ASSISTANT SECRETARIES SUPPLY INDUSTRY CONTRACTING & CONSTRUCTION

The Electricity Supply Industry is going through a record growth period, and will do so for the next 15-20 years The $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan requires a major rebuild of the transmission network, record programmes of work on the existing networks, private sector renewables, the influx of people moving to Queensland, CopperString 20, Inland Rail and the 2032 Olympics infrastructure is a perfect storm from a resourcing perspective Recruitment and training must be an urgent priority for government and the Government Owned Corporations, as we will need 1000s of extra workers in Queensland

Recruitment is ongoing and we are seeing an increasing number of unfilled vacancies across Energy Queensland (EQL) and Powerlink This is as a result of a worldwide skills shortage, and delays in the recruitment and onboarding leading to good candidates accepting other roles, either due to frustration with delays or better wages and conditions on offer elsewhere

We are attempting to get Powerlink and EQL to urgently focus on training This includes fast tracking the building of the Townsville and Gladstone Powerlink training facilities and rebuilding the existing aging EQL training facilities We also need a long-term resourcing strategy for the future training requirements Trainers must be employed now, so we are ready to train the future electricity industry workers We have contractors approaching us wanting to train over 1000 workers within 6 years There will be approximately 1000 apprentices every year, so we need extra training resources employed now At this stage, EQL and Powerlink have no detailed plan to deliver these workers the training they need 25% of the current workers are over the age of 50 and will retire in the middle of this boom, so management must get their acts together if they have any hope

The work programme and skills shortage pose enormous challenges but importantly a massive opportunity for us, but we must address the current attraction and retention issues as this will only get worse when things ramp up

The 2024 EBA provides us with an opportunity we will never get again as the stars have aligned With the enormous work ahead, that is linked to politically sensitive deadlines, a global skills shortage, and better money and conditions on offer elsewhere, it is imperative that members are educated about the opportunities, are engaged in the EBA process, and prepared to act collectively for us to deliver industry-wide wages and conditions instead of the current situation where there is better money and opportunities on offer elsewhere

If EQL, Powerlink, and government don’t address the attraction and retention issues, we will not have the workers to build the critical infrastructure It’s vital that we continue to grow our membership and our power in the workplaces Every win has been fought for and delivered by ETU members, there is no excuse not to be an ETU member

We have the power, let’s use it in 2024

Comrades, welcome to 2023 As reported in the November journal, this year will be a big year for the contracting and construction sectors of our union, not only do we have preparations for the 2023 EBA in full swing, but we also have key reviews into H&S and electrical safety due to hand down findings and recommendations as well. But wait, there's more… We have a new construction-specific mandatory silica dust Code of Practice kicking in on May 1 While on the jobs front, we have myriad construction projects at various stages across the state with many more in the pipeline.

EBA negotiation preparations hit top gear

Following the delegates conference last year and ongoing sub branch meetings, the final touches are being made to the proposed log of claims, which will be finalised for endorsement at the June conference and subsequent mass meetings The proposed log of claims is a sensible and progressive set of clauses ranging from the reinsertion of all provisions that were removed under the ABCC and Building Code such as Same Job Same Pay provisions (no more use of labour hire at lower rates) as well as casual conversion to permanent work after 6 weeks, to name a couple We will also be campaigning for a minimum 5% pay increase per year. In addition, we will be seeking 26 weeks paid maternity leave, paid in conjunction with the federal government provisions, and an increase to paid partner leave from 2 weeks to 6 weeks* (see note below). We are also working through how to introduce a ratio provision for older workers to ensure vital skills are retained and passed on All details of the above claims and others will be revealed at mass meetings to be held in mid-June following the delegate conference, you will be advised of times and locations, make sure you come along!

At conference and sub branches and following discussions with members who have found themselves in situations where due to medical emergencies and/or family situations they have been unable to provide the care required by their partner or other children within the household Given the EBA provides 4 weeks annual leave, 2 weeks parental leave and 10 days sick leave, a growing number of members have found themselves short of leave in circumstances where the birth and/or recovery from the birth have been difficult and extend beyond 6 weeks.

OH&S and Electrical Safety review updates

The final outcomes from the reviews undertaken last year are expected any day, see Youngy’s article re: Electrical Safety review outcomes which resulted in 120 recommendations currently being considered by the state Government On the WH&S review front, we are still awaiting the recommendations As always stay up to date via our Facebook page or circulars.

Silica Dust Code of Practice for construction

While there has been a lot of much needed ongoing publicity around the deadly impacts of silica dust in the manufactured stone benchtops space, in our industry, a much-needed mandatory silica dust Code of Practice in the construction industry will come into place on May 1 Your union was involved in the consultation process

Know your rights We urge all members to familiarise themselves with this important COP, don’t allow management to control your safety, and stay in control of your working life - it could save your life.

It is no longer just about wearing a mask, this stuff kills and is arguably a bigger threat to workers health than asbestos The following is an excerpt from the Worksafe website providing a brief overview of the Code.

The new Code is Australia’s first silica dust code of practice for the construction industry and will commence in Queensland on 1 May 2023. It applies to all construction work as well as the manufacturing of materials such as bricks, blocks, tiles, mortar and concrete

The Code outlines how duty holders can meet the requirements of Queensland’s work health and safety legislation, including eliminating or minimising exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at work by using tried and tested dust control methods that prevent silica dust from being generated or being released into the air, including water suppression and on-tool dust extraction using appropriate respirable protective equipment to safeguard at-risk workers using exposure data from air monitoring to check dust controls are effective providing health monitoring to at-risk workers, with clearly defined triggers for testing based on level of risk consulting with workers, as well as training, education, instruction and supervision of workers.

The Code was developed in close consultation with workers, employers and technical experts across Queensland, building on international best practice to ensure silica dust is managed safely and workers are protected in the construction industry and the manufacturing of construction materials

Project updates

With Jimmy Little, Steve Bravo, Wendel Moloney and regional organisers touching on the progress of specific projects in their areas I’ll keep this section to a broad overview concentrating on a few high-profile areas; Cross River Rail, the QHealth Capacity Project, Renewables and the Olympics in the case of the QHealth Capacity Project, the first two new hospital builds off the blocks are the $1 3 billion Toowoomba hospital on the Darling Downs and the $1 3 billion Coomera hospital on the Gold Coast Importantly, both projects are subject to state government BPICs (Best Practice Industry Conditions) This ensures decent EBA rates and conditions along with decent health and safety and representation rights, this is good news for members on these projects.

In the case of Cross River Rail, the project is finally starting to ramp up and the demand for sparkies is increasing albeit at a slow steady pace See Jimmy’s report on page 32.

Renewables

Some big state government announcements have been coming thick and fast recently with two of the more notable being the government taking control of the Mt Isa to Townsville $5 billion CopperString project, and the conversion of the old Swanbank coal-fired power station into a Clean Energy Hub Both projects will be publicly owned infrastructure projects built under BPICs ensuring decent wages and conditions for ETU members. Apart from these two significant projects there are also many other projects in the renewable energy space that have either begun or are in the pipeline across the state including wind farms, pumped hydro, hydrogen development, and community and large-scale battery storage projects The future is now, the transition to a renewable, sustainable future is in full swing and the demand for skilled workers will only get bigger as Queensland ramps up to 70% renewables by 2032

Olympics – if managed competently will provide opportunities for many years to come

While the full extent of the opportunities that will flow for ETU members from the infrastructure blitz are not fully known, what we do know is new stadia, facilities and transport links will be needed to revitalise Brisbane and regional Queensland to make us ‘games ready’ We know that projects like the new Gabba will provide opportunities for current and future ETU members to earn good coin for a decent period of time We will be looking to lock in contracts and ensure projects are BPIC complaint as soon as possible to maximise outcomes for members and our communities

Skills shortage could derail benefits

Now more than ever governments need to be investing in TAFE and training to increase apprenticeship numbers to meet the expected surge in demand for our current and future electrical skills, we cannot afford to wait, we need the skilled workers for tomorrow, today, if we are to unlock the full benefits for future generations of electrical workers and ETU members

It’s an exciting time to be an ETU member, stay up to date and contact your organiser for more information

Key Dates

May 1

April 28

April 29-May 1

June 7-9

Mid-June

July 31

Silica dust Code of Practice for construction industry

International Workers Memorial Day – venues and details to be advised

May Day Celebrations – details to be advised Delegates conference

Mass meetings to endorse EBA Log Expiry of current EBA document

Electrical Safety Act review

The Electrical Safety Act review has concluded, at the end of the review, 120 recommendations went to the government for consideration, and we are now waiting on Minister Grace Grace to announce what the government is doing with these 120 recommendations We expect there to be several Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS) to come out of these decisions There will be lots of work still to do following the RIS being released. The union will then make submissions around these RIS items which we expect to be including solar panel installation, specifically what is electrical work and should be only performed by licensed electrical workers. We also expect there to be a RIS covering Electric Vehicles (EVs) and we will be making a submission on this emerging technology We realistically don’t foresee licensed electrical workers to be building cars, but we say there is a large amount of equipment in EVs that does require licensed electrical workers to install and maintain These are just two big changes we expect following the RIS, which should be released in the coming weeks for consultation. We are pressing government for the full adoption of the 120 recommendations by the end of 2023

Safety first, always

There has been a recent increase in reported electrical shocks, with a couple of saddening reports already being made this year. It’s a timely reminder to stay safe on the job Don’t just do what your boss says, remember that it is your risk, your license, and in very unfortunate circumstances, your life. I’d also take the opportunity to remind members to look out for each other particularly apprentices It’s our responsibility to keep them safe, and step in if and when they are asked to complete work that is either unsafe, or outside their scope of capabilities. Their safety is very often in our hands

Rail industry

The Aurizon Coal EBA is complete. This agreement was completed in the fastest time I have ever experienced with the company We achieved good outcomes for the Aurizon Coal workers, and surprisingly, given their history, the bosses came to the table with a decent approach this time, rather than reacting by making terminations and threats to workers

The Aurizon Network EBA is kicking off with Mackay Organiser Craig Thomas taking a lead role in negotiations as they are in Mackay Between Craig and I, we will have an update for the next journal mid-year. We are seeing the ETU members in Aurizon keen to reverse the terrible agreement that was voted up by a margin of 1 vote last time The biggest problem facing ETU members in the Aurizon Network negotiations is that we are some 300 members in a workforce of about 1000 Last time, apathy amongst the nonETU members saw us lose the “vote NO” campaign we ran by 1 single vote Our members have been active in educating those non-ETU members about what apathy can mean to everyone

We are also kicking off the Queensland Rail EAs some 6 months late due to QR not being in a position to start till now This means that collectively we need to focus in on addressing the issues facing ETU members in QR The primary issue is the pay rates causing highly skilled ETU members to leave QR for better money ETU members in QR have been hamstrung by Government wages policies that mean there is a real wage disparity of $10/hr and if this isn’t addressed we will see no trades staff in QR. It’s a critical EA for so many reasons and one the ETU delegates will be driving the agenda on

Biennial conference

The 35th Biennial Conference is coming up in a couple of months as I write this, and we are busy planning. International guests have been invited for the first time since 2019, so it’s sure to be an enjoyable and interesting conference with international solidarity Our focus for the conference will be renewables and emerging technologies, with the theme being ‘Secure Work, Sustainable Communities ’ 2023 will be a big year for the ETU, with the conference and our union elections coming shortly after