the law and pay their employees super”.

“We await the release of further detail by the Minister and look forward to participating in any consultation to ensure the interests of our members are improved through these changes.”

Mr Atkin also urged workers to get into the habit of checking their super contributions like they check their wages have been paid.

“At Cbus, our mobile app makes it really easy for members to check their super account balances and payments on the go,” Mr Atkin said.

CFMEU WORKER

KEEPING TRACK RECOVERING OF YOUR SUPER YOUR SUPER

Cbus encourages employers to pay super contributions monthly.

This is important both in terms of ensuring super is paid and to assist with the early detection of the non-payment of super.

Early intervention is critical to successfully recover your super.

Cbus has developed apps and online platforms to assist members to check their balance and see if their super has been paid by their employer.

Cbus is also rolling out member cards that allow Cbus Coordinators, union officials and delegates (who have member consent) to check members are getting paid their super.

Unpaid super has been a big problem for construction and contracting workers, as some contractors wind up the business and it’s found that these businesses haven’t been paying super as per the law.

Employment across the construction and building industry is typified by project-based, precarious employment and subcontracting. The transient nature of the workforce, coupled with poor business and payment practices, leaves workers vulnerable to loss of entitlements.

Cbus engages Industry Funds Credit Control (IFCC) an arrears collection agent for outstanding super contributions and entitlements for our members. It’s one of the things that distinguishes us from retail funds.

CLEANING UP OUR INDUSTRY

The CFMEU and Cbus have been active in fighting for changes to the law to remedy the problem of unpaid super. Together with Industry Super Australia, Cbus made a submission to a Senate Inquiry earlier this year tackling the issue. The inquiry found that there is $3.6 billion in super that isn’t getting paid every year that should be.* Failing to pay super isn’t only harmful to the retirement prospects of members, it hurts our industry. Non-payment of superannuation disadvantages employers who do obey the law, and properly pay their employees’ entitlements.

This is because nonpayment gives some employers an unfair

*http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/SuperannuationGuarantee/Report

SUMMER 2017

39

100% INDEPENDENT CAR REVIEWS WITH GOAUTO.COM.AU BY TIM NICHOLSON AND ROBBIE WALLIS

AUSSIES LOVE SUVS.

IN FACT, THEY ARE NOW MORE POPULAR THAN TRADITIONAL SEDANS AND WAGONS, ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL SALES KIA SORRENTO FIGURES. THERE ARE More people are taking Kia seriously in A LOT OF QUALITY Australia, and models such as the Sorento seven-seat family SUV are helping turn OFFERINGS FOR the brand image around.

PEOPLE LOOKING FOR Ranging in price from $42,990 to $58,990, Sorento in base guise is $1000 dearer A BIG FAMILY HAULING the than the Nissan Pathfinder, but it doesn’t SEVEN-SEAT WAGON. breach the $60k barrier at the top end unlike its Nissan rival.

HERE WE FOCUS Interior layout is impressive, with the inclusion of an 8.0-inch touchscreen ON THE RECENTLY hosting Kia’s latest infotainment system giving it an advantage over the systems REFRESHED KIA offered by Mazda and Toyota.

SORENTO AND NISSAN Interface navigation is simple, and the touchscreen operation is lag-free, PATHFINDER. which is a relief as slow systems can be distracting while driving.

40

GoAuto.com.au Standard equipment is shared generously across all model grades, with the low-spec Si and Sport sharing many of the features of the SLi and GT-Line, such as the 8.0inch display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, digital radio, dual-zone climate control and new safety features including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, driver attention alert and adaptive cruise control.

Interior space is ample, with front and rear legroom plentiful, and a bigger boot than the old model thanks to 20mm more rear overhang.

Ride comfort is excellent, and combined with the thick and well-supported seats, makes for a supple driving experience.

Cabin noise is kept to a minimum, especially in more generously-equipped versions. Wind noise is the only intrusion worthy of note, and the base-level Si is a tad more susceptible to tyre roar.

KIA SORRENTO INTERIOR

CFMEU WORKER

Of the two engine choices, the carry-over 147kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is the better pick, and comes exclusively in all-wheel-drive configuration, whereas the 3.5-litre V6 is a front-drive-only proposition.

pew, and there is loads of head, knee and legroom.

Fuel economy got as low as six litres per 100km with mainly highway driving, up to around 8.2L/100km with a more varied driving experience.

There is a nifty plastic step into the flat second row floor that helps avoid messy carpet on a wet day, and a rubber seal on the wheel arch to mitigate against people getting dirty pants when loading kids or shopping into the back door.

The petrol V6, while adequate, is slightly underwhelming in comparison to its oilburning partner and fuel consumption has risen by 0.1L to 10.0L/100km.

One area where the Sorento falls behind its other rivals, especially the utebased SUVs with ladder-frame chassis construction, is its towing capacity.

Occupants in the second and third row have plenty of storage options – there are 10 cupholders throughout the cabin – as well as air vents.

NISSAN PATHFINDER Back in 2013, Nissan repositioned its Pathfinder from being a go-anywhere, hard-edged Navara-based off-roader to a seven-seat family friendly soft-roader perfect for the school run.

Rated at 2000kg braked, the Sorento is 200kg shy of its mechanically related Hyundai Santa Fe cousin, and a tonne or more off the mark of the segment leaders.

Earlier this year Nissan lobbed a mid-life facelift of the US-sourced model ushering in fresh styling, optional safety features, tweaks to the V6 engine and better connectivity.

Overall, the new Sorento is one of the best offerings in its class, with generous standard equipment, quality driveability and comfortable ride quality, particularly when combined with Kia’s industryleading seven year warranty.

It starts at $41,990 and runs to $69,190 for the flagship petrol-electric Ti Hybrid all-wheel drive, and this pricing is competitive against rivals including the Toyota Kluger ($43,550-$69,617) and Mazda CX-9 ($43,890-$64,790).

Everything in the cabin functions as it should, but the overall look and feel of the dash holds the Pathfinder back.

In base ST guise, the cloth trim looks and feels high quality and is more appealing than the black leather in the top-spec Ti, but most parents prefer leather for easy child mess clean ups.

NISSAN PATHFINDER INTERIOR

Visibility is best in class thanks to the low window frames and narrow D-pillar, but if you need more help, reversing sensors and an around-view camera with predictive guidelines makes parking easier.

Second-row accommodation is impressive, with a firm but comfortable

NISSAN PATHFINDER INTERIOR

Getting into the third row is a cinch thanks to the slide and tilt second-row seats, which can even be moved when there is a child seat attached.

The base ST in all-wheel-drive guise we sampled is powered by a 202kW/340Nm 3.5-litre V6, while the Hybrid TI uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a system output of 188kW/330Nm. There is a slight fuel economy advantage with the Hybrid (8.6-8.7L/100km vs 9.9-10.1L/100km) but in all other areas they are much the same. If you like the technology, go for the hybrid, but if you tow anything, the V6 can haul 2700kg compared to 1650kg for the Hybrid.

It drives and rides well and has solid standard features for the price, but it is its usability as a real-world seven-seat family SUV that should put it on more shopping lists.

SIDE BY SIDE PRICE ENGINE

NISSAN PATHFINDER KIA SORENTO $41,990-69,190 plus on-road costs $41,990-69,190 plus on-road costs 202kW/340Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6; 188kW/330Nm 2.5-litre four- 202kW/340Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6; 188kW/330Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder cylinder petrol-electric hybrid petrol-electric hybrid

TRANSMISSION

Continuously variable transmission, front or all-wheel drive Continuously variable transmission, front or all-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY

V6 - 9.9-10.1L/100km; Hybrid 8.6-8.7L/100km V6 - 9.9-10.1L/100km; Hybrid 8.6-8.7L/100km

WEIGHT TOWING CAPACITY CARGO SPACE

SUMMER 2017

1920-2073kg 1920-2073kg V6 – 2700kg; Hybrid 1650kg V6 – 2700kg; Hybrid 1650kg All seats up – 453L; all seats folded down – 2260L

All seats up – 453L; all seats folded down – 2260L

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TRAINING NEWS

WEST GATE MEMORIAL

&

EXHIBITION OPENING

highlights critical work for

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY

DIPLOMA GRADUATES and a minute’s silence to remember those who were killed, many braved the West Gate Punt to cross the river from Spotswood to Port Melbourne.

O

n 15th October, the 47th anniversary of the collapse of the West Gate Bridge, the CFMEU Education and Training Unit held a graduation ceremony for the 25 workers who recently completed their Diploma in Work Health and Safety with us. The day was also marked by the opening of an exhibition of photos and memorabilia of the building and collapse of the West Gate bridge.

For many the day commenced at 11.30 when we gathered for the annual memorial ceremony under the West Gate Bridge in Spotswood. Following speeches

42 042

At the CFMEU High Risk Work training facility in Port Melbourne around 250 people joined us for lunch and an afternoon dedicated to celebrating the achievements of our students and to paying homage to all who make our workplaces safe. Our guests included our graduates and their families, the survivors of the West Gate bridge and the families and friends of workers who had survived and who had lost their lives in the building of the West Gate bridge.

The formalities commenced with music from James Henry, a local singer songwriter with family ties to one of the indigenous artists who sang on the bridge in 1974.

Along with some Billy Bragg numbers, James Henry performed Wayward Dreams, a song that was performed on the bridge.

John Setka addressed guests and stressed how dangerous construction work

CFMEU WORKER

can be, described recent government attacks on the union and the impact of those attacks on workers, and reinforced the CFMEU’s commitment to never taking a backward step on safety.

With everyone fired up our graduates received their Diplomas from our very special guests from the West Gate bridge. These guests were Paddy Hanophy leading hand and rigger who was the first to cross the bridge; Sam McFadyen an iron worker and rigger who came onto the job for the first steel work; Mrs Gerada whose husband an iron worker lost his life on the bridge; Bob Setka an iron worker/ rigger who rode the bridge down and survived; Pat Preston a rigger and crane operator who was working under the span as it collapsed; Stan Humphries

SUMMER 2017

leading hand and rigger who was working on the bridge on the day of the collapse and who was injured in 1972 when Joe Owens lost his life in a fall from the bridge, and Danny Gardiner an iron worker who with John Cummins, Pat Preston, Jim O’Neill and Tom Watson established the West Gate Memorial Committee.

It was a very moving graduation.

043 43

Perhaps it is best summed up by Charles Garuda who wrote:

The ceremony was followed by the opening of our West Gate exhibition. Two classrooms on the first floor of the High Risk Work training facility look out on the West Gate bridge. It is a constant reminder of the risks our members take every day they work in this industry. With this as background Jane Bayley, a local actor, read an exert from a play about the effects of the collapse on the families of those who worked on the bridge. The exhibition was opened by Loretta Canever a retired CFMEU OHS teacher who worked with Pat Preston (former CFMEU OHS manager) to curate our exhibition.

It was a unique day and one that we hope holds special memories for the graduates, the survivors of the bridge and the families who attended.

44 044

ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER AND FAMILY, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CFMEU FOR THE INVITATION TO YOUR CEREMONY, YOUR GENEROSITY, AND YOUR HOSPITALITY. THIS DAY IS A SOMBER DAY FOR OUR FAMILY, AND IT WAS MADE THAT LITTLE BIT EASIER BY THE WAY THE CFMEU HONOR THE WORKERS WHO WERE KILLED OR INJURED ON THE WESTGATE BRIDGE. PLEASE PASS ON OUR HEART FELT THANK YOU.

CFMEU WORKER

SUMMER 2017

045 45

keeping SAFE M

ost of us look forward to the holiday season.

It means family, friends and many opportunities to have a drink or two.Here are a few ways you can take care of yourself, your mates and your family over the holidays.

going out

Try to set yourself limits over the festive season. It is recommended that a person drinks no more than 4 standard drinks in a day*.

• Fill your glass only when it is empty – it is easier to keep track of how many drinks you have.

keepin track staying safe & So how much is too much? Everyone is different so it is more about why you drink than how much. Ask yourself some questions about your drinking

Q: If you set a limit to your drinks before you go out, do you find it difficult to stick to it?

staying in

Try to set yourself limits over the festive season. It is recommended that a person drinks no more than 4 standard drinks in a day*.

Q: Are you often unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?

• Don’t forget to eat.

Q: Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you have a break from drinking?

• Avoid ‘shouts’ or ’rounds’ of drinks or drinking competitions.

Q: Are there times when you feel your need to have a drink to cope?

• Drink water or a soft drink between each alcoholic drink.

Q: Does your drinking affect your home life, relationships or work?

• Think about drinking water or a soft drink when the weather is hot – alcohol can be dehydrating.

If you answered Yes to any question then it might be helpful for you to have a confidential chat with an Incolink Alcohol & Drug Counsellor.

• Drink slowly, try not to gulp.

Phone Incolink Member Wellbeing & Support: 1300 000 129 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Don’t drink and drive. *Australian Alcohol Guidelines - Department of Health.

• A big glass could hold 2 standard drinks so make sure you count the drinks not the glass.

• Check how much alcohol the drink contains; read the label, which in Australia must state the percentage of alcohol in the beverage. The more alcohol a drink contains, the lower the quantity that is equivalent to a standard drink.

Standard drinks guide

A ‘standard drink’ is the measure of alcohol used to work out safe drinking levels. One standard drink contains 10g of alcohol. Often a glass or stubbie can contain more than one standard drink.

• When planning a party, get plenty of alcohol-free and low alcohol options to your guests.

• Make sure you offer your guests something to eat.

• Don’t drink and drive - a taxi is safer for your guests than an accident. *Australian Alcohol Guidelines - Department of Health.

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1

1

2.1

7.7

37

30

STANDARD DRINKS

CFMEU WORKER

N E W L AW Y E R

Playing in bands, organising gigs was a normal thing for Dave, but this was an opportunity to “help get rid of Johnny f***ing Howard.”

He still plays guitar and bass and last year played the gig supporting CUB workers with the band Dear Park at the CFMEU bar.

While organising with the AMWU for around seven years, Dave studied law and moved over to the industrial office.

DAVE: A NEW LEGAL TECHNICIAN A

radio communications technician, guitarist, bass player, organiser and industrial lawyer, David Vroland is the newest member of your CFMEU Legal/Industrial Team.

Working as a technician on hearing aids, Dave was asked for the first time to join a union.

“I’ve always been interested in unionism and a strong supporter of collective action. I think I was so keen to join when the delegate asked he thought I might do a better job!”

They weren’t particularly well organised, but Dave focused on getting the technicians signed up and getting the workplace organised.

He must have impressed as a delegate too, because he was soon offered a job by the AMWU as an organiser.

SUMMER 2017

Being an organiser was mostly a case of figuring it out on the job.

“They sent me out to negotiate an EBA, I said how do I do that?”

The organisation gave Dave training and support, but he also learned a lot from the delegates who had done it all before.

“I was involved in negotiations for the power industry, some construction, offshore oil and gas, defence industries all over the state and a bunch of laboratories, it was a very broad perspective on industry in Victoria.”

Dave was one of the organisers of ‘Rock for Your Rights at Work’ in 2007 fighting Howard’s WorkChoices.

“I liked working there, a great job in many ways, but when I saw the CFMEU job I thought I could use a change of scenery so I went for it.”

“The CFMEU is well run, a well organised unit with a lot of knowledgeable and experienced people who are dedicated to the cause of representing and helping out working people.”

“It’s still early days, but I’ve already dealt with a range of things – a big win in the Federal Court with five unions involved.”

As part of the legal team, the bread and butter is unfair dismissals, general protections, disputes, underpayment claims and protected action ballots.

When it comes to music, Dave says “rules are there for the breaking”, but with broken workplace laws rigged against workers and their union, it’s lucky we have Dave here to help.

CALL THE CFMEU LEGAL TEAM 9341 3444

“We had a metal show, a rock show, hip hop, folk music, everything. I’d been putting on gigs for various bands for years, so it was a natural fit.”

47

Stop the War on Workers Resolutions and Solutions “Thanks to all the young activists, indigenous members, women and delegates who represented the union at the national conference. You did us all proud.” – Victorian Secretary John Setka.

CFMEU Construction Division National Conference 2017 was held in Perth, Western Australia and resulted in strong resolutions that commit the union to policy positions and to achieve certain outcomes in 2018 and beyond. Resolutions passed by the conference included:

asbestos awareness

48

… this conference calls on the Federal Government, and the State and Territory Governments to mandate asbestos awareness training for all workers in the construction industry as a matter of urgency.

BANKING ROYAL COMISSION

Conference calls on the Federal Government to establish a Royal Commission into the Banking industry.

Only a Royal Commission with full powers to investigate bad practises can bring these giant corporations back to the important task of delivering for Australia.

cfmeu women The Union should continue

to develop our training and advocacy agenda on the issues that matter for women in our industry and out union.

The Union will do this by: •

Actively negotiating enterprise agreement clauses that advances women’s rights at work

•

Commit to supporting and increasing women participation into HSR and delegate roles

•

Ensure women attend union leadership training programs to develop women’s union skills

CFMEU WORKER

civil / infrastructure organising This National Conference notes the erosion of conditions on Civil and Infrastructure projects across the country. Foreign multinational contractors in particular have driven the standards backwards, and the domestic civil contractors have not been far behind them. Labour hire has exploded in civil projects, health, safety, pay and conditions have all slipped in recent years.

Conference resolves to coordinate a National Civil Organising campaign overseen by the National Office. A National Civil Organising Summit (1 day) would set the agenda for a long term strategy to turn the civil sector around. Workers in the civil industry deserve nothing less.

family violence awareness Conference calls on the National Union to continue its family Violence Awareness Week in late November/ early December. Further, Conference calls on all Branches to include provisions for Family Violence leave in all enterprise agreements going forward.

federal integrity comission Conference calls for the establishment of a Federal Integrity Commission to ensure the highest standards of ethical behaviour are observed by all Commonwealth public officials, including Ministers, MPs and Senators, public servants and businesses within the scope of the Corporations Act. Only an independent federal commission with full powers of investigation and prosecution can ensure that politicians and public officials act in the public interest, and not in the interests of their mates, donors and patrons.

SUMMER 2017

INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION CHARTER National Conference resolves to promote indigenous participation within our Union, and in the industries we represent.

ULURU STATEMENT This Conference resolves that the CFMEU will support the campaign that seeks to achieve the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as contained in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The CFMEU will share the words of the Uluru statement on the jobs, commit to ensuring the use of acknowledgement of the traditional owners at the commencement of tool box meetings, commitment by individual attendees of the conference to undertake self-education on the First Nations culture, welcome to country ceremony on new projects and commit to sharing/promoting www.1voiceuluru.org website on each branches social media forums

SAFETY STANDARDS AND LEGISLATION The conference calls on tougher regime of safety standards and of safety legislation including: •

 industrial manslaughter laws in relation to fatalities

•

 higher fines and penalties in relation to fatalities caused by breaches of safety standards

•

 right for unions to prosecute

•

 public outing of companies that kill workers

YOUTH POLICY This conference acknowledges that for any Union to have a future it must have a progressive youth policy.

This Conference calls on the National Executive and all state branches to design and implement youth policies that place more young men and women into appointed and elected positions within our union.

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ASBESTOS

By Dr Gerry Ayers, CFMEU Safety Unit manager.

(The following is an edited version of the keynote presentation given by Dr Gerry Ayers of the CFMEU at the November 24th Asbestos Memorial Service, held at Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne).

N

ovember is now known as “Asbestos Month” – which in terms of “alerting” the public to the dangers of asbestos, isn’t a bad thing. However, for those of us at the CFMEU and our members and OHS reps, every month is asbestos month, every week is asbestos week, every day is potentially asbestos day.

We all know and understand that the issue of asbestos (and its horrific aftermath) just doesn’t somehow magically commence or conclude in November.

Every week, 13 Australians die of asbestos related diseases – 12 from malignant mesothelioma; and another 13 will be diagnosed with this incurable cancer from inhaling asbestos fibres, when asbestos containing materials are disturbed.

That’s well over 600 new cases per year – and it’s been estimated that by the end of this century, there will be over 20,000 new cases.

Now those are truly terrible and shocking numbers…but sadly and somewhat disappointingly, I think that many in the public realm – and I fear even some in our own regulator – WorkSafe, those figures are merely that – they’re just NUMBERS!!!

The CFMEU simply won’t succumb to a “numbers game” – that won’t and can’t explain the anger, the

sorrow, the pain, the suffering and the helplessness of watching and caring for loved ones - many of whom are in insufferable and intolerable pain.

The CFMEU simply won’t succumb to a numbers game that is often ‘fed’ by phases such as “it’s just really not that practicable to remove all the asbestos”…or “it’s just too expensive to remove all the asbestos…” or “there’s just too much asbestos to remove all of it…”.

Well there’s just too much pain, too much suffering, too much sorrow and ultimately too many deaths – if we don’t safely remove all the asbestos, wherever and whenever that opportunity presents itself!

The CFMEU will continue to call for the total removal of all asbestos where workers and our members, and the public, may unintentionally or intentionally come across it and potentially be exposed to it – be it in old buildings, new buildings, in soil, in building products or in any other products… wherever it is found or identified. We will continue to call for mandatory training when

it comes to asbestos – both in awareness and identification and of course, in the safe removal of it. We will continue to lobby governments – whatever political persuasion they may be - and demand that they promote and enforce a world-wide ban on the use of asbestos.

Our government regulators need to punish those who continue to accept asbestos as just another product.

Even as this journal goes to press, a developer and a builder at the “Paris End” of Collins St – not too far from here – and only a few weeks ago, had knowingly allowed building workers to drill, cut, chip and sand rendered walls, that contained asbestos – and how did they know ??? Why, they had scientific tests conducted on the building, before the works commenced identifying that almost every rendered wall in that 6 story building, had asbestos in it They even allowed workers to smash holes (with hammers) into what had been clearly labelled as asbestos containing cement sheet walls.

Furthermore, they then continued to allow unsuspecting and unprotected workers, to merely sweep-up the CFMEU WORKER

THE FIGHT CONTINUES dust and rubble (with no control measures whatsoever in place…) that resulted from the works – dust and rubble which was contaminated with asbestos.

Now the CFMEU, the ETU and the Plumbers union went in there to immediately stop the work, protecting workers and the public from further exposure. But our OHS Regulator is still deciding what to do with the site and the builder. I would have thought that ordering the removal of all the asbestos prior to any recommencement of the “refurbishment” work would be a good starting point.

But also applying ‘legal sanctions’ against those who knew about the asbestos, and who then knowingly allowed work that was disturbing the asbestos to commence and continue, unabated, until we got involved!!!

asbestos exposure photos from arete (kane) site in collins st, Melbourne cbd

Only the regulator can ensure correct legal sanctions are applied – they need to send a message to industry and our community, that it is simply unacceptable (and illegal…) to tolerate/allow such behavior and work practices when it comes to asbestos. And we need to all send that same message to the Regulator!

We will continue “the fight” against asbestos – and we will win – because we have to. Every worker, every member of the public and every generation that follows – are relying on all of us to win. We must never allow asbestos, with all its pain, with all its suffering, and ultimate death, dominion over life!

Touch one, Touch all!

SUMMER 2017

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THERE’S A LOT OF OPTIONS AROUND SUMMER, BUT GUMMY SHARK IS A GOOD ONE TO CHASE.

W

hiting’s around, but everyone knows about that and I’ve got a good recipe for the Gummy.

You can catch Gummies all year round, but over summer the weather’s better and the wind is down more often. You can catch them in both the bays, Port Phillip or Western Port, and you can even get them out offshore. The bays are most popular, they’re accessible and easy.

Gummies range from small up to about 35kg. A larger fish is more than likely female and potentially have pups inside them as well. If you do keep a bigger fish it doesn’t hurt to take a look for pups inside. You’ll have a fair idea, they’ll be fat and you can see them moving around.

It’s not hard to get the pups out when you open up the Gummy and chuck them in the water to give them a chance.

Gummy Shark is flake. Most people know, but surprisingly some don’t.

They are a bit of a scavenger, a

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WITH MATT SEADON bottom feeder. They’ve got a good sense of smell, maybe one of the strongest around. That means burley probably isn’t even needed.

As for a rig, it’d be the same for both bays. In daylight hours you’re going for deeper water, which means heavier sinkers and hook size of 6/0 to 8/0. A standard running bomb sinker rig would be the rig of choice.

Downsize the sinker the shallower your water. A lot of people will go for the evening or later at night when you can get right into the shallows, down to 3-4m of water.

Try a snelled rig, that’s two fixed hooks on the line (for stripped baits).

BAIT Like always, the fresher the bait the better and if you’ve got time it’s always good to try and catch your own. For Gummies, you’re looking for squid, salmon, trevally, yakka. It is extremely important that the bait’s presented well in the water, so with the blood baits (salmon, trevally and yakka), you can either have strips or cut it into small steaks.

Bait needs to sit well in the water and the best way to test that is to rig it up and drop it in the water to see if it sits steady in the water flow. If the bait is spinning at all you need to take it out, readjust it until you can get it sitting steady.

If you’re using squid, you can do anything with it – squid rings, use the head, or cut it into strips.

Squid is normally over weed beds, the blood baits will usually follow a burley trail – set yourself up near a structure and you’ll usually get some salmon, trevally and yakka – just burley hard.

WHERE TO GO In either bay, a sounder is really important, not so much to find the fish, but to look at the type of bottom you’re over. Good areas are any edges of a drop-off where the deeper water shallows out quickly.

Any type of change in the bottom, like rubble or reef, is good and steer clear of heavy weed.

You’ve found your spot, you’ve got your fresh bait, you’ve got your rig, now it’s just a matter of waiting it out. This isn’t the kind of fishing where you want to be moving a lot, you just need to back your fishing and give the fish a chance to smell the bait. Hopefully, then you just need to hold on!

CFMEU WORKER

FISH TACOS Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • •

500g Gummy fillets, chopped into rough 5cm chunks ½ cup Kewpie Japanese Mayonnaise ½ jar Capers 1 can Pineapple chunks 2 Tomatoes - diced 1 Spanish (red) onion diced 2 tbsp Plain flour 1 tbsp Paprika 1 tbsp Cayenne pepper Vegetable oil Soft wraps/tortillas

IN SEND R YOU !

S PHOTO

The beauty with this recipe is you can use any fish you want, but it suits flake well. Should be 20 minutes from start to finish. It’s joy.

1. Mix the plain flour, paprika and cayenne pepper together into a fish rub.

2. Put the dry rub into a snap seal bag and throw your flake chunks in, give it a good shake until all the fish is nicely coated.

3. Throw the coated fish into a shallow pan covered in ½cm of hot oil with the burner up pretty hot. Turn the fish after a couple of minutes until it’s browned on all sides.

4. Put the fish on some paper towel or baking paper to drain some oil off.

5. Throw your diced onion, tomatoes and drained pineapple chunks into a wok or frying pan with a little oil, keep it moving for about 5 minutes. This is your salsa.

6. Crush and finely chop the capers and mix them in with the mayonnaise.

7.

Microwave the wraps for 10-20 seconds to soften the up (or follow the pack directions)

8. Put the desired amount of mayo in the wrap, whack your fish in and chuck the salsa on top. Done. Bon apetit!

OF THE

Send in photos of your best catch in your CFMEU fishing gear and you could feature in the next magazine and on our Facebook page!

Send photos in a message to the CFMEU Vic-Tas Facebook page: facebook.com/CFMEUVic Or, email to: viccomms@cfmeu.org SUMMER 2017

53

EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIT NEWS 2017 has been another busy year for the Education and Training Unit. In addition to providing training for around 10,000 enrolments, we have also developed new courses and worked with new groups of people. Our apprentice programme, high risk work licences and OHS courses are still in high demand and despite cuts to our Incolink funding we have managed to offer courses to almost everyone who has applied.

PRE-APPS AND APPRENTICES Our fourth intake of pre-apprentices finished in August and most of the group have started their carpentry apprenticeship with commercial construction employers. This is a great programme. Our pre-apps have very impressive work ready skills and really love the construction industry.

Our apprentices from 2015 are now in their 3rd year and will finish their schooling early in 2018. Our first and second year apprentices are progressing well. Employers comment on the great skills and knowledge of CFMEU trained apprentices.

It is a shame that more employers are not stepping up to employ apprentices. Our program makes it easy for major construction companies to play an active role in the employment and upskilling of apprentices. If you know an employer who needs a firstyear apprentice with a love of carpentry and a good basic knowledge of the commercial sector send them our way.

And although our 2018 pre-apprenticeship course is almost full, if you know a young person who really needs this programme contact the Unit or Liam O’Hearn (CFMEU Apprenticeship Officer) in early February and if there is a vacancy we will interview them.

VERIFICATION OF COMPETENCY (VOC) Verification of Competency (VOC) will be big in training in 2018. A result of insurance company risk aversion strategies and a broken national training system, major construction companies are demanding workers verify competency before starting on site. With no regulation or rules around Verification of Competency, VOC is often carried out by the same shonky providers and profiteers that have discredited the training system.

In 2018, we want to set the standards in this space and protect our members from racketeers.

This year we worked with Probuild to develop refresher training for crane crew. This course focussed on tilt up and perimeter protection screen construction and included new practices and techniques. Completion of the refresher training was accepted as verification of competency and met Probuild’s specific requirements for crane crew. We have also trialled refresher training/verification of competency with Mirvac.

In 2018, we will be rolling out other forms of VOC. In doing so we will be ensuring that VOC are tied to rules and standards and that there is consistency in application. Please contact the Unit if you are being asked to verify competency.

TILT-UP AND PRECAST CONSTRUCTION Around 100 OHS representatives have completed the safety competency for working with tilt-up and precast panels. The one day course covers information on risk management and safe work practices during the manufacturing and erection of precast and tilt-up concrete.

54

CFMEU WORKER

RETRENCHED WORKERS Our members know there have been many businesses in the manufacturing and energy industries that closed in 2017. We have been working closely with CFMEU organizer Toby Thornton and the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council throughout the year to provide training to retrenched workers from the Hazelwood power station and from Carter Holt Harvey in the LaTrobe Valley. We constructed a confined space training area at the CFMEU office in Morwell and in the new year hope to expand this facility to offer asbestos removal.

Heaps of induction, confined space, traffic control and safe work at heights courses have been completed in 2017 resulting in 570 workers with construction skills. At this very difficult time for the workers, it has been encouraging that so many are coming into the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council offices in Morwell for assistance in training and to find work.

SCHOOLS AND TAFE Our apprentice officer and OHS trainers provided OHS induction courses to around 1,000 school students across more than 50 schools in 2017. In addition to the OHS course, the students received valuable information about work in the building industry.

Some of the lucky students went on site walks with the help of Liam, our site delegates and HSRs.

A NEW ALIMAK! It’s time for our faithful old personnel and materials hoist to hang up its CFMEU ticket.

Built in 1977, the Alimak has served us well and helped us to train 1,500 CFMEU members. More recently it has also been shelter for a Port Melbourne possum. We hope to find a home for the Alimak where it can continue to a tool to educate in construction technology.

We are very happy to announce that in 2018, we will be using a new Alimak Scando 65/32 with state of the art communication systems and a training board offering all current configurations. With our new Alimak, CFMEU personnel and materials hoists courses will be second to none.

HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSES The Education and Training Unit will be interviewing for the 2018 Certificate III, Certificate IV and Diploma in WHS in February. Health and Safety Representatives, activists and workers wanting to upskill in OHS should download the application form from our webpage and send it to the Education and Training Unit as soon as possible to arrange an interview.

If that doesn’t work for you contact us early in February and we will book you a time.

Thank you to our members, HSRs, delegates, organisers and officials for the tremendous support you have given the Unit in 2017. We look forward to working with you in 2018 to make sure that CFMEU education and training continues to be the best available. We wish you all a safe and happy festive season and holiday.

SUMMER 2017

For further information about our training and courses please contact the Unit on 93413444 or check our website at vic.cfmeu.org.au/training 55

CFMEU AND SLATER + GORDON ACHIEVE GREAT RESULTS FOR INJURED WORKERS TWO RECENT WORKERS’ COMP RESULTS DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNION AND ITS LAWYERS WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR MEMBERS WHO SUFFER SERIOUS INJURIES AT WORK. Often bosses and their insurers will try to limit the amount of compensation workers can claim in common law damages claims by downplaying the amounts that can be earned by workers in commercial construction.

A decision by the County Court in October demonstrates the importance of making the Court aware of what’s really going on in the industry as a result of strong and effective bargaining by the CFMEU. In a recent case, senior 56 056

Slater + Gordon lawyers, James Casey and Mick Sayers obtained an Affidavit from Branch President, Ralph Edwards setting out the EBA rates that a seriously injured scaffolder would have been earning if not for his injury. In his judgment, Judge Bowman stated: “I accept the evidence of the plaintiff and of Mr Ralph Edwards. Mr Edwards has chaired meetings of scaffold contractors and has played an active role in union negotiations in relation to the CFMEU Contact Scaffolding Enterprise Agreement. ….I prefer the

material provided by Mr Edwards to that emanating from (the employer). Mr Edwards is at what could be described as the cutting edge of discussions or negotiations concerning wages paid and conditions in the scaffolding industry.”

Ralph’s evidence helped ensure that the right result was achieved for the injured worker. As a result, his claim for future loss of earnings can now be maximised.

CFMEU WORKER

ROSS’ STORY Ross Phillips spent three decades as a labourer and demolition worker on sites across Melbourne but in late 2014, the father of three’s ability to do his job was swiftly taken away in the cruellest of workplace accidents.

In September 2014 while working for PPK Demolition on a Hutchinson’s job, Ross was on a scissor lift – eight metres above the ground – removing ceiling panels at a warehouse in Airport West.

One of the three-metre panels fell, knocking the scissor lift over, throwing Ross to the concrete ground below resulting in horrific permanent injuries.

He suffered severe spinal injuries (including fractured vertebrae), head injuries, hearing loss and tinnitus in his left ear, damage to his right knee, right shoulder and neck, carpal tunnel syndrome, scarring and disfigurement.

He has also suffered depression, stress and anxiety as a direct result of the trauma experienced.

“I was actually millimetres from being a paraplegic,” Ross said. “My 19-year-old son was working with us that day, he came over to me when I was on the ground and thought I was dead.”

“I’ve had so many injures, including three fractures in my spine, I’ve had two steel rods inserted and they’ve fused my spine. The whole thing has been a nightmare.”

SUMMER 2017

Ross, who can only walk with the aid of a walking stick, is now unable to work despite intending to be employed for another two decades.

“It’s easy to think that a workplace accident won’t happen to you and I never once imagined that I would be in the position where I couldn’t work,” Ross said.

through the complex stages of pursuing lump sum compensation and common law damages.

After initially assisting Ross in obtaining a no-fault impairment payment, James commenced a common law damages claim for Ross alleging that his serious injuries were caused through negligence at the site.

“Ross was owed a duty of care which was clearly not delivered and now he has been left with injuries that he will never recover from,” said James. “He has been robbed of his opportunity to enjoy family life as well as more than 20 years of his working life because of this accident.”

“There’s nothing more important than a safe work site. I should never have been put in the situation that I was in and now me and my family living with the consequences.

“I’m dealing with depression and anxiety – it really has made the whole process so much harder.”

After the accident Ross contacted the CFMEU’s Frank O’Grady who he had known for decades. Frank put him in touch with the Union’s WorkCover Officer, Neil Browne and Mick Sayers from Slater + Gordon who supported Ross through the early stages of his Workers Comp. claim. Later, Slater + Gordon Principal Lawyer James Casey became involved to represent Ross

After a long struggle, Ross’ claim settled for a combined amount in excess of a million dollars which is at the upper end of what’s payable through the Victorian workers’ comp scheme.

“A million bucks sounds like a lot of money but it will never compensate me for everything that I’ve lost.

I’m very happy with the outcome though and also relieved that this is now all over and I can start moving on with my life. I’d like to thank Frank and Neil from the Union and James and Mick from Slater + Gordon for everything they’ve done for me. Without their help I reckon I would have chucked it in a long time ago.”

057 57

Building & Woodworkers’ International Youth Summer School

SIMO GOES GLOBAL T

he BWI Youth Summer School had representatives from unions from all around the World. The purpose of the summer school was to bring the next generation of unionists together to discuss how we can build stronger unions at home, while at the same time, developing a stronger international movement among construction unions.

All the representatives who attended did their unions proud, but Simo says there were reps from some countries that really stood out. “I was particularly impressed by the Swedish and South Korean reps,” he says.

“Byggnads, the Swedish construction union is formidable,” says Simo.

“They have exceptionally high levels of density and have recently had major successes in tackling sub-contracting and pyramid contracting.”

“At the same time, Byggnads have effectively moved into organising domestic housing. The Swedes also stood out for their work around social policy, specifically in focusing on gender equality.”

“I was proud to report that as with our Swedish counterparts, the CFMEU is working hard to break down barriers to greater inclusion of women in construction.”

While issues surrounding gender equality in construction were similar across the Western World, in developing countries it was safety, corruption and industrial violence that were the primary issues for organisers.

There’s one word Simo uses to describe the South Koreans: staunch.

“These guys were clear that they were up for a fight,” says Simo. “I think it’s fair to say we were all impressed with the militancy of our Korean friends.”

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The struggle of the Nigerian construction union also struck Simo. Under extreme conditions, these unionists are fighting on many fronts: safety, very poor conditions and pay as well as being part of a fight against corrupt governments.

“You just need to spend a few hours around these guys to be reminded of how bad things can be and that we must never drop our guard.”

The BWI is trying to achieve joint agreements around the world. The intention is that companies will agree to basic minimum standards wherever they’re working around the world. In countries such as Australia, South Korea and Sweden, this would be topped up by local agreements struck by the local union. However, in countries such as Qatar where it’s illegal to organise, the aim would be for those workers to have some basics, as little as PPE, a base wage and clean toilets.

“I’ve come away from this conference with more energy and new ideas about how we can make the CFMEU stronger,” says Simo.

“But most importantly, I’ve realised that our fight in Australia is actually an international fight against companies that span the globe. We will be a stronger union by working with our brothers and sisters around the world.”

CFMEU WORKER

CBUS BUILT WITH PURPOSE With over 750,000 members, Cbus is the leading superannuation fund in the building, With over 750,000 construction and allied industries. members, Cbus is theWe have a unique heritage and ongoing links with leading superannuation the construction andbuilding, building industry that fund in the employs many of our members. construction and allied

industries.

We owned havesubsidiary a Cbus Property is a wholly unique heritage and of Cbus, and manages all Cbus direct ongoing links and with the property developments investments. construction and building Through Cbus Property, Cbus invests that employs in industry development projects across the many of our members. country and has created employment for anCbus estimated 75,000* people its Property is asince wholly inception in 2006. owned subsidiary of

Cbus, and manages Cbus Property achieved a return** all of Cbus direct property 24.3% for the year 2016/2017 financial developments and year, compared to an industry average of investments.

Through 12.05%^. Returns averaging 15.9% aCbus year Property, Cbus invests have been generated by Cbus Property in development projects since it was established in 2006. across the country and

Cbus Property developments continue to has created employment receive industry recognition with awards for an estimated 75,000* including: people since its inception

in Collins 2006. Street, 171 Melbourne Cbus Property achieved a return** of 24.3% for2017, • Best Victorian Development Award the year 2016/2017 Property Council of Australia financial year, compared • People’s Choice Award 2017, Property to an industry average Council of Australia of 12.05%^. Returns averaging a year 140 Williams15.9% Street, have been generated by Perth Cbus Property since it was • Best Commercial Building Energy established in 2006.

Efficiency Project 2016, Energy Efficiency Cbus Property Council Assembly, North Melbourne

developments continue

•Victorian Architecture Award for to receive industry Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing recognition with awards 2017, Victorian Chapter of the Australian including: Institute of Architects

171 Collins Street,

Looking forward, Cbus Property has a Melbourne substantial pipeline of projects worth • Best Victorian approximately $4.5 billion including Development Award prime office, mixed use and residential 2017, Property Council of developments that are well-positioned in the current market.

SUMMER 2017

A snapshot of some properties currently under development include Collins Arch - 433-439 Collins St, Melbourne. VIC Collins Arch comprises of 200 luxury residential apartments. It is part of a luxury mixed use development which incorporates the 5 Star luxury Hotel, W Melbourne and approximately 49,000sqm of PCA premium grade office accommodation.

The residential apartments occupy components in both the East and West Towers and includes the Skybridge at level 34. Due for completion in 2019.

443 Queen St, Brisbane. QLD Set to be Brisbane’s first premium subtropical residential tower, consisting of 264 high quality residential apartments with unprecedented views over Brisbane and back towards the city.

Newmarket - 1 Young Street, Randwick. NSW. Over 5 hectares in size in Randwick, providing 642 residential dwellings and approximately 2,300sqm of commercial/retail accommodation.

Includes 17 residential apartment buildings ranging from 3 to 8-storeys to be developed in three stages. * Estimated employment since inception in 2006 to June 2017 based on inductions for completed and committed developments. **Cbus Property investments are part of the property asset class in the High Growth, Growth, Conservative Growth and Conservative investment options and these returns form part of the crediting rates allocated to accounts invested in these options. ^ The industry average is the Mercer/IPD Australian Property Pooled Fund index.

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“I was only making up the numbers” First Aid Life Saver On Sunday 29th October this year I was asked to help “make up the numbers” in the Vets cricket match at my local club.

I help out every now and then and after what happened during the match, I’m glad I did. As one of our bowlers was coming in, the facing batsman pulled away from the crease. He looked at me and seemed to be in pain. I asked if he was alright, and with that he clutched his chest and hit the ground with an almighty thud. As players were rushing in to help, I knew what it was that I had to do.

For many years I have not only been an active First Aider on many commercial building sites in and around Melbourne, but I have done pretty much all my training through the CFMEU. The trainers are second to none and set such a high standard. There is none of the usual “tick and flick” or online training that seems to be acceptable these days, its good quality, old fashioned face to face classroom learning.

With the batsman lying motionless on the ground, I checked him (as a trained First Aider does) and realized that he had stopped breathing. I immediately started CPR whilst another player rang for the

TasBuild’s Portable Long Service is great for the whole construction industry.

ambulance. We were relaying information to them on what was happening and I sent someone to my car to get a resuscitation mask that I keep in there for emergencies just like this. We kept doing CPR for a good ten minutes whilst waiting for the ambulance.

When they got there, they encouraged us to keep going whilst they got their defibrillator and other equipment ready to use. Once they took over, they gave him several shocks from the defibrillator and more CPR as well as injected medications.

He finally started to respond to all the treatment and was loaded into the ambulance and taken to hospital. He had a stent put in, and is recovering well. The ambo’s were full of praise for us all and said without our help things would probably have turned out a lot different.

It’s a few weeks since it all happened and it still feels quite surreal. I can’t believe I helped save a life. Without the training the CFMEU provides, I’m not sure what I would’ve done, but with it, my training has had a huge impact.

Kevin Elms

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CFMEU WORKER

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Rising Star Interior Pty Ltd

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Quantum Access Design, supply & installation of roof walkways, handrails, catwalks

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TIMBER FLOORING SERVICES COMMERCIAL PTY LTD

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Cleanworx Services Pty Ltd

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Ph: (03) 9646 2188

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J. Simos Steel Fixing Pty Ltd

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Express Interiors Pty Ltd

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FACTORY 8, 27 ASCOT VALE ROAD FLEMINGTON, VIC. 3031

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CC

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ANTHONY CICCONE PROJECT MANAGER

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38 Brindley Street Dandenong Sth Vic. 3175

0414 979 169

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JC SCAFFOLDING PTY LTD Level 6, 70 Racecourse Road North Melbourne, Vic. 3051

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Oceania Universal Paving Australia Pty Ltd

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Eire Group Pty Ltd 1-5 Failla Avenue Campbellfield, Vic 3061

430 Victoria Street, Brunswick, Vic. 3056

Cityline Scaffolding Pty Ltd

Phone: (03) 9380 2876

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Clifton Formwork (Vic) Pty Ltd

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A Grade Crane Hire Pty Ltd

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CONTRACTORS PTY LTD

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

Phone: 03 9832 1400

STONE BENCHTOP INSTALLATION

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SUMMER 2017

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Geelong Concrete Testing P/L

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31 Albert Street 5248 8809 Moolap, Vic. 0418 522 433

80 McGregor’s Drive, Keilor Park 3042

Phone 03 9331 5799 Fax 03 9336 3564

bhrvatin@borcor.com.au cklaaysen@borcor.com.au ABN 85 739 568 919

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Six Star Construction

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PH 0411 599 936 CW 23/3

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Custom Clad Pty Ltd

Supporting the CFMEU

PO Box 3091 Moorabbin East, Vic. 3189

PH 0411 599 936 GLASS SPLASHBACK INSTALLATION

info@ssicommercial.com.au

(03) 9357 6758

Fax: (03) 9308 5711

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ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

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Ph: (03) 9308 5311

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Complex Facade Installations Pty Ltd

Are proud to support the CFMEU

Independent Scaffolds

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Colouring your World info@opt4us.com.au

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Musclecrete has your concrete floor covered Vinyl, timber, ceramic carpet floor removal Concrete grinding/slab removal, floor rectification/preparation Polished/honed concrete grinding/seal coatings, Epoxy coatings.

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VICTORIA

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COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL & RETAIL BUILDERS & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

BRIDAN PTY LTD 21 Gilbert Road, Ivanhoe, Vic. 3079 Phone: 9499 2524 Fax: 9499 4520 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 LIVING LANDSCAPES PTY LTD 7/38 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123 Mobile: 0412 324 877 Email: livinglandscape@optusnet.com.au 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 MONTE CARLO TILING Factory 1, 61 The Gateway, Broadmeadows, Vic. 3047 Phone: (03) 9359 6262 Website: www.montecarlotiling.com.au

MABEN GROUP PTY LTD ABN 63 255 276 365 22 Blackwood Street North Melbourne Victoria 3051 t 03 9329 2166 f 03 9329 2188 CW 23/3

REDBAR EXCAVATIONS Excavators 94 Newlands Road, Reservoir, Vic. 3073 Phone: (03) 9460 6620 SOUTH MELBOURNE BUILDING SERVICES PTY LTD 28A Grandview Street, Glenroy, Vic. 3046 Mobile: 0411 337 413

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Web: www.topknotcarpentry.com.au Email: info@topknotcarpentry.com.au Facebook: Top Knot Carpentry & Joinery Tel: 02 9565 1009 Fax: 02 9565 1006 Mob: 0415 035 780 PO BOX 622, Waverley, 2024

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CFMEU WORKER

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Moncor Investments Pty Ltd

Matic PLASTERING Pty Ltd

Trading as

MCM Tile & Stone

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XPRO CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD

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Ph: 0418 143 152

Ph: 03 9308 8111 CW 23/3

H Purple Hills Painting H Wayfinding H Painting & Decorating H Architectural Signage H Multi-Site Rebranding

1300 999 747

www.purplehills.com.au VICTORIA

CW 23/3

E: aclasscladding@gmail.com

CW 23/3

Centracon Pty Ltd PO Box 3060, Bareena Vic 3220

Ph: 0414 641 326 CW 23/3

CW 23/3

Straightline Contractors Pty Ltd Unit 3, 10 Princes Hwy, Doveton, Vic. 3177

16-18 Sunshine St, Campbellfield, Vic. 3061

P: 03 9794 0880 M: 0424 860 000

Phone: (03) 9359 3266

E: onewaysaf@gmail.com W: www.onewayconstructions.com.au

CW 23/3

SUMMER 2017

CW 23/3

CW 23/3

65

YOUR WAGES

EBA WAGE RATES ONSITE 36-HOUR WEEK: Your Union 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 Concrete pump operator

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

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

66

CFMEU WORKER

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

$0.55 per hour

Superannuation: $205 per week, or 9.5% of ordinary time earnings, whichever higher.

Floors 16 – 30

$0.66 per hour

Floors 31 – 45

$1.02 per hour

Floors 46 – 60

$1.32 per hour

Floors 61+

$1.62 per hour

Incolink payments: $78.05 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: $25.89 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

$1.45 per hour

First Aid Allowance

Living away from home allowance: $770 per week

Minimum qualification

$2.91 per day

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

Higher qualification

$4.61 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!

SUMMER 2017

67