The Electrical Worker Volume 104

Electrical Trades Union Queensland and Northern Territory

Electrical Worker

OCT 2023 | VOL 104

Back pay win for Torres Strait workers Meet IBEW’s Sarita Morales ETU on the Kokoda Track

pg pg pg

6 22 24

CONTACTS

CONTENTS

REGISTERED STATE OFFICE: BRISBANE SECRETARY: Peter Ong 0419 721 046 PRESIDENT: Jason Young 0419 721 044 ASST SECRETARY: Stuart Traill 0488 225 625 ASST SECRETARY: Chris Lynch 0407 510 329

FROM THE SECRETARY: PETER ONG

4

ASST. SECRETARY: STUART TRAILL

6

ASST. SECRETARY: CHRIS LYNCH

8

PRESIDENT: JASON YOUNG

9

TERRITORY UPDATE: STRAWBS

10

CONTRACTING: JIMMY LITTLE & WENDEL MOLONEY

11

GOLD COAST UPDATE: BEAU MALONE

12

APPRENTICE UPDATE: LUKE ELLIS

13

NORTH QUEENSLAND: LIAM SHARKEY

14

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND: SHAWN HIGGINS

14

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND: ROB HILL

15

LIFTS: STEVE BRAVO

16

SUPPLY INDUSTRY: BRENTON MULLER

17

WORKING IN ANTARCTICA: KAT THOMAS

18

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH

22

TACKLING THE KOKODA TRACK

24

HONORARY MEMBERS GROUP

25

ETU SAYS NO TO AUKUS

26

GOLD COAST OFFICE Beau Malone 0430 824 609 beau@etu.org.au Queensland Teachers Union 6/173-175 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227

35 YEARS FOR WAZZA

28

ETU MERCH

29

THE HISTORY OF ETU T-SHIRTS

30

TOOWOOMBA OFFICE Damian Hewatt 0437 012 451 19 Russell Street, Toowoomba P 07 4638 9313 F 07 4639 2810

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS - GRIM FOR WORKERS

33

CASEY BELL RECOGNISED BY MATES

34

BE SUN SAFE THIS SEASON

35

HALL PAYNE WINS

36

FROM KINGY & LANCE

38

BRISBANE ORGANISERS Wendel Moloney Scott Reichmann James Little Brenton Muller Steve Bravo Luke Ellis INDUSTRIAL OFFICERS Lisa Midson Margarita Cerrato Kait Teague TRAINING OFFICER Rebecca Keys MEDIA & RESEARCH media@etu.org.au Andrew Irvine Kristin Perissinotto

0409 769 625 0437 184 399 0417 670 821 0428 392 935 0437 798 007 0456 592 084

0456 849 544 0419 382 192 0484 265 162

petero@etu.org.au jason@etu.org.au stuart@etu.org.au chris@etu.org.au

wendel@etu.org.au sjr@etu.org.au jimmy@etu.org.au brenton@etu.org.au steveb@etu.org.au luke@etu.org.au

lisa@etu.org.au margarita@etu.org.au kait@etu.org.au

0404 887 408

0429 535 860 0448 633 858

HONORARY MEMBERS GROUP CHAIRPERSON Gordon Abbott 0438 320 187

SUNSHINE COAST & WIDE BAY OFFICE Dan Bessell 0437 184 315 6/33 Bulcock Street, Caloundra Qld 4551 P 07 5341 8927 F 07 5341 8953

andrew@etu.org.au kristin@etu.org.au

gordon.abbott@etu.org.au

damian@etu.org.au

daniel@etu.org.au

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND OFFICES Shawn Higgins 0448 633 579 shawn@etu.org.au Union House, 178 Quay Street Rockhampton Qld 4700 81 Hanson Rd Gladstone Qld 4680 gladstone@etu.org.au

The Official Organ of the COMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONIC, INFORMATION, ENERGY, POSTAL, PLUMBING AND ALLIED SERVICES UNION of Australia (Electrical Division)

MACKAY OFFICE Craig Thomas 0419 721 029 thommo@etu.org.au Qld Council of Unions, 41 Brisbane St, Mackay 4740 P 07 4953 4799 F 07 4953 4899

41 Peel Street South Brisbane 4101 P 07 3846 2477 F 07 3844 9851 E info@etu.org.au 1800 ETU YES (1800 388 937) www.etu.org.au

Follow the ETU on social media: @etuqldnt

EDITOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTIONS JOURNAL ENQUIRIES ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Peter Ong Andrew Irvine & Kristin Perissinotto (07) 3846 2477 (07) 3846 2477

NORTH QUEENSLAND OFFICE Liam Sharkey 0498 278 976 liam@etu.org.au 64 Ross River Rd, Mundingburra (PO Box 5800) Townsville 4812 P 07 4728 2443 F 07 4728 2907 FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND OFFICE Robert Hill 0430 072 049 25/25 Grafton Street, Cairns P 07 4051 3472 F 07 40513502

robert@etu.org.au

NORTHERN TERRITORY OFFICE Dave "Strawbs" Hayes 0419 721 042 strawbs@etu.org.au First Floor 38 Woods Street (PO Box 4053) Darwin NT 0801 P 08 8941 2300 F 08 8981 1770

Contributions from our members of articles and photos for this journal are always welcome. Please email materials to media@etu.org.au.

FROM THE SECRETARY Welcome to this, the 104th edition of the Electrical Worker. As usual it’s been a busy year so far and it’s not going to slow down anytime soon, with EBA campaigns ramping up in the contracting and ESI sectors as well as the sugar industry, and some great outcomes for our members in the government sectors across Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as our members at Curtis Island.

In July, we saw over 1000 contracting members come together to endorse the log of claims for the new EBA and since then, organisers have been busy holding negotiations with companies and meetings of members to vote the agreements up, I’m happy to say that as this journal goes to print, we have nearly all of our major contracting companies signed up to the new agreement. See Lynchy’s full report on page 8 for more details.

ONGY & STRAWBS AT PWC DARWIN As this journal goes to print, our members in the sugar industry will either be voting up agreements or in the thick of negotiations and heading into protected action. Our new Townsville organiser Liam Sharkey and our members are taking the fight up to the sugar companies. See page 14 for more.

I can’t finish without touching on the referendum, the ETU’s support of it, and some of the phone calls and emails I have received asking why we supported it, saying it wasn’t union business and asking whether we were just blindly following the ALP. First of all, the ETU is an industrial union whose core business is bettering the working lives of our members by organising workers and delivering good wages and conditions, hours of work, and the highest standard of health and safety in the workplace. This is something your union does very well.

ONGY ADDRESSES MASS MEETING Our members in EQL and Powerlink will need to start gearing up for protected action in 2024, when their agreements expire, with an unprecedented skills shortage and a record works program in front of us, members will need to stand up for what they rightly deserve, as well as negotiate clauses that protect their wages and conditions from being eroded by contractors and foreign labour. See page 6 for Stuey’s full report.

Territory Generation and Power and Water have voted up their agreements, and despite starting from a low base of 0% increase, or a wage freeze for 4 years, they have realised some decent outcomes in wage increases and conditions. See Strawbs’ report on page 10.

A sustained protected action campaign by our members at Curtis Island has seen them turn around a legacy issue that dates back to the construction of the gas plants on Curtis Island. The ferry allowance that was supposed to compensate our members for travelling to and from the island had pretty much stayed at the same rate since 2013. The action they have taken now sees them fully compensated for the time spent travelling.

However, the union movement has always had a history of helping out when asked with some of the broader social issues that may align with our values. Your union is made up of many demographics, and as such we have different committees that advise the decision-making bodies of our union. We have a youth crew (ages 15-32), a women’s committee, we have the old school (ages 50+), a First Nations committee, and a retired members committee, as well as the different sub branches around the state and Territory. All of these committees meet regularly and feed into the decision-making bodies of your union, ie. State Council, State Executive, and every two years, Biennial Conference.

The ETU doesn’t have the desire to support the Labor government in its endeavours blindly. We look at things on a case-by-case basis, and only support if it aligns with our values and will better the lives of our members and their families. Case in point, when the Labor government under Anna Bligh tried to privatise our electricity network, we campaigned tirelessly against Labor to the point of removing them from government. It just happens that a lot of the time, Labor has more worker-friendly policies and align with our values.

To be clear, we did not support the Voice campaign because Labor was pushing it, we were asked to support it by our First Nations committee and over 250 of our members who are First Nations people. It was then taken to our State Council, debated, and voted up unanimously. Our State Council is made up of 41 rank and file members across all industries.

CONTRACTING EBA MASS MEETING We could have left it at that, but it was acknowledged by State Council that it could be a contentious issue, and because we had a Biennial Conference this year, it was decided to send it to Biennial Conference where it was debated at length by 92 rank and file members across all industries from Queensland and the NT who voted to support the Voice campaign.

The Voice campaign started out as something put forward by the LNP and was supported by both sides of government. It came out of the Uluru Statement From the Heart. When Labor won government, they were asked by the First Nations architects to enshrine a Voice to parliament in our constitution, and Anthony Albanese agreed to do this by way of a referendum. It was a simple request that should have been supported by both sides of government, and in doing so, would have given some acknowledgment to First Nations peoples’ existence on this continent for over 60 000 years, the oldest continuous race of people in the world. Unfortunately, the opposition chose not to support it and instead turned it into an ugly political campaign with the outcome being overwhelming support against the referendum. As Secretary of the QLD/NT branch of the ETU, I stand by the decision our branch took in supporting our First Nations members and their families, and all First Nations people of Australia.

NEISHA, BEAU, AND ONGY FAREWELL TO BEAU MALONE I must say it came as a bit of a shock when Beau came and spoke to me a few weeks ago explaining that his family had asked him to step into the role of taking on the family business, I certainly didn’t see that coming but after talking through it all we both agreed it was probably something he should do.

Beau has come along from the young sparky who started with us 13 years ago he has been an integral part of our team who has never shied away from a challenge and has approached most things with a mix of measured intelligence and robust negotiation who has always had his members best interest at heart.

I want to thank Beau for all his hard work over the years and wish Beau, Jess and the kids all the very best in the future.

IF YOU DON'T FIGHT, YOU LOSE! BIENNIAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES

ONGY

GLADSTONE OFFICE OPENING

STATE SECRETARY PETER ONG

5

SUPPLY INDUSTRY ETU members from every corner of the state employed in Energy Queensland and Powerlink are in EBA negotiations campaigning for industry leading wages and conditions.

Words from Adrian Azzopardi, Far North Senior Delegate

“Around 18 months ago, I was approached with some queries regarding We are currently experiencing the greatest skills shortage in history the power station attendants’ (PSA) pay scale and skills matrixes. The along with the greatest churn because of better money and conditions on offer elsewhere. The stars have aligned, and we have all major supply ETU instigated a full review with Energy Queensland, and we were able to negotiate backpay for the PSAs to 2011 totalling $2.3 million with all industry agreements expiring in early 2024. We are in the best possible negotiating position in history, and it is time for all members to stand up superannuation back paid at a 12.75 % rate. and fight for what they deserve. If industry wages and conditions are not delivered, cost of living pressures will continue to force more members I travelled to the Torres Strait including Thursday Island, Bamaga and all to pursue jobs elsewhere, which will be the last thing our industry needs outer islands to the northern tip of Australia’s waters accompanied by as we face the multiple challenges of delivering a renewables transition Tommy & Danny Sebasio, long term ETU members. We met with all current and past PSAs in person and informed them of the outcome. We and keeping pace with the record works program. This round of were accompanied by an EQL HR representative to individually issue bargaining must deliver wages and conditions that attract and retain each PSA with their backpay figure. Tommy and Danny helped workers. This is an opportunity where we can change the lives of our tremendously with cultural differences by explaining the situation in members for the better.

Creole where needed.

The new EBAs will also provide choice of superannuation funds. We have heard you all loud and clear that Brighter Super is no longer the energy Members were shocked at the amounts they were entitled to, and living industry fund it was since the merger and the sacking of the ETU Director in such a unique part of the world, it goes a long way. Some members off the board, which means we have no say over the future of the fund. comments where that “it will pay for a trip to Cairns to see family”, or “I’ll Superannuation is a major focus through these negotiations. If members be going to the grand final now to watch the Broncos win this year” with others more excited to upgrade their outboards or boats to travel to can be patient before they decide to leave Brighter Super, as we still various adjacent islands for family gatherings, tombstone openings, have to make sure you are all covered for Income Protection. and of course do more fishing and spearfishing.

We must also address the risks of the likes of Powerlink attempting to Uncle Ned on York Island blessed us all, outsource the QEJP at lower wages and conditions and ensure that any Pau at Stephans gifted us with some skilled migration is done in a way that doesn’t undermine job opportunities, wages and conditions, safety and our trade qualifications. helmet shells, and the smiles on members’ faces were absolutely priceless and will We have already seen attempts to bring in workers with Cert IIIs with only 6 weeks formal electrical theory. We won’t let anybody undermine stick with me for a lifetime. This instils the value of union membership and our hard fought and won conditions including our trades. sticking together…. Proud to be ETU!” Members must be ready for 2024 once our agreements expire and be prepared for Industrial action if the employers and Government don’t listen to us.

We have the Power to deliver the best EBA ever if we stick together.

In solidarity!

6

See photos on the next page

ASSISTANT SECRETARY STUEY TRAILL

7

CONTRACTING Focus in the contracting patch is still on the agreement, which will have been voted up by all major contractors by the time members are reading this journal. Wages will increase 7% on 1 July 2024, then 5% on 1 July 2025, and 5% on 1 July 2026. These increases will put a Grade 5 sparky earning close to $70 per hour by the end of the agreement.

All other clauses put forward in negotiations have been accepted. Some highlights include: • Increases to parental leave, with members getting 26 weeks (or 52 weeks at half pay) for primary parental leave, and six weeks for secondary parental leave.

• Over 50s ratio implemented, to ensure older tradespeople are not discriminated against and can also pass on union knowledge to younger members.

• Increases to shift penalty rates, with afternoon shifts getting a 30% loading and night shifts a 50% loading.

• The default superannuation fund has switched to Cbus. I’d recommend checking out Cbus if you are still with Energy Super/Brighter Super. Make sure you weigh up your options and make an informed decision.

• Labour hire clauses have been amended to limit labour hire and electrical subcontractors to six weeks. This clause was added to make sure companies are hiring more direct workers rather than engaging labour hire to undercut wages. All workers engaged through labour hire or subbies will be paid as per the agreement, as will apprentices working for Group Training Organisations. The six week limit will not apply for apprentices.

• Income protection increasing to 90% of your salary for 26 weeks, and 80% following that. Income protection will also now include cover for mental illness, and will cover union dues for all members. The default income protection in the agreement is now Windsor Income Protection (WIP). ETU members will be able to use this link to check if their employer is paying income protection contributions

There are a number of government projects coming up, including hospitals at Coomera and Toowoomba, and new builds for Queensland Rail and Cross River Rail. New facilities at Ormeau and Torbanlea (near Maryborough) will all be using EBA contractors, which will mean good union jobs for local workers.

There is also a lot of work coming up as Queensland prepares to host the Olympics, and construction of renewable energy facilities. With the Queensland Energy Plan, there’s work to be done building wind farms, solar farms and pumped hydro, all across Queensland. These projects will be funded or partially funded by the state government, with a lot of public money being invested, so we are looking forward to many well paid union jobs up for grabs in this sector.

Cross River Rail is an ongoing project that delivers industrial relations issues day in, day out. With stronger representation and HSR structures, we are keeping contractors CPB and UGL accountable for all safety issues. These ongoing safety issues are completely unacceptable in the year 2023. Please refer to Jimmy’s update on page 11 for a wrap up of just some of the safety breaches on the project. There are infrastructure construction projects coming up for Cross River Rail, including a refurbishment project at Yerongpilly, and the new build on the Gold Coast at Pimpama.

I hope all members have a safe and enjoyable Christmas. Enjoy the break, and see you next year.

8

ASSISTANT SECRETARY CHRIS LYNCH

PRESIDENT 2023 QUADRENNIAL ELECTION The CEPU quadrennial elections have been finalised, thanks to the support of the membership, the union’s leadership returned without challenge. It’s always reassuring to see uncontested elections within the union’s leadership, as it is a glowing endorsement from members of the direction that your union's leadership is heading.

There were some changes to many rank and file positions that are listed below. We do want to thank those who have chosen not to stand again for whatever reason, for their commitment to the membership over the last 4 years.

Ezra Finch, Opura-Lee-Emile Mamanu, Iyesha-Jane Irvin-Paull, Glen Buckingham, Michael Schria, Wayne Williams, Robert Elmes, and Liam Keats. Thank you for your time on Council and Executive.

We look forward to working with all the new representatives over the coming 4 years in ensuring your Union is delivering for the members.

One Notable change is that for the first time since I became an official, Chris McGaw wont hold an elected position with the Union and I have been an Official since 2002! Chris has retired from the workplace and as such hasn’t contested the Election. On behalf of ALL ETU members I want to thank Chris for his tireless work and commitment to ALL ETU members. Cheers Mate!

MEMBERS ACHIEVE RECORD EA OUTCOME Queensland Rail (QR) members have achieved a record wage increase, including a 17% increase in year 1. This is followed up with a 4.5% and a 3.5% increase in years 2&3 as well as a (COLA) Cost Of Living Adjustment for years two and three. On top of this, members were able to achieve other additional wins on their conditions, but probably the biggest is setting up the next round of bargaining with an electrical-only agreement. This is a first for QR and an important win.

None of this would have been achievable without record-setting protected action ballot returns of 98% out of a total of 350 members across two major agreements. This really showed the employers that our members were angry and ready for a fight. The campaign for this EA has been in place since the last agreement, where we set the scene and capitalised this time around. The ETU members in QR have stuck solid and have ensured that we are the force in QR!

Words from QR lead delegate, Jordan Bright: “The pay increase and COLA we managed to secure, with the cost of living being what it is, is above and beyond what what were expecting. It’s a great win for all members, and is very well deserved.

Moving forwards, we have secured own electrical agreement for the next round of bargaining, which is major stepping stone in getting the tradespeople recognised and appreciated.

When I started at QR eight years ago, members were talking about getting our own electrical-only agreement, but it was just a pipedream. All the older workers said that it would never happen.

We set a goal going into this round of bargaining, to secure a fair pay rise, and to also have the electrical-only agreement lined up for next time is a massive win.

We’ve been working on getting this agreement with Youngy since I started at QR. This is a massive achievement.”

9 PRESIDENT JASON YOUNG

9 PRESIDENT JASON YOUNG 9

TERRITORY UPDATE TERRITORY GENERATION EA RESULTS IN Readers of this journal would be well aware of the long running battle in securing our PowerWater and Territory Generation EAs.

NT PUBLIC HOLIDAY LEGISLATION From 2024 onwards, the NT government have announced that Easter Sunday will be recognised as a permanent public holiday. This ensures that if you are a permanent employee, you’ll have the right to have the Following the PowerWater YES vote, we have now also finalised the Territory day off and will still be paid for the hours you would usually (if rostered Generation EA with a voter turnout of above 90% and a strong 92% YES vote, on) work on this day, just like the rest of the Easter weekend. which sees improved wages and conditions now locked in.

In addition to Easter Sunday, Boxing Day (December 26) will also be Increase in annual leave from 5 to 6 weeks per year, real wage increases recognised as a public holiday when it falls on the weekend. That throughout the life of the agreement including increases to a range of means that both the actual day (December 26) and the substitute day allowances, clauses to address resourcing issues, a shorter working week (i.e., December 27 or December 28) will be treated as public holidays phased in in final year from 37.5 to 36.75 hours, beefed up use of contractor and if you work on either of these days, you’ll receive public holiday clauses, and plenty other issues addressed. entitlements. Under the old legislation only the substitute day was recognised as a public holiday.

Again, a massive thanks to all our members across the Territory for sticking together and holding the line relentlessly. Without the pressure you applied, Unions have campaigned on these matters, and it is a good result for we wouldn’t have achieved what we have. members.

We now have a fair bit of work to do in using the wording that we have in the NOT 4 SALE – PRIVATISATION BACK ON THE AGENDA? agreements to further improve working conditions in these sectors. We need We are keeping a close eye on the NT government in relation to member involvement to get some committees up and running. If you’re renewables and our generation and networks in the NT. keen, get in touch.

Two recent inconsistent public announcements by NT ministers about ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS the future of Territory’s renewable power generation assets give us We have a number of negotiations underway currently and will be kicking off great concern that the government either has a privatisation agenda or our NT Contracting EA campaign in the coming weeks. It’s beyond time that there are some very different trains of thought in there. we have some consistency in the wages and conditions that are in place for electrical workers in the NT and we are looking forward to getting out and We have the Chief Minister who confirmed that “Territory Labor will securing some decent EAs for our members in this sector. never sell off your power assets. We will keep them in public hands, and we will keep investing in the public assets you rely on” (NT News 26 NEW ELECTRICAL SAFETY ACT AND REGULATIONS August 2023) and on the other hand we have the Treasurer recently The Electrical Safety Bill 2021 (incorporating the new Electrical Safety Act) announcing expressions of interest for private investors to build, own was debated and passed by the NT government in the March 2022 sittings. and operate 60-100MW of utility-scale solar generation (8 August 2023).

After some years of campaigning for action in this area by your union, this is This announcement was not discussed with the ETU in any way. a major step forward for electrical safety and protecting our trade in the NT. At the recent ALP national conference, there were major Since the bill was passed, work has been ongoing on formulating the announcements regarding investment of between 2-3% of GDP ($54-78 accompanying Electrical Safety Regulations. Given the large body of work billion) towards the transformation of Australia’s economy towards required to update our legislation from documents such as the Electrical renewable energy, clean industry. The statements include the Contractors and Workers Act 1978, Electricity Reform Act 2000 and the Power commitment to support and prioritise the expansion of public and Water Corporation Act 1987 from a technical, licensing and safety ownership in critical industries. perspective this has proved to be a fair task.

In Ongy’s words, “there is absolutely no excuse for lazy privatisation Work is on the drafting and legislative work required towards the policy, there is money available to strengthen electricity security and implementation of the new Northern Territory Electrical Safety Act and limit price rises, yet this government undermines its own policies, Regulations is continuing, and we expect that the implementation date will federal government commitments and its own success with this reckless now be 1 July 2024. privatisation announcement.”

As we get closer to that date and the information becomes available, we will We will fight against the privatisation of critical public infrastructure it provide updates to members to ensure you are across it all. is lazy policy and not in the best interests of our members or the Territory as a whole.

Members with any information are encouraged to contact Strawbs asap.

DARWIN IS ETU STRONG

10

9 DAVID “STRAWBS” HAYES

CONTRACTING CROSS RIVER RAIL – THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING On the afternoon of July 25th, Nation Kauka, a worker employed by Sydneybased Kenny’s Constructions, had a tragic accident on the Boggo Road station, part of the Cross River Rail project, falling 12 meters during scaffolding erection on the eastern side of the job. After being revived on site by emergency services, this left Nation in a coma with a range of lifethreatening injuries. Unfortunately, Nation’s son was working alongside his father when he fell off the scaffolding that day. Without going into the finer details of the incident, this accident initiated a walk-off from the whole project, with workers demanding a safety reset and a list of demands to the project consortium and state government after the project stopped for 48 hours.

The main demand was for union officials to have access to all Cross River Rail project sites without hinderance by CPB’s IR officers. This has been the main tactic from CPB to build the project outside minimum safety standards - by blocking union officials access to the job to address said safety issues.

The ETU took CPB to Federal Court at the start of the project over hindering and obstructing officials, and yet, they continued applying the exact same tactics.

This, accompanied by stand over tactics by CPB’s management when workers raise safety issues, is what has created the dangerous conditions the workers expose themselves to, with fear of reparations.

After the project stopped for 48 hours, the building trades group demands were heard, and union officials from all relative unions were granted access un-impeded to assist CPB in getting the project up to the standard all our members expect.

This safety reset took four weeks to complete across the project, with areas opening for works only after the safety issues were rectified. This was a tedious exercise due to the range of issues to address. I commend all our members for their patience and assistance with officials whilst going through this process. It can be boring and sometimes extremely frustrating dealing with a builder with such incompetence.

Unbelievably, in the second week of the reset, on Roma Street station, there was a concrete pumping line blow out after a blockage occurred during a block fill. Incorrect work practices left another two workers in hospital with injuries after the pumping line whipped and hit the workers, sending one flying close to five meters into a concrete culvert. Kenny’s Constructions were also in control of these works. What made it worse, the accident scene was cleaned up by CPB before Workplace Health and Safety officers were able to investigate. A blatant breach of state legislation. This also isn’t the first time this has happened on the project. CPB consistently clean areas where accidents have occurred before calling the WHS department, if they bother to call them at all…

It’s a shame it took this tragic event to take place for the safety reset to occur. The constant safety issues that have plagued this project since it started over 3 years ago have left me bewildered many times, with construction methods that have not been seen in this country for many a decade continuously used.

On a positive note, it is refreshing to see the workers take back control of the project. Taking health and safety into their own hands and no longer letting the bosses dictate the conditions they work in.

If you’re working on this project and are exposed to any safety issues no matter how big or small, please contact a union official immediately.

JIMMY LITTLE

MASS MEETING IN BRISBANE Not a lot has changed in my patch since the last journal article.

We’ve put serious time into the Cross River Rail after a serious safety incident that saw a scaffolder critically injured, though the work we’ve put in previously on the project paid off with our rank and file, delegates, and HSRs locking in solid that has resulted in a stronger more united workforce.

There are some decent sized projects on the radar hoping to kick off in the first or second quarter of the new year, in the next journal article I hope to be able to report the contractors who have picked these up.

We’re in the process of rolling out the new EBA, and I’m happy to report we have several new companies knocking on the door to sign up.

With the Christmas and new year period around the corner I urge each and everyone of you to have a safe break and enjoy your time off.

WENDEL MOLONEY

11 9 11

GOLD COAST

ETU members,

It is with a heavy heart that I write my last journal article as an organiser for your great union. I have given Ongy my notice and will be finishing up with the union at the end of this year, I have agreed to take 12 months leave without pay initially. My decision did not come lightly as I love what we do and what we achieve by working together in OUR industry. As you know it is OURS, and the moment we stop working together, it becomes theirs.

In my mind, I was doing this role or something similar for the next 20 years, provided members kept supporting me. My family reached out to me and asked for a chop out with what is primarily a family business, and given this life isn’t a ‘trial run,’ I have decided it would not sit well with me in years to come if I knocked them back.

Working with you all has been a pleasure and a privilege. I will be working with your union’s leadership up until the end of the year, with a view to share as much of my accumulated knowledge to the respective organisers who will step into different parts of the role.

Steve Bravo will take over the Gold Coast organising role. He brings six years of organising knowledge with him, and come next year he will cover members across all different industry sectors on the Gold Coast. I know members will be well represented by Bravo, and he will be supported by some of great local delegates and active members.

As mentioned, it has been a great privilege working with a strong, well organised union, and one that works from the membership up instead of top down. This helps us meet the needs of our members and transition with the times and keep step with evolving technologies. One thing I have learnt in my time organising is that you can ask nicely once, twice and three times with no outcome, the moment we lock in and stand our ground, we usually achieve a fair outcome. Which leads to a simple message: “if you do nothing, nothing changes”, so fight we must.

We have a newly elected delegate with Logan City Council, and we will be working with members on resolving a number of issues including attraction and retention of more electrical workers. The squeeze on skills is certainly impacting councils across the board, as they are not known for the high payment of wages, although typically have much longer better job security. In a time that the squeeze is only going to get worse, I am interested to see what we will be able to achieve in the upcoming discussions.

Gold Coast Council has put up a 36-hour week proposal in the ongoing EBA negotiation, and we are currently working to understand at what cost this offer is being made. If there are no losses to existing conditions on the horizon, I am sure the proposal will be strongly considered by members and could bring about some positive change for work-life balance not only for Gold Coast blue collar workers, but could also have broader impacts for Queensland members working for councils all over if achieved. Only time will tell. It is likely to go one of two ways, either the parties work to a reasonably quick resolution, or bog down into the trenches for months and months. It will be your union’s push to try and reach a fair deal that offers work-life balance and offsets the soaring cost of living.

Construction locally is going gang-busters, with the sheer volume of work looming and currently in the early stages. Bravo and I will be working with local members in that sector, setting up delegate structures to support members. If you are from the construction sector and would be interested in developing into a delegate role, please do get in touch. They say ‘make hay while the sun shines,’ and that is what

12 12

we plan to do with the volume of work on the horizon. There are more projects with EBA contractors engaged on the Coast than I can remember there being in the 13+ years I have been organising here.

Exciting times ahead.

The question I often get asked is who will get the Coomera Hospital?

Having spoken with Multiplex, the government procurement model would have service trades in late 2024, and they’re proposing to have this brought forward to early 2024. Fingers crossed this occurs as there is a tight timeline on the project delivery, so this should bring about work for members on that project sooner than later. If you go to etu.org.au, click the ‘Membership’ tab, and then ‘Looking for work,’ you will get updates on all projects across the Coast. If a project you have seen or heard of is not listed, reach out to steveb@etu.org.au with as much detail as you have, and we will work to get back in touch with you once we have had a look around.

There is no better time for our members to push for a fair share of the nation’s wealth, with the mix of labour shortage, volume of work and state and federal Labor governments. I urge all members to ‘strike while the iron is hot’.

In closing, it has been great working alongside you all, Here’s to our great union, the mighty ETU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEAU MALONE

APPRENTICES

With the mountain of work heading our way across all industry sectors comes a massive surge in apprentice numbers set to start rolling-in. It’s now more important than ever to ensure we’re bringing apprentices into the fold in our workplaces and educating them on the importance of being active union members and getting involved. Whether the apprentices work directly for the company or are employed by a Group Training Scheme, their involvement in the Union as a collective is more important for the future of our trade than ever and it is all of our responsibilities as members to ensure we educate them, give them a voice and bring them along for the ride.

As members on the ground, we should be taking a ‘Zero Tolerance’ approach to apathy and disengagement because at the end of the day, if you’re not fighting with us, you’re in the way and don’t have a place in our industry! The future of our trade depends on it.

APPRENTICE SUPERVISION As of late I’ve been attending sites on a regular basis to deal with issues around lack of apprentice supervision. Supervision is necessary not only to ensure work is carried out safely and correctly, but also it is imperative that apprentices receive effective supervision to ensure they develop the knowledge and skills relevant to the training package and trade.

If you have concerns around your level of supervision as an apprentice, please reach out so that we can ensure that adequate supervision is provided.

Your Union, among other Industry stakeholders, has been consulting with the Commissioner for Electrical Safety on the implementation of a new ‘Safe Working and Supervision Guide for Apprentices’. This guide will help to relay information to employers, apprentices and tradespeople on the requirements around apprentice training and supervision, touching on all aspects including electrical safety, mental health, the desired qualities of a good supervising tradesperson, and the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved. The guide is an initiative of the Electrical Safety Board and should be going live early in 2024, so we’ll keep you updated.

LUKE ELLIS

UNION WIN! CAPRAL ALUMINIUM Negotiations have kicked off for the new agreement for ETU and AMWU members at Capral Aluminium at Bundamba.

Since the implementation of EBAs at Capral many years ago, the 20 or so ETU and AMWU maintenance members at Capral have been lumped in with around 130 production workers under the banner of the AWU. This meant when it came to bargaining, the maintenance crew were outvoted and undercut by the production workers onsite who do an entirely different job and have very different priorities to the maintenance workers who keep the place running day in, day out. This has been a contentious issue over the years with scope applications being fought through the FWC and Scabby the Rat having visits to the workplace.

As of the writing of this article, we’ve managed to bargain for a separate maintenance EBA for the first time ever!

This is a massive win for members on-site who will now be able to fight for every item on their log of claims without being outvoted and lumped in under what was essentially a production agreement.

This wouldn’t have happened without our members on site agitating and ensuring they’re at 100% density and 100% locked in for a fight.

We have a long way to go in negotiations yet, but I have no doubt members at Capral will take the fight the whole way to get the result they deserve!

9 13

NORTH CENTRAL QUEENSLAND QUEENSLAND QUEENSLAND

It’s been a very busy few months, I’m finding it hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner. Wilmar sugar negotiations are well under way, although, as expected, Wilmar are up to their old tricks with the company coming out and rejecting all of our claims and offering a low-ball rollover figure which is nowhere near the tabled annual increases. They have even knocked back items which would technically be no cost to the company and have now indicated the unions should move on our position and start to look at dropping claims, while at the same time Wilmar are making record profits!

NEW ETU GLADSTONE OFFICE After about 8 months of being without an office in Gladstone, it was great to have ETU State Secretary Peter Ong and Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett officially open the new ETU office recently. CBUS have also moved in with us to service ETU members throughout the region. A number of members from GPC, Monos, I&C, APLNG and a few others helped out with construction of the new offices. Everyone who attended the opening/subbranch had a great evening.

As expected, the membership have not taken too kindly to this, particularly while already sitting at the lower end of the scale in terms of wages and conditions. With the reality setting in of being pushed further behind industry standards with Wilmar’s low ball offer, the union density is increasing across the mills, and the members are holding their position seeking fair and reasonable increases.

QSL negotiations are also ongoing. There have been several discussions around a rollover figure although agreement could not be reached between the parties. The next step is to table our logs and open up the agreement.

JBS EBA negotiations are also kicking off, with a number of site visits being completed and the log of claims now finalised and endorsed by the membership.

Discussions are ongoing with contractors looking to pick up packages at the Townsville Hospital upgrade. This will include a multi-level carpark and expansion. Watpac are the principal contractor, although no electrical contractor has been confirmed yet. The early works are scheduled to kick off in the near future.

Copperstring will be a UGL/CPB joint venture with lines construction to start after the 24/25 wet season. 200 to 250-person camps will be established in each town along the transmission corridor including Charters Towers, Pentland Richmond etc., with a larger 400 to 450-person camp in Hughenden as a mid-point for construction works. Work on the camps is scheduled to start in April 2024.

There are also negotiations underway for the Greenvale military base. This is an Australian/Singaporean joint base and will be a $1 billion new facility.

Kidston Pumped Hydro will also be ramping up shortly. Currently we only have a couple of electrical workers on site working for CPP, although these numbers will be increasing in the very near future.

As always, if you have any questions about the above or need any assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.

14

GLADSTONE OFFICE OPENING RECENT ELECTION Congratulations to the following members who were elected to represent the interests of CQ members for the next 4 years.

Gladstone: Divisional Sub-branch President -Shane Dodds Divisional Branch Conference Delegate- Shane Dodds Divisional Sub-branch Vice President- Chris Woods Divisional Branch Conference Delegate- Chris Woods Divisional Sub-branch Secretary- David O’Leary Divisional Branch Conference Delegate- David O’Leary RockhamptonDivisional Sub-branch President -Jason Conway Divisional Branch Conference Delegate- Ash Freestone Divisional Sub-branch Vice President- Wade Ferricks Divisional Branch Conference Delegate- Wade Ferricks Divisional Sub-branch Secretary- Gavin Archer Divisional Branch Conference Delegate- Gavin Archer WICET Upon writing this article, ETU members at Wiggins Island Coal Terminal (WICET) have just started protected industrial action against their employer. This has come after months of negotiations and the agreement being voted down by employees once already. Management is stalling and delaying, and has recently told members that they don’t care about them taking industrial action – let’s see how that works out for them…. Scabby the Rat is racking up some miles travelling to Gladstone of late!

LIAM SHARKEY

SHAWN HIGGINS

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Not all industrial wins are obvious or can be tracked to a point in time.

Though many can be, and are celebrated, like the 40 hour working week, holiday pay, parental leave etc. It’s cause for celebration when workers just continue to hold the line against a constant attack on working people, where decades of “trickledown economics” has convinced the working class that they are “greedy” for wanting to do a little better than just keeping pace with the cost of living. Or they claim that they are “unreasonable” for claiming that ‘entitlement’ that is in their agreement.

In 1907 we introduced the concept of the minimum wage in this country, which was born on the premise that a family of two adults and 3 children could live in “frugal comfort” on one minimum wage! Despite the fact that businesses not only succeeded but prospered in the preceding 116 years, I ask, how many families do you know that live like that today? And when did we lose this entitlement that others fought for and won, for us? We as unionist need to stick together more than ever, and convince those around us to join the cause to stop the slide to the bottom of the barrel. I am so proud of a couple of examples of that in my article below.

The Cairns Convention Centre has finished up, and construction is still quiet in the region, although there are some sizeable works just around the corner. The active members in the construction space, after the industry has had a small taste of a BPICS job like the Cairns Convention Centre, are really starting to drive the market, and sparkies are finally realising their worth. At the time of writing, I am arranging meetings to welcome Babinda Electrics back in to the fold as an EBA company after not signing an EBA since 2011. This is awesome news for a local company with plenty of government contracts up for grabs in the near future, but it is also a great outcome for workers in that space. Long overdue and very well deserved to those staunch members in construction.

We have just reached an in-principle agreement with Cleanco. After 12 months of negotiations and a few hostile tactics from the company, the members held their nerve and it was their collective and strategic industrial action that brought negotiations to a head, with workers getting much needed improvements that will help them keep pace with the cost-of-living pressures going forward. It was an absolute honour to stand shoulder to shoulder with these workers throughout bargaining.

QBuild workers in the Far North are at almost saturation membership across all the callings, and are only too eager to step in and help each other out. An example was at the recent TAFE college job where, bizarrely, QBuild management had convinced themselves that despite the “two different jobs” being on the same building, inside the same site fence, with the same induction and toolbox sign ons, because the funding came from different buckets, those that worked on the ceiling and roof would not be paid a site allowance and everyone else on the job would! Obviously members saw this as the thin end of the wedge, and if it was allowed it would set a very unhealthy precedent. Long story short, after a few persuasive discussions and members sticking together, QBuild managers saw the errors of their ways and have sought to put in place systems to “stop this from happening again!” Once again, I’m proud as punch of the QBuild crew for setting their own bar.

The Cairns Hospital is the subject of a massive revolving door clean out at the moment, and this is causing some angst for workers. Whatever the discomfort at the moment it is 1 000 000 times better than the hostile middle management that were in place before. The fact that the work is still being done with multiple middle manager positions vacant might actually point to how much value some may have added originally.

Notwithstanding, we actually achieved a win at the QIRC against a previous CEO when the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service refused to give us contracting information to ensure insourcing. We actually had civil penalties applied, so when this new mob started to play those same games we initiated the process to take the new CEO to the QIRC for similar, and all of a sudden, what was impossible became possible and we are now having mature discussions about insourcing work which should ultimately result in FTE uplifts at the Hospital.

I am writing this journal article in the Weipa airport, after spending a couple of days up here visiting members across Rio Tinto’s Weipa and Amrun operations and also Goodline. It is great to see engaged members in some of the remoter areas of the state, fighting the good fight. Well done comrades.

Proud to be ETU!

ROB HILL

15

LIFT INDUSTRY

The Lift Industry Sub Branch is now up and running officially. The formation includes elected positions of State Councillor Gerard Peroni (Schindler), Sub Branch President Ryan Napoleon (Kone), Sub Branch Vice President Mitch Pickels (TKE), Sub Branch Secretary Jesse Breen (OTIS), along with two branch conference delegates, Brad Stuart (OTIS) and Martin Tree (Schindler) which are within the rules of the union. As membership keeps growing, we will see more positions become available to represent your industry at the biennial branch conference.

The reason for forming a Lift Industry Sub Branch is because Lift Industry members either working in service or construction will benefit from this and create activism, build momentum to increase membership, be aware of industry safety alerts, and the direction the Lift Industry is heading.

It’s the members’ agreement, so being active and united will strengthen the Lift Industry. This clearly has been the case with the first Lift Industry Sub Branch turnout of 35 members across the industry, and the second, held recently, rolled out 53 members, both online and in person. The most recent meeting featured interstate reports and hearing about the same challenges we face in the industry. Afterward, members came together over a BBQ. It has been a success and I have no doubt it will continue to grow.

Leading into the EBAs due to expire in 2024, now is the time that we should all be coming together across all lift companies. All lift members are welcome to attend!

Part of my role has been to identify delegates across various service/construction projects and provide them with training and support to enable them to understand and undertake the important role of being a delegate. I will continue providing them with the tools and support they require to do the job effectively. Our delegates play a huge role in our success, so get behind them and support them on the job as well.

CONTRACTING UPDATE Busy Time Ahead, Members have been waiting for this to happen for some time now, soon we will see more jobs created for members offering decent wages and conditions, I have highlighted just some of the projects due to commence in the near future, you just need to look at Logan Hospital reaching a capacity of around 100 ETU members with the initial stage costing close to $280m.

SECOND EVER LIFT INDUSTRY SUB BRANCH

16

You’re invited!

The next Lift Industry Sub Branch is not to be missed!

The challenge I put to all is to roll out 100 members for the next subbranch meeting!

This will be a Christmas break up sub branch. We will have a formal meeting to end the year, then a function for all to attend and finish the year together knowing ETU lift members are ready for a change.

It’s time to take back your industry!

4pm Wednesday 13 December ETU Offices, 41 Peel St, South Brisbane And on Zoom BBQ and CBus & Windsor Income Protection (WIP) present Please add this date to your calendar and update your personal email addresses and phone numbers with the union if you are not receiving emails or SMS notifications.

Every member on our membership system will receive the sub branch invite, so if you haven’t been receiving them you need to update your membership details.

As mentioned, Logan Hospital is at full capacity ramping up to 100 ETU members across all the electrical contractors, the Stage 2 Expansion with John Holland is scheduled to break ground March 2024 costing close to $530m, Early works consisting of services diversions will initially take place.

Monarch Residences Toowong $450m is starting to come out of the ground with Hutchinson Builders - SDF, OTIS, Micro -fire members soon being required to commence on site.

PA Hospital Research Institute Centre $70m has commenced with Built – SDF have started on-site as initial works commence through temp site establishment.

PA Hospital Expansion Project $350m John Holland with the PA undertaking a major expansion this project will start progressing through Tender in 2024.

Prince Charles Hospital Carpark $ 74m Multiplex – Perigon have commenced on-site with the Lift Package out for tender and should be awarded as this goes to print.

Prince Charles Hospital Expansion $ 360m Hutchinson Builders currently going through the design stage 1, this project will create jobs for members through 2024.

QEII Jubilee Hospital Expansion $465m Built currently going through design stage and will deliver more jobs for members through 2024.

N82 Nathan Campus $200m Lend Lease currently in close discussions with Electrical Contractors, should see works commence within the next month.

Cross River Rail Southern Line, Unity Alliance – Fredon, Klenner Murphy, Schindler across Dutton Park, Fairfield, and Rocklea stations at the moment, we have seen the rollout of the ETU high vis across this project with members being organised and active throughout the stations. Great work to all members across this project you have stuck together and never taken a backward step, shows when you get behind each other what the strength of unionism achieves.

If you are working across a site that needs safety addressed and Industry updates don’t hesitate to give me a call and I will schedule a visit, a lot of the time builders take advantage of situations on their sites when they can at the expense of safety, ALL Members deserve decent working conditions and to go home safe at the end of the day.

STEVE BRAVO

SUPPLY CONTRACTING CONFERENCE Hear from Rod and Jimmy, two Supply Contracting delegates and newly elected State Councillors Conference delegate Rod Baker, a 33-year member of the union, talks about the biggest challenge facing the industry – finding enough workers to do the job. He describes a massive skills shortage in the Wide Bay region where he works as a live linesworker.

While the media might lead Aussies to believe the skills shortage is a recent development, Rod says it’s been longer than that. “Its been a few years now, at least two or three,” says Rod. “And if you lose a worker, it’s really hard to get another one to replace them. In previous years, if we lost a worker, we’d get a replacement right away, but now it could be six or eight months before we get a new worker in.” And while the team waits for a replacement, they are forced to continue work short staffed. “You’ve gotta pick the slack up, the work doesn’t stop. They still expect you to do the same amount of work,” says Rod. “It’s pretty challenging, especially with the weather and vehicle breakdowns… We’re always under the pump.”

As the delegate, being constantly shortstaffed while working to strict deadlines is an issue Rob doesn’t take lightly. “It’s pretty difficult when you have to work to Ergon’s set dates to complete works, but we all stick together and look after each other, and we push back on management when it’s too much.”

With the workload comes overtime, and Rod explains that the members are currently negotiating fairer overtime rates given the number of hours they clock up after hours. “We currently start on time and a half for overtime, then it goes up to double time,” he says “but we’re negotiating now to be paid double time straight up. Victoria has had it for a couple of years, so it shouldn’t be a drama. It’s time.”

With the skills shortage creating pressure, Rod says that it’s rarely locals who are taking on the jobs. “Barely ever do we see a new worker who is local. They’re usually coming from interstate, and we’ve just had a young lad come over from New Zealand. We just had an adult apprentice start – he was from Victoria, and he relocated his whole family for the job.”

While in the past, lack of stability was a major reason for workers leaving the industry for something more reliable long term, but Rod explains that’s no longer a big concern for workers. “Ten or 15 years ago, as a contractor, you had no stability, whereas now we’ve got probably 30 years work ahead of us now. A lot of us are set up for life,” he says.

Having been a long-term and active union member both here in Queensland and previously in Victoria, where he began his career, Rod has been to many a union conference in his time. “I love coming down and meeting all the other delegates and nutting out the problems,” he says. “And getting all the information to take back to work, and representing the boys at work. It’s all about looking after them.”

Rod is a newly elected State Councillor for his union, representing Supply Authority members on the decision-making body of the union following union elections in July.

BRENTON MULLER

Jimmy Ham is a second year apprentice and workplace delegate, at his first industry conference. Jim started an electrical apprenticeship straight out of school, but later took a break from the industry before returning recently. “I started an apprenticeship as a sparky and then went through a few different employers and started learning about agreements and things. My first employer royally screwed me over, then I went to a group trainer that also royally screwed me over, then I started with a good employer but they went bust. Then through a series of unfortunate events, I didn’t finish my apprenticeship. I ended up moving up to Townsville and was trying to find work in another industry, no luck, then I started applying for an electrical job again, until I got put on as a trades assistant. I was eventually taken on as an apprentice after constantly asking if I could have a crack.”

Because of his significant experience with unscrupulous employers, he was always very interested in the union and becoming a workplace delegate. “Knowing what I know now, and looking back, it’s easy to see why we have it this good in the supply industry. It’s because we are union strong. We have industry conferences so we can talk to each other about what’s going on around the industry and the other workplaces. Nobody’s undercutting anyone, and there’s no under-the-table deals. It’s a great thing compared to the industry I was in before, domestic, where there was mass underpayment of apprentices who were getting treated like shit.”

“When I started at this job, our delegate who has now moved on to work for Energex asked if I was interested [in becoming a delegate]. I said yes, but I was wanting to go alongside someone else so I could learn. At the next toolbox, everyone voted on me being elected as delegate, and I got voted in. Ever since then I’ve grabbed on to it with two hands.” Jimmy is 25 and relatively new to the industry compared to some of his workmates, but older members often come to him with issues or questions about the EBA. “It’s hard and easy at the same time,” he says.

“Everything you need is all there in writing, and I have great support with Brenton always there. And I’ve been in contact with Luke Ellis who looks after apprentices, and I’m up for a spot on State Council now, so that will be even more exposure to the union which will be great.”

Having seen the other side of the industry, Jimmy doesn’t take work conditions for granted even for a second. “Back when I was in domestic, it was frowned upon to be a union member. Looking back, it was bullying.

We were told we were lucky because we were getting paid above the Award, but I later came to realise that wasn’t the case at all. They’re just telling you lies. But as a 19 or 20 year old you don’t really know better.”

He signed up to the union immediately upon commencing in the supply industry as a TA. “I knew that the industry was heavily unionised which I was excited about and keen to learn more about.”

Jimmy believes it’s all about education, saying, “knowledge is power really. The more you know, the more power you’ve got at the end of the day. The union’s here to keep workers safe and get the best outcomes for workers. It’s all about creating a safe and fair workplace!”

17

WORKING IN ANTARCTICA

WHERE YOUR CAREER CAN TAKE YOU – PART 1 – ANTARCTICA WITH KAT THOMAS In the first of a new series of features, the Electrical Worker will share unique stories from members who have taken their career to the next level. In the first installment we talk to Katherine (Kat) Thomas, a 34year-old electrician who travelled all the way to Antarctica to work in her chosen trade.

“It really was a dream come true, I had always wanted to work in Antarctica, every few years I would check to see if my skillset was needed, and in 2021, they were looking for electricians for the 2022 deployment, yes!!”

While Kat currently lives in tropical Cairns with husband Scott and their two dogs Missy and Scout, her journey thus far has taken her from dreaming big in suburban Melbourne, to sailing the high seas, to fulfilling a childhood dream to work in Antarctica. If the pride and passion Kat has shown so far is anything to go by – the world is literally her oyster.

BIG DREAM From an early age Kat had big dreams she was determined to realise, originally from Hawthorn in Melbourne, Kat can remember travelling around a bit in the younger years with her mum and dad and younger sister Roslyn.

“We stayed in Warrnambool, Gympie, and even Fiji for a couple of years before finishing high school back in Melbourne, dad was a factory manager and mum a teacher. We moved around a bit as kids, probably why I am such a fan of travelling now.”

Kat’s sister Roslyn is studying marine science at James Cook Uni and Kat couldn’t be prouder.

“She’s very committed and focused on doing important work with the Reef Restoration Foundation, she is very impressive.”

When it comes to influences on her career, Kat has fond memories of living with her granddad Roger for a couple of years when she was a teenager.

“Roger is such an impressive person; he played a huge part in my journey.

He worked for CSIRO as a toolmaker, collaborating with some amazing people on really interesting projects. He had scientists coming to him for concepts, being a toolmaker, he also played a big part in my journey on the tools.”

Kat can remember Roger introducing her to the lathe and how supportive he was about her career choices.

“He was so helpful with support, mentorship and later on contacts when I needed them, I am so grateful to him for teaching me about tools and their uses. I also used to knock around with my uncles’ cars, so I got a good grounding in how they work as well.”

Kat’s thirst for knowledge and having a go outside of the norm was further enhanced by her education experience at an “alternative school.”

A SMALL SCHOOL MAKES A BIG IMPACT Alia College prides itself in being an alternative school in the true sense of the word, while it provides the tools to enable students to achieve academic excellent it does this in a cheerful school environment that works through conflict in respectful ways.

Kat summed it up “It was small school with around 60 students in total and 6 in the graduating class when I was there in 2007. It left a lasting

impression with me; the philosophy was basically to do what you to do, as long as it does not impact negatively on others, and you achieve what you set out to achieve academically and socially. It was more interested in field trips than regimented uniform policies.”

One aspect of the school’s philosophy that held Kat in good stead in future years was its discipline policy.

“Bullying was pretty much a non-issue, it was so well managed. It was dealt with calmly using conflict resolution and talking through issues. The techniques helped me get through some later issues at work.”

Kat wrote a glowing testimonial about her time at Alia outlining how the small school with a big heart had made a positive impact on her life and career. Including this extract: I spent 7 years as an Electrical technician in the Navy (boats-tick) worked on solar and wind farms (saving the world through renewable energy-tick) and am currently working as an Electrician at Mawson Research Station (Helping Science in Antarctica- tick) It took me a while to get here but it’s been a fantastic journey. Alia gave me the tools to be a confident and self-driven person to keep chasing what I wanted even when obstacles popped up.

Importantly I gained the skills to be a good human, respect others, and share a community. These skills have helped me in challenging workplaces but also to be a good person as I have navigated adult life and relationships…

While still at high school Kat’s passion for science and an emerging interest in renewable energy saw her placed 2nd in a model solar vehicle challenge.

The passion for renewable technology and environmental protection still burns bright today.

IN THE NAVY After completing school and tertiary studies, armed with a marine technician’s qualification Kat embarked on a naval career which would provide its share of challenges but also unreal experiences and unexpected opportunities.

Kat had seven years in the navy, where she got to live her out her desire to work on boats, where she met her husband Scott, and where she started the first steps towards her electrical career.

“Honestly, my experiences in the navy included highs and lows, I loved the variety of work and the physical environment. I worked on large ships and smaller boats, survey, hydrographic and scientific vessels, I visited islands and sandbars in some amazing places. I started off as a marine technician and finished as an electrician. But there were some challenges along the way not least of all was the lack of females in the defence force, I was the only female tech, and with some old school chiefs at the helm, there was harassment, it took them some time to adjust.”

In the latter half of her naval career, Kat got the opportunity to work more on smaller boats with a greater opportunity to explore trades-based work, and she liked it.

“I would watch the sparky, they were doing everything, I liked what I saw. I was attracted to the important work of keeping the lights on, I got when the opportunity to start working in the electrical field I took it.”

The navy processes are different to apprenticeships, they include competency logs and task books while on the water and theoretical study when back on land it took about 3 years.”

At the age of 28, Kat left the navy and embarked on her new career as an electrician.

Kat marched in her first May Day march in Cairns this year and enjoyed the experience.

BECOMING AN A GRADE ELECTRICIAN Once she left the navy it was full steam ahead to complete the qualification she started, with one aim getting her A Grade Electrical Fitter Mechanic License.

“I’m a very community-minded person and enjoy supporting others, the union’s values sit well with me, and I am keen to get more involved locally.”

“It was challenging after leaving the navy, navigating a pathway to achieve my A grade qualification. I needed to balance the need to earn money with studying hard. I took whatever jobs were going in and around Cairns, and after completing bridging courses, RPL’s, day school, night school and collating 1000 hours of logged work, I finally achieved it.”

WIND FARM - RENEWABLE FUTURE CLASHES WITH OLD WAYS Equipped with her license and a desire to do good in the world, Kat packed up her life and moved to Victoria so she could work as a maintenance sparky at a GE wind farm in regional Ararat.

“I was really excited about working in the renewables sector, having come from ships with generators gears and propellors, going to wind farms with turbines and gears, I felt comfortable that my skills were transferable. And they were.”

JOINING THE ETU Kat’s first experience with the ETU was while she was working on a windfarm in Victoria and like the industry at the time it had some highs and lows.

After being accepted into the Antarctic mission from her home base of Cairns and after observing the union culture at the base, it was time for Kat to rejoin the ETU, this time through the Queensland and NT Branch.

About a week after Kat joined the Queensland branch, she got an email invite from Women’s Officer Kristin welcoming her to the union and inviting her to an upcoming ETU’s women’s committee meeting.”

“I was impressed by the process, I signed up, got a welcome email, and an invite, it was very proactive. I dialed in from Antarctica and felt welcome and engaged.

Unfortunately, the time difference made it difficult once the work really ramped up, but I still felt connected.”

Most of the staff she was working with in Antarctica were covered by the CPSU and after the change of government in May 2022, there was a pay dispute caused by the transfer of the Antarctic Division to a different department.

ANTARCTICA CALLING (LITERALLY) Kat has dreamed of working in Antarctica ever since she watched a documentary about the giant Icebreaker Aurora Australis and its work supporting research for the Australian Antarctic Division.

“I learned about this massive boat and the work the people on it were doing in research and I wanted to know how I could be part of it.”

Every couple of years as she went through her career journey, Kat would religiously check the Antarctic Division’s website for the skills required for upcoming deployments.

“I would look for a skills match, but too often when they needed sparkies, I hadn’t finished my time and the other skills just didn’t align, then in 2021 they advertised for an electrical fitter mechanic. It lined up and I applied.”

WHY ANTARCTICA? Some people like extreme sports, but Kat likes extreme places and you don’t get too much more extreme than Antarctica.

“I love ships, the ocean, they are things I have really connected with, Antarctica is the extreme of the extreme, you know what you are doing is making a difference and the responsibility is seriously fun stuff.”

After the initial excitement of applying for the deployment the thorough process and anxious wait begins.

“It was a thorough process at every level, from the longest written application I have ever done through to the three-day evaluation where they did psychological and physical assessments as well as one on one tech interviews complete with scenarios. While I was down there for the three days we also got to meet and chat with past participants including Amy a female engineer, which was great hearing her experience from a female perspective.”

Kat got a heads-up in June 2021 that she would be accepted for the 2022 intake, but it was another five months before she headed to Hobart for a couple of months of pre deployment training.

“The wait was intense, then down to Hobart, a thorough medical examination I was tested for everything, then it was systems training including specific fire and heat trace training. Once I knew I had the

“Here we were in the middle of Antarctica preparing for a mid-winter strike over incorrect super payments, I had rejoined the ETU and was ready to stand up and fight, the conditions were clearly in our contracts, but the new department was adamant.”

Common sense prevailed and the workers were paid their entitlements but not before Kat saw firsthand the power of the collective in action.

BEING ETU While Kat is first to admit she wasn’t brought up in a big union family, her personal values around fairness and respect align well with union values.

Kat’s desire to make connections and develop networks as an electrical worker brought into contact with the ETU on a social level as well.

“The Victorian Sparkettes were a big influence on my union involvement, to see people so passionate about improving the lives of working people was inspiring.”

“Being ETU is being part of a group of people that believe that everyone deserves to be able to go to work, get paid fairly and come home safely.”

“I am disappointed that companies use casualisation to erode those fundamental rights. So, I’m proud that I joined a group of people (ETU) who are trying to change that.”

“I have also found that workplaces that have higher union membership are more open to female participation.”

MAWSON 75TH ANARE

19

position I was excited and proud, it is special to get in on the first go and to be going to my preferred location Mawson, was awesome.”

As the reality set in, Kat’s excitement grew.

“I just remember thinking this is a dream come true, I’m going to Antarctica, it was the best thing ever.”

While the brochures and photos showcased pristine white snow and sparkling sunshine the reality is quite different.

“When we got off the boat and headed up to Mawson, it was different than I’d expected, it was grey and hilly with scrambly rock, not flat and white.”

Once at the base the rubber hit the road quickly.

“The first couple of days were intense and hectic, we had the crew who were leaving feeling tired at the end of their stint doing a handover the new team of 15 including me who was excited and eager to learn. And learn I did we needed to be across everything including fire drills, software systems, preparations for weather events and how to do a total refuel with thousands of litres of diesel. As well as refueling the stations diesel supplies for the year ahead – 2 days of pumping.”

COUNTING PENGUINS Kat is clearly proud of her achievements but most of all she is proud that her skills and personality have enabled her to make it through the year and make a tangible difference.

“Out there you are working with exceptional human beings, being on trips to field huts, being involved in bird surveys that have direct scientific relevance to sea ice monitoring is extraordinary. I felt extremely privileged to be involved in such a worthwhile experience.”

COUNTING PENGUINS? “I was lucky to be involved in two areas of bird surveys, one with Adélie penguins, where I spent a week with a buddy counting males penguins in a particular colony on the nest as part of a science program. The second one was a real highlight, I got up close to take pictures of the Emperor penguins the largest penguin on earth, the research collects data about numbers, weight and the health of the birds to see what effect sea ice erosion was having on the number of nests. It was not uncommon for the birds to wander up to you, it was such a unique experience.”

And so began the deployment that would last a little short of a year.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE Kat was one of two sparkies who would work on call week about.

“Our role was simple yet so important, our job was to keep the power on.

To ensure the scientific work could be completed and that the infrastructure was maintained, and people were comfortable. Ensuring appropriate heating was a must, if the heating failed everything would freeze including the water supply.”

“It is a unique cold environment and as such we were working with unique equipment, heating cables and heat traces were new experiences, while faults and installations required new skills and knowledge around environmental factors. But there was still time for manual labour like shoveling snow out of buildings!”

The biggest challenges for Kat were simple things.

“I never truly got used to the cold, I can remember doing search and rescue crevasse training and it was -15, I was cold, and I just stayed cold, I could not get warm. And another simple thing associated with the cold is working with gloves on for long periods of, take them off for too long and you get frost nip, you learn quickly.”

But the benefits far outweighed the challenges.

Some of the most rewarding work for Kat was keeping the wind turbine working and well maintained.

“I was proud to be working on the wind turbine, keeping it going, it was special knowing I was making a difference. Thinking about all the time, effort and cost incurred by shipping diesel and knowing I was doing my bit for clean energy, made me proud.”

PENGUINS COPING WITH ISOLATION AND GETTING/STAYING CONNECTED During her time in Antarctica, Kat was acutely aware of the need to develop support networks and maintain meaningful contact with her husband and friends on a regular basis.

“I was super stoked to be there, but as with anywhere when you have a shit day at work, you can feel sad, lonely, and isolated, but I could go and chase a penguin. But seriously we had such good technology and internet I was able to connect with people quite easily, I never felt disconnected. I had my husband Scott, my ETU contacts, and my girlfriends I could call.

With Scott it was important to make time to have real conversations and video call regularly.”

“With colleagues at the base I think my mental resilience grew I was less harsh on myself and others, no one is perfect, I think I became more accepting by understanding we were all there doing a job and we would be living close for the next 12 months. There was a bit of the navy mentality that I needed to unlearn.”

“For technical advice and mentoring I was extremely well supported by Lisa Wilkinson our Trade Supervisor based in Hobart, she was amazing, she was my go-to and we still keep in touch. Lisa is such an important part of the project and with her mentoring and support breaking down barriers, I’m hopeful there will be more women participating as electricians and other trades down there sooner rather than later.”

WOULD KAT DO IT AGAIN? “I had a great, amazing year and I’d love to go again but it can be hard on relationships. A bit of advice for anyone in a relationship thinking of applying, have conversations, be really open about the strains and pressures. I was out having a great time, living my dream, while Scott was at home keeping the house ticking along, paying the bills, looking after the dogs and all that, it can be tough.”

20

THE TURBINE

DREAMS DO COME TRUE, BUT WHAT NOW? Kat has had a bit of adjusting to do following her Antarctic expedition.

But there is no time to waste as Kat sets her sights on the next challenges and looks to complete a project put on hold.

ETU member Cameron Bird has recently published a book called The Blue Collar Bible.

“Because of the nature of the work out in Antarctica, I’ve had to refresh a few skills to meet the requirements for industrial and HV electrical work.

But that’s all good I’ve picked up a bit of work here and there while also renovating the house.”

Introducing "The Blue-Collar Bible": A hilarious and heartfelt journey into the gritty world of the Australian construction industry.

But in true Kat style and in keeping with her enthusiasm for all things renewable, Kat is aiming to complete a project she put on hold to follow her dream.

In a world where laughter can often feel like a rare commodity, "The Blue-Collar Bible" is set to bring the much-needed comic relief that we all crave. This captivating collection of stories and insights, takes readers on an intimate journey through the heart and soul of the building trade, revealing the pranks, mishaps, unique lingo and inside jokes that define life on the construction site.

“I got halfway through re-purposing a Suzuki Sierra to make it a compliant electric vehicle before I went to Antarctica, I’m keen to complete the job now.”

Outside of work Kat loves getting outside with Scott and training the dogs and she’s also taken up crocheting.

“I really enjoy crocheting, it’s a really great way to relax and unwind.”

WHAT MAKES KAT TICK? “I like doing things I’m passionate about and working with good people.

I’m enthusiastic about using my skills to make the world a better place.”

The future In 5 years – “When I came back on the Icebreaker, I realised how much I love ships and I might look at marine engineering again, if I do, I’ll have a chat with the MUA.” In 10 years – “I’d like to be doing offshore turbine work in the renewables industry.”

Kat’s advice for ETU members who want to pursue their dream jobs.

“Having an electrical license opened a pathway for me as tradesperson and a woman. If like me you dream of working in Antarctica, especially if you are a woman, after you’ve done a few years as a tradesperson, apply, have a go you never know where you might end up. If they knock you back first time, have another go, there are jobs there.”

“There are so many cool jobs you can do as a sparky in renewables, engineering, ships, turbines, and all the rest. Live the dream.”

As of September 2023 – Kat continues her journey this time somewhere in WA, a far cry from Antarctica.

This is the first article in this series Where your career can take you, if you have an interesting journey to share, we’d love to hear it! Please contact Andrew 0429 535 860 or andrew@etu.org.au.

Authored by Cameron Bird, a Brisbane electrician with over fifteen years’ experience, ‘The Blue-Collar Bible,’ offers a behind-the-scene look at the world of construction, mining, maintenance and FIFO work, where camaraderie and a sense of humour are as essential as hard hats and steel-toed boots.

This book unearths the struggles of apprentices as they navigate the delicate balance between learning from the masters and finding their own voice in an industry of exacting standards. Through anecdotes and personal stories, Cameron paints a vivid picture of the challenges, triumphs, and unforgettable moments that define life in the blue-collar world.

"The Blue-Collar Bible" is not just for tradespeople; it's for anyone curious about the world behind the buildings we inhabit. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring apprentice, or simply someone who appreciates a good laugh, this book offers an unforgettable glimpse into the blue-collar working life — an intricate dance of strength, skill, resilience, and unwavering pride.

Cameron has crafted a book that is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, offering readers a unique opportunity to connect with the unsung heroes of the construction industry. With a blend of humor and warmth, "The Blue-Collar Bible" promises to be an engaging and entertaining read for all.

Join Cameron on this unforgettable journey into the heart of construction, where laughter is the best tool in the toolbox.

SCAN TO ORDER THE BOOK

SHARE YOUR IDEAS FOR OUR NEXT MAY DAY SHIRT! We want to hear from you what you’d like to see on our 2024 May Day T-shirts. Send us your sketches or ideas and you might see your ideas on next year’s T-shirt!

Email media@etu.org.au by Friday 10 November with your ideas.

21

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH During our unions Biennial Conference earlier this year I had the privilege of meeting with Sarita Morales one of the guests from the US International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). As I listened to Sarita’s story, I drew some parallels with the evolution of unionism within our union and across the broader labour movement in Australia. As the diversity of the workplace is changing so too are attitudes and by extension leadership. A case in point, Sarita is proudly the first female Business Manager (Secretary) from her Local and the first female Secretary to take part in the ETU/IBEW exchange program. Locally there is no better example of this evolution than the National ETU Apprentices of the Year Awards with four of the five winners since 2018 - being women.

Our branch’s female membership has grown from less around 1% around 10 years ago to close to 4% now, with a correlated growth in female delegates. When it comes to representation of different cultures and races, the ETU along with the wider union movement is moving with the times in understanding and welcoming diversity. The Australian union movement has come a long way since the discrimination and overt racism epitomised by the infamous AWU Colour Bar of the 1920’s and 30’s.

INTRODUCING SARITA MORALES, IBEW BUSINESS MANAGER (SECRETARY) LOCAL 1116 Proud IBEW member, mother to 5 kids 2 boys, 3 girls, partner with Javier, grandmother to 5 grandkids and 3 more on the way, workplace leader and the first female Business Manager (Secretary) for the Arizona Local 1116, Sarita Morales has faced her fair share of hurdles, but nothing will stop her from

“Doing the right thing for the right reason for other Brothers/Sisters, their families, and the communities.”

This philosophy instilled in Sarita since she was a young child born and raised in the USA to Mexican parents. Sarita’s family settled in the town of Sahuarita around 24km from Tucson Arizona. Like many migrants, Sarita’s parents never finished junior high and Sarita the middle sister of seven siblings, 2 boys and 5 girls - started work at 14 to support the family household. She was born in the small town of Wilcox pop 3200.

Sarita’s journey from small town Arizona to Business Manager in the male dominated electricity industry Union - the IBEW, is impressive and when you meet her, you know you are meeting someone who represents the future of unions. Her warmth and disarming nature, immediately puts you at ease, but she also has that steely strength that comes from battles won and lost and a thirst to do what’s right. This article is an insight into Sarita’s union journey, what drives her and why her story is a great example of why in unions like society, Diversity is Our Strength.

THE FIRST OF MANY FIRSTS We take up the union journey back in the formative years, for Sarita there was no union history in her family, as discussed above her parents didn’t finish school and the family pulled together to make ends meet with young Sarita working from the age of 14.

involved, while at the start of my union journey nothing much changed, money came out, but I didn’t seek to be educated. But slowly but surely as a I gained confidence; I got more educated and involved.” Over the next few years Sarita rose through the ranks to the positions of local steward, organiser, and later Business Representative (lead Organiser). From there in November 2020 Sarita was appointed as the Local’s first ever female Business Manager (BM) equivalent to Secretary, something she is very proud of.

In 2023 she achieved another first this time facilitated by the ETU, Sarita is proud to say, she is “the very first female BM from the IBEW to participate in the ETU’s District exchange program.”

A DIFFERENT PATH TO UNION LEADERSHIP, BARRIERS, AND SOLUTIONS Unlike many of her comrades across the IBEW and the ETU, Sarita didn’t come from the tools, she came through the admin stream.

“I was hired as a (CSR) with an upgraded Bilingual classification (Spanish) for The Tucson Electric Company back in September 2000, and that’s where 10 years later, I joined and became organised into the union.”

Not being from the tools hasn’t hindered Sarita’s rise to leadership, her biggest challenges came from not having the experience and involvement in the union’s internal structures and a limited knowledge of previous disputes and grievances in areas she hadn’t been exposed to. And taking on the role just as Covid hit meant the customary handover, introductions to members and key management did not occur, management churn at some utilities was also an issue.

But as always for Sarita, no issue is insurmountable. With the assistance of the Local – she has been able to overcome some of the biggest hurdles by utilising and learning from members from various departments in advisory capacities to work with her, talking her through their roles, and the outcomes of previous disputes and how they were handled. The support she has received has not been lost on Sarita.

“I have been in the role of BM since November 2020 and have faced many challenges that our Local has not faced before. With the assistance of union leadership and our previous BM our Local has been able to work through those challenges.”

“Not coming up the ranks like many others do to become officers within their locals with the years of experience, knowledge and history of grievances, negotiations, and such it has been a huge learning curve for me. But it has also shown me how the IBEW Brotherhood in its solidarity, supports each other through it all. Being able to succeed in being a leader in my Local is something I am very proud of.”

“There was no knowledge of unions or what they represented in my family. When I was organised into the IBEW in 2010 I became the first union member in my family.”

THE JOURNEY BEGINS Back in 2010 after a decade working as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) for the Tucson Electric Power Company Sarita took the plunge, joining the IBEW. She confesses for a long time she “didn’t understand or know what it meant to be a union member” All that changed when she was recruited and organised by the local’s Steward and Business Representative. “She educated and encouraged me to become more

STEPHEN GONZALES, FRED BARBIN, PRICE WARWICK, SARITA MORALES

Sarita’s Local 1116 represents the Professional and Industrial part of the union with over 700+ union members and over 1,000+ Bargaining Unit Employees (BUE’S) over six different Union Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). Our Local represents a variety of classifications in the electric industry, gas utilities, and tree trimming service throughout the state of Arizona.

NEW MILLENIUM, NEW IDEAS - IBEW SINCE 2000 Sarita has seen many changes in the IBEW since she joined in 2010, however she notes many of them were in the pipeline as early as 2000.

“With the dawning of a new millennium, IBEW leadership looked to the future through the lens of the past. We took on the goals of organizing, securing social justice, and electing labor-friendly political candidates with new energy and a sense of optimism. We created a Membership Development Department, and a Code of Excellence program. We established the Family Medical Care Plan, the National 401 (k) plan was also introduced. Our union along with other building trades, launched the Mechanical Allied Crafts Alliance, and the National Labor Management & Public Affairs Committee was also established.”

One of the biggest challenges for the IBEW is transitioning to clean energy while ensuring workers are not left behind.

“Our Local has two coal unit plant closures affecting 200+ Bargaining Unit Employees in 2028 and 2032, currently we are negotiating options for those members with management, we are pushing for additional training, options of employment throughout other classifications and transfers that should be available to them. We currently have strong language within our Collective Bargaining Agreements that cover Forced Reduction, Subcontracting, and Temporary or Part-Time Employees, so we are working hard to ensure workers are looked after.”

OVERCOMING PREJUDICE, THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...

When asked about her experiences with discrimination, racism, sexism, and other barriers and how she responds to them Sarita as a woman of colour provides a unique insight.

“I have faced all of those both on the job and in my personal life throughout the years. When I was younger it would make me react with anger and frustration. I still face these same obstacles today both professionally and personally, so most times, when possible, I choose to separate myself from those few individuals. When confrontations do occur, and behaviours need to be addressed and corrected with a witness attending, but I choose to speak up for myself.”

“When it is a barrier that needs to be overcome to achieve a goal, then I overcome it, I did not accomplish my position by giving up. We speak up to fight for ourselves and especially for our MEMBERSHIP.” AUSTRALIAN COMRADES Sarita along with Stephen Gonzales (Local 716, Houston Texas) and Price Warwick (Local 20, Dallas Texas) were part of the exchange program between the ETU and IBEW. With the three visiting NSW and Queensland

SARITA AT WITH LOCAL 1116 MEMBERS With 750,000 members across the US and Canada, IBEW is the world’s oldest and largest electrical union. Its coverage is similar to the ETU – electrical workers in power, construction, rail, manufacturing and general tradeS. IBEW had significant input into Biden Government policies like the massive infrastructure bill which is underwriting major job-creating projects.

“I’m very proud to be the very first female BM from the IBEW to participate in the ETU/IBEW exchange program.”

HIGHLIGHTS “The people of Australia are AMAZING! Everyone’s knowledge of your beautiful and rich history and their willingness to share with us visitors/strangers with no hesitation. Openness and so many different cultures and food variety/textures. The hospitality not only by the members of the ETU but of your fellow Aussies was great!”

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ARIZONA AND AUSTRALIA WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES AFFECTING UNION MEMBERS “A big difference that I saw is the involvement the ETU has in politics at more of a local level. Something that I, unfortunately at this stage, do not have the staff nor the time to do. I have adjusted my thinking after returning from Australia and seeing the differences it makes having those local contacts. Arizona is a “Right to Work” state, so not all workers must be union members to work under our CBAs, although our obligation is to still represent them. Our Local also has members with diverse political views, and we speak on issues that affect us as labour. Some similarities are the support amongst the Brotherhood regarding working rules, safety, and comradeship with one another.

ETU QLD & NT BIENNIAL CONFERENCE “I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere, open discussions, and forum among the members. All current issues we are all facing discussed but didn’t lose the audience, well informed, precise and to the point. Enjoyed the tempo of the conference and spacing of the speakers, entertainment, and breaks.”

SARITA ADDRESSES ETU MEMBERS

WHAT DOES BEING UNION MEAN TO YOU? “Being Union is doing what is best for the brother/sister next to me, for those that will come after us and for those after all of us. Doing the right thing for the right reason for other Brothers/Sisters, their families and the communities.”

23

TACKLING THE KOKODA TRACK Words by ETU organiser Damo Hewat Team ETU Qld and NT, Tim Rogers, Luke Palmer, Steve Harrington, Craig Thomas and I flew to PNG to tackle the infamous Kokoda Trek.

Eight days of trekking across the Owen Stanley Ranges was ahead of us.

Things started to go pear-shaped from the start as our weight limit was exceeded for the charter flight to Kokoda. Trek Leader Matt Boyd quickly organised a backup chopper to carry four trekkers and their packs to the start point. Not so easy Matt, low cloud on the last mountain range into Kokoda forced the chopper back to Port Moresby.

Fast forward two days, the four trekkers and their packs turned up after a Herculean effort from our team of porters to cut a new track and drag our mates and their gear across a flooded river just to get to the starting line.

After two days of relaxing by kicking the footy with the local kids and playing cards it was quickly back to the reality of tackling the Kokoda Track.

The new reality was that we needed to compress eight days of trekking into six days to make it to Owers Corner on time.

The next four days of 20+ kilometres of a little bit of up, a little bit of down, and nothing you haven't seen before, ahead of us.

ETU CREW AT THE AIRPORT AND IN PNG After slipping, sliding, tripping, tumbling down each descent and being caught by George my porter, I never thought in my life I'd be happy to see steep mountain climbs ahead. After four days, my knees, my ankles, and then my back started to pack it in. I lost count of the number of times I went arse up and that George’s guiding hand kept me upright.

Pushing past sore knees, ankles and self-doubt, we continued to push to catch up. In the blink of an eye, five days had passed and we were at the last climb, one last push up to Owers Corner.

Luke and Steve were machines, Thommo powered on the whole way, and Tim overcame the trauma of having to share a room in Port Moresby with yours truly to finish strong.

After a late start on the first day of the trek and a short day on the final day we completed the 96+ kilometres in five days.

All the stories I heard before tackling the track were true - nothing truly prepares you for climb after climb, and there is no way I would have completed the trek without the amazing help of George, my porter.

George has completed the trek over 180 times.

It was an amazing experience that I will never forget, and I got to do it representing the mighty ETU to help raise funds for a cause close to my heart, Mates In Construction and Mates In Energy.

Thank you to everyone who donated and a massive thank you to the ETU for making this a possibility.

Damo

24

THE TREK COMPLETED

FROM THE HONORARY MEMBERS GROUP Vale Raymond (Ray) Thomas Lawrance

On 7th September 2023 Ray Lawrance passed away at 93 years of age. Ray was well and truly a long time member, having joined the Electrical Trades Union in 1949.

He worked in the power industry until being sacked during the infamous SEQEB dispute.

Ray has always been a man of principles and reliability, which saw him invited to join the Honorary Members Group State Committee in 2011. He remained an active member till his passing.

The Chairperson of the ETU Honorary Members Group, Gordon Abbott said the affection with which Ray was held within the ETU was evident with the ETU attendance at Ray’s funeral on Friday 15th September.

Ray will be sorely missed.

Ray leaves behind his wife, Helen and children Anne, Mark and Ross.

RIP comrade.

Gordon Abbott

RAY AT MAY DAY 2023 WITH GORDON

25

PEACE IS UNION BUSINESS Why AUKUS is wrong for Australia Peace is not just the absence of war but a state of mind, a freedom if you like. Peace is union business, because peace is everyone’s business.

Campaigning for peace seems simple enough, but comrades I must tell you we are in for one hell of a blue to beat the forces who thrive on chaos, uncertainty, fear and anxiety. You see just as peace is union business, there is big business in war and there is no better example of this than AUKUS. The Albanese Government has done some great things for workers in the short time it has been in government abolishing the ABCC, increasing maternity leave, improving minimum wage outcomes and the list goes on… But. Rubber stamping Morrison’s $368 Billion AUKUS deal is not one of them.

Apart from the obscene costs which make a mockery of fiscal responsibility, the hundreds of billions of dollars would be better spent on increasing bulk billing, constructing social housing, upgrading and enhancing our education systems, enhancing training and apprenticeships, super charging our electricity grid upgrades and accelerating our transition to renewable energy, the deal also sends Australia down a dangerous militarized path.

The AUKUS deal doesn’t make Australia safer or protect our sovereignty, conventional submarines produced in Australia by Australian workers would do that. It doesn’t provide jobs and infrastructure for Australia, in the short term it does the exact opposite, it spends scarce public money ($3 Billion – $4 Billion) propping up US shipbuilding and inviting US nuclear powered and crewed vessels to dock in Australian ports, it embeds the US military in our defense forces making it all the more likely that Australia will become a target and be dragged into a US war by stealth.

26

ONGY & YOUTH CREW AT THE PALM SUNDAY RALLY IN BRISBANE

The AUKUS deal is a flawed deal that has the grubby fingerprints of Morrison, Dutton and their sycophantic cheer squads all over it, the same grubs who gave you ROBODEBT were at the forefront of this secretive deal. Looking beneath the surface you get an even clearer picture about where the LNP want to take Australia. It is no coincidence that the debate about nuclear power has ramped up with LNP MPs and shadow ministers from Dutton to Canavan and every clown in between taking turns at using the AUKUS sub deal to argue for Australia to divert money away from renewables into mining uranium and constructing untested and massively expensive Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMR’s) along with setting up large scale facilities to store the spent weapons grade nuclear waste they produce, for tens of thousands of years.

As a union, the ETU has a long and proud history of opposition to the toxic, expensive and secretive nuclear industry, our position has not changed in more than seventy years.

We believe it is time for the Albanese government to reconsider and at the very least renegotiate AUKUS to remove the purchase of nuclear submarines, ban nuclear powered and/or armed vessels from Australian controlled waters, reject the push for nuclear power, place a ban on mining uranium and sign and ratify the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.

ONGY ADDRESSES THE ANTI-AUKUS PROTEST RALLY

Comrades, I know it is ironic, but if we want peace, we are going to have to fight for it.

Extract from Peter Ong’s speech to AUKUS protest rally August 2023

27

45 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR WAZZA!

Words by ETU organiser Rob Hill I had the absolute honour of presenting Warren Rolston his Honorary Membership in Weipa recently. Wazza has been a union member his whole life and a staunch ETU member for the last 45 years! Wazza worked for Calmalco/Rio Tinto in Weipa for 34 years and prior to that at Kareeya Hydro Electric Power Station near Tully.

Wazza was working for Camalco during the infamous 1995 dispute where the hostile company refused to acknowledge some unions and sided with ‘others,’ doing dodgy deals that saw some paid up to $20 000 more per year than others who were doing the same job. This was intrinsically based on their union membership, and an overt attempt to break strong unions, by breaking their staunch members. Wazza was one of the staunchest and could never be broken!

Despite the remoteness and Calmalco's size, a small but dedicated crew of 75 workers took strike action for 6 weeks.

Workers picketed the road into the town and the company ferried workers around the picket line. So the striking workers resolved to hit the company where it hurts, by restricting the movement of the bauxite onto tankers. This blue has the historical distinction of being the first water picket line in Australia, when members including Wazza and his young fella jumped in their tinnies and motored backwards and forwards preventing massive ore tankers from berthing at the loading facility!

Eventually, the dispute was won, and workers returned to work, walking tall for holding that line and protecting future workers.

Wazza is as proud as punch of his role in the dispute, and he brought with him to his retirement party a book published about the dispute, pointing out photos of him with his son. That book, like Wazza, is looking a little bit older now, but has an unbreakable spine and is a constant reminder to all that if you don’t fight, you lose!

Wazza himself is known as a local legend in the town and loved by all. This was demonstrated when his supervisor said he wasn’t immediately going to replace Wazza, saying “how could you ever? We might have to put on three people to do his work, but you will never replace him!”

Thanks Wazza for fighting hard to hand on better than you inherited and thank you for staring down injustice, without ever blinking!

28

WAZZA IS PRESENTED WITH HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

ETU MERCH

SCAN TO BUY OR VISIT ETU.ORG.AU/SHOP

ETU shirt designs tell the stories of struggle and success Earlier this year we put a call out for members take a picture of their favourite ETU shirt and tell us why they like it so much.

While we have had some great responses and unearthed some fantastic designs.

Shirts that depicted workers KO of John Howard’s WorkChoices to Bligh’s transformation to the despised Thatcher in the Stop the Sale to the irrepressible Here We Joh Again and Not4sale shirts, the ETU May Day and campaign shirts have chronicled many struggles over the years.

We’ve got project shirts from Gatton Correctional facility, Tweed Hospital, Curtis Island, Darwin and many more, we have Old School, Youth and Women’s Committee shirts, conference shirts and one-off commemorations e.g. Sunday Bloody Sunday, we have Yes shirts and Closing the Gap shirts and we have the old light the fuse shirt. We even celebrated two May Days via the one shirt in 2020/2021 COVID times, and who could forget the lime green machine Not4Sale shirts proudly worn during that fantastic campaign.

For 30 years we have embraced the power of the campagin T-shirt and we will have many more to come.

Take a pic of your favourite and let us know why on Facebook or by email to media@etu.org.au.

30

31

GRIM FUTURE ACROSS THE DITCH On 14th of October 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand elected the most right-wing government in 30 years, we take a look at what this right turn will mean for Kiwi workers.

BACKGROUND Over the past six years our brothers and sisters in Aotearoa have faced more than their share of tragedies and trauma brought on by the pandemic, climate change and terrorism, during most of this tumultuous time they were led by the indominable Jacinda Adern, a leader of world class quality who won a landslide victory in the 2020 poll securing more than 50% of the vote and enough seats to govern alone (a feat never achieved in NZ politics since it introduced Proportional representation in 1996) In January 2023 Adern resigned as PM and announced she was also leaving politics altogether after almost 15 years in Parliament. Thrown into the bear pit was Chris Hipkins the kid from working class roots and the face of the NZ Covid response. But the writing was on the wall, just as in Australia the Ukraine war and the Covid hangover saw inflation soar and cost of living pressures took front centre stage along with longer and higher interest rates rises than those experienced in Australia. While his opponent the corporate suite wearing Christoper Luxon a former Air NZ CEO hardly set the place alight both major parties were sitting in the mid 30% in popular support. In late August something changed, the Labor vote dropped into 20’s territory, National stagnated, the minor parties ACT (right) and the Greens (left) bobbed around the 10-15% mark – NZ First and the wily snake Winston Peters (who have been absent from parliament for the past 3 years), hit the 5% threshold which would see NZF once again in Parliament. Labor ruled out working with the populist leader while National didn’t.

FAIR PAY AGREEMENTS AND SECTOR-WIDE BARGAINING Following its victory in 2020, Labour set about re- regulating wages and conditions for various sectors of the economy through Fair Pay Agreements (an Award light process) while this process has taken some time with bargaining for 6 Fair Pay Agreements ongoing ranging from transport sector to supermarket workers (these Agreements are now in limbo) with National vowing to trash FPA’s altogether.

Nationals promise to reintroduce 90 day trials for all employees within its first 100 days coupled with ACT’s vague cut red tape for businesses promise and broader labour market reform agenda’s spell serious concerns for NZ unions and their members.

RACE-BAITING BACK ON THE AGENDA AS NATIONAL AND ACT SEEK TO SIDELINE MAORI ACT has policy priorities that will see racial tensions in NZ at their highest in more than two decades, ACT are seeking a referendum to reconsider the role New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori people play in policymaking. They are seeking to take away any kind of standing or rights guaranteed to Māori by the Treaty of Waitangi signed in 1840. They also want to abolish the Matariki Māori New Year public holiday.

EXTREME POLICIES WILL WIND BACK SOCIAL REFORM Throw in some other extreme policies taken to the election by National and ACT, such as the increasing of the pension age to 67, from 65, watering down gun control implemented after the March 15 2019 white supremacist terrorist attack that killed more than 50 Muslim worshippers. Along with watering down New Zealand’s climate responses despite climate changeinduced weather events causing billions of dollars each year.

The stated policy positions of the three parties represent the most significant right wing assault on the Labour Party’s push for a kinder, more equal Aotearoa expressed through their outstanding stewardship during Covid which saved an estimated 20,000 lives and their wellbeing budgets where social and community impacts and benefits were weighed against pure economic outcomes. Budgets that included and delivered reductions in child poverty, increases in social housing builds and responsible climate change responses.

Fast forward to October 14, election night shows The NAT/ACT bloc currently has the barest of majorities 61 out of 121 seats.

But wait there is more, votes that is, there are approximately 20% of the total votes still to be counted (special votes) with the result not known until 3rd November, historically National and the right lose seats after these votes are counted.

So what does a National/ACT or National/ACT/NZF government mean for Aotearoa’s workers. Lots. Attacks on worker’s rights are well and truly back on the agenda...

Both National and ACT have a history of attacking workers rights most notably the Employment Contracts Act of 1990 which essentially outlawed unions right to collectively bargain, abolished awards and ushered in individual agreements and fire at will provisions. But even as recently as the late 2010’s National took away the right for workers to have guaranteed paid tea breaks, as well as introducing 90-day trials where workers can be fired without reason. They also presided over some of the smallest minimum wage increases in NZ history, when Labor took office in 2017 the NZ minimum wage sat at $15.75 per hour having risen by only $3.25 per hour in 10 years. in contrast Labour has increased the minimum wage by $5.45 per hour to $21.20 per hour in just 6 years. ACT want to abolish minimum wage increases altogether, letting the market decide.

TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH, BENEFIT CUTS FOR THE POOR The harshness of National’s policy agenda is no better highlighted by its blatant transfer of wealth from poor people to the already wealthy with its proposed tax changes funded by cuts to benefits and foreign ownership of residential property and its housing policy in general. The Party had campaigned on a platform of tax cuts, saying it would offer relief to ordinary families. Critics have questioned the funding for those cuts, which rely heavily on foreign ownership of New Zealand property, and some have said they disproportionately favour some 300 New Zealand landlords while cutting benefits for disabled people.

National has promised to enable landlords to evict tenants without cause, deduct their interest payments from their tax bill, and sell their property investment after two years without incurring any tax on the capital gain.

Foreigners will again be able to buy residential property - but only houses over NZ$2m.

Aotearoa’s working class are in for some serious pain, with the country electing a government for the rich, by the rich.

33

CASEY BELL RECOGNISED AS MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE Fourth-year apprentice and ETU member Casey Bell was presented the Martin Medal from Mates in Construction, recognising her efforts in the workplace. The presentation was made at the MATES in Construction charity lunch in Brisbane, in mid-October.

The Martin Medal is presented to a worker under 30 years old who has gone above and beyond for a mate in crisis or to be a mental health advocate in their workplace. Casey has completed all MATES courses and is the go-to for mental health support where she works at QBuild.

The award was made even more special this year with a special donation from the family of late ETU member, Sean Collins. His dad Barry presented Casey with the award and $1000 cash, some of which Casey has already put towards night classes she’s completing in the leadup to her capstone. Casey says she’s going to keep in contact with Barry and Sean’s mother Miriam to let them know how she spends the rest of the money, which Casey will put towards her trade.

“It was really good to hear Barry speak a bit about Sean’s life. It’s really special that they were able to do this.”

On the day, Sean’s father Barry made a short but impactful speech: “On behalf of my wife Miriam and myself, I could see why my son Sean chose this industry to be an electrician with such an outstanding support group behind him. Now, Sean passed away as was just said a minute ago over in Western Australia when the borders were still closed in February last year.

He was passionate about workplace health and safety looking after his mates and indeed that's a maxim that I’ve operated by in all my life as a pilot - looking after your mates is number one. So thank you MATES in Construction. We look forward to being part of this in the future, and Casey, here's a thousand dollars to do what you like with.”

When asked what drove her to get involved with MATES, Casey said that she’s always “felt it’s important to look after your mates, and anyone in general, and to keep people safe.” She continues, “I have lost some friends and family to suicide, so it’s a really important issue for me.”

Casey has completed ASIST and Connector training through MATES since she started her apprenticeship and has recently undertaken the Apprentice Resilience Program as well. Casey’s advocacy doesn’t end in the workplace, she’s vocal about mental health in her personal life as well.

Casey’s organiser Scott Reichman describes her as a great unionist, and a credit to the ETU. “Casey signed up to the union immediately upon starting her apprenticeship. She’s has good union values, and her passion for mental health advocacy makes a real difference to members on site. It’s great to not only see women in the trade, but also young apprentices like Casey getting so involved in the movement and in promoting the importance of mental health.”

JOHN CRITTALL, CASEY BELL & BARRY COLLINS

34

SEAN COLLINS

Christmas can be tough.

MATES is there.

For a lot of people, Christmas isn’t a time for celebration. Lots of Australians struggle at this time of year. MATES is just a phone call away.

Having a tough time?

Call MATES on 1300 642 111 In case you missed it, we recorded a podcast episode with Phil and James from MATES in Construction last Christmas. Listen on Spotify via the QR code, or search for ‘Switched on’ on your preferred platform.

KEEP SUN SAFE THIS SEASON WORKPLACE HAZARD ALERT As we leave behind the relative cool of winter and head into the spring and later the searing heat of summer, now is a timely reminder to care about your skin. However, one of the myths skin cancer awareness campaigners Danger Sun Overhead (DSO) are quick to dispel is the long-held belief that you only need sunscreen in summer – False the need for sun protection and limiting exposure is a yearlong operation, while the UV levels may be lower in autumn, winter and spring, once they reach 3 or above it’s time to take action to prevent skin cancers. A great tool for measuring UV levels and sun damage risks is the Sunsmart App.

DANGER SUN OVERHEAD Since the formation of DSO in 2010, the sun safety initiative has provided education to more than 73,835 workshop attendees in workplaces across Australia. DSO’s services continue to be in high demand, delivering education workshops in all Australian states and territories.

If you work in construction, at EQL, Powerlink or QBuild or are an apprentice you will likely know of or have been through a DSO workshop.

DSO’s objectives are to reduce the impact of Melanoma and all other skin cancers on all Australians.

They do this through Awareness/Education, Prevention, Early Detection, and Support for workers who have experienced UV exposure, skin cancer or heat stress.

“Unfortunately, Qld/Australia are the skin cancer capitals of the world!

The past 30 years we have had the Slip Slop Slap drummed into us, but our statistics re: skin cancer fatality and diagnosis is still way too high!” says DSO Founder Jo Crotty “The importance of educating and empowering workers early, is why we have put a lot of resources into apprenticeship workshops, they are able to understand and educate their peers and in some cases companies about what is and isn’t acceptable practice.”

“We want it to get to the stage where sun safety is front and centre of their minds when they set out for work, just as they lace up the steel caps and put on the hardhat, we want them to lather on the sunscreen.”

“Get your skin checked, don’t put it off, don’t kick it down the road, a half hour check-up could save your life.”

FROM THE WORKSHOPS Johnnie Inches. Electrical apprentice for Queensland Rail. Also training to be the apprentice delegate for the ETU. What Johnnie found most interesting was how often we need to apply sunscreen and how heat depletes the chemicals in the sunscreen to protect our skin from ultraviolet radiation.

He has put sunscreen on before and wondered why it didn't work, he now knows it was because it had been sitting in the glovebox of his car and breaking down its protection.

Alex Hills TAFE, 26th September 2023 – Foundation Program

MORE INFORMATION

WATCH

ETU PRESIDENT JASON YOUNG TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE WITH SKIN CANCER

CONTACT

DSO IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE WORKERS

BOOK

FIND A PROPERLY TRAINED SKIN CANCER DOCTOR IN YOUR AREA

35

HALL PAYNE WINS SHIFT ELECTRICIAN The worker was instructed to perform an inspection of plant equipment when he unknowingly stepped in a ditch in the access way on site sustaining injury. Injuries: right knee and psychological injury.

The workers’ compensation insurer (the insurer) initially offered approximately $7,000.00 in full and final settlement of the workers’ claim. The worker sought assistance from the ETU and a referral to Hall Payne Lawyers. The worker was off work for a period of time.

Following a period of time off work, the worker returned to his role in a lighter capacity. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker reject the offer from the insurer and pursue a common law claim against multiple parties. All parties initially denied liability. The case was ultimately successful with the worker being awarded damages in excess of $850,000.00

ELECTRICIAN The worker was instructed to lift and manoeuvre a heavy item from a pallet. In so doing, he was required to step between two pallets without any clear access. Whilst lifting and turning he tripped on an adjacent pallet and fell, sustaining injury. Injuries: Right ankle and psychological injury. The workers’ compensation insurer (the insurer) initially offered approximately $34,000.00 in full and final settlement of the worker’s claim. The worker sought assistance from the ETU and a referral to Hall Payne Lawyers. HPL recommended the member pursue a common law claim for negligence against their employer. The defendant denied liability and proceedings were commenced in the Supreme Court. The case was ultimately successful with the worker being awarded damages in excess of $720,000.00 ELECTRICIAN The worker was in injured during the course of his employment whilst lifting and manoeuvring a large commercial air-conditioning unit.

Injuries: Lower back. The insurer initially offered $0.00 in full and final settlement of the worker’s claim. The worker sought assistance from the ETU and a referral to Hall Payne Lawyers. HPL recommended the worker pursue a common law claim for negligence.

The case was ultimately successful with the worker being awarded damages in excess of $500,000.00.

REFRIGERATION MECHANIC The worker required to move heavy items using a defective trolley supplied by the employer.

Injuries: Right Shoulder. The insurer initially offered approximately $18,000.00 in full and final settlement of the worker’s claim. The worker was off for a period of time and able to return to their preinjury employment. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker pursue a common law claim for negligence.

The case was ultimately successful with the worker being awarded damages over $150,000.00.

ELECTRICAL FOREWORKER The worker was travelling to work on his motorcycle when he was sideswiped by a vehicle knocking him off his bike. Injures: Left Foot.

After a period of incapacity, the worker was able to return to his preinjury role. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker pursue a common law claim against the at fault driver. The case was ultimately successful with the worker being awarded damages in excess of $300,000.00 ELECTRICIAL LEADING HAND The worker injured himself whilst walking on wet slippery concrete at the employer’s camp site. Injuries: Left Knee. Following a period of time off work, the worker returned to his role in a lighter capacity. The insurer initially offered approximately $6,000.00 in full and final settlement of the worker’s claim. The worker sought assistance from the ETU and a referral to Hall Payne Lawyers. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker reject the offer from the insurer and pursue a common law claim against multiple parties. All parties initially denied liability. Proceedings were commenced in the Supreme Court.

The case was ultimately successful with the worker being awarded damages in excess of $890,000.00

36

ELECTRICIAN The worker was involved in two separate incidents performing electrical construction work at a solar farm resulting in injury to his left knee and a secondary psychiatric injury. The injuries were assessed at 0%, 1% and 7%. The insurer initially offered approximately $27,000.00 in full and final settlement of the worker’s claim. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker reject the offer from the insurer and pursue a common law claim against multiple parties. Liability was denied by the Defendant for both claims asserting the system of work was safe.

Both matters were ultimately successful resulting in damages of $750,000.00 being awarded against the principal contractor and labour hire company.

ELECTRICIAN The worker was injured in the course of carrying out electrical work on a Solar Farm, whereby he suffered heatstroke and in the course of being transported to hospital fell from his work vehicle. Injuries: Heat Stroke and injuries to both knees. The insurer initially offered approximately $6,000.00 in full and final settlement of the worker’s claim. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker pursue a common law claim against multiple parties. All parties strongly denied liability.

The principal contractor was in liquidation and HPL was required to seek leave of the court pursuant to section 500(2) which was unsuccessful at first instance. HPL ran the Appeal for the member on a no win no fee basis and was ultimately successful before the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgment, with costs being awarded against the Defendant. The case was ultimately successful with damages of $500,000.00 being awarded. This case will make it easier for injured workers to prosecute cases against liquidated companies in the future ELECTRICAL FITTER MECHANIC The worker was injured in a motorcycle accident whereby he was hit by another vehicle who failed to give way. Injuries: Left Leg and Psychiatric Injury. As a consequence of the incident, the worker was unable to return to his pre-injury role. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker pursue a common law claim against the at fault driver. The case was ultimately successful with damages in excess of $1,100,000.00 LIFT ADJUSTOR The worker was exposed to asbestos dust and fibres during the course of his work as a lift adjustor/ technician in Queensland. Injuries: Mesothelioma (latent onset) The worker sought assistance from the ETU and a referral to Hall Payne Lawyers. Hall Payne Lawyers recommended the worker lodge an Application for Compensation and provided submissions and evidence in support. The workers’ application was ultimately successful with compensation being paid in excess of $750,000.00. The worker was extremely appreciative of the preliminary work undertaken by the ETU and noted that if it wasn’t for the Union he wouldn’t have known he had a case to run.

BEVERAGE TECHNICIAN/FORKLIFT DRIVER The injured worker was involved in two separate incidents resulting in injuries to his right shoulder. The injuries were assessed at 0% and 2% and the insurer offered $7,000.00. Hall Payne Lawyers brought claims for each incident. Liability was denied by the Defendant for both claims. The cases were ultimately successful with damages in excess of $325,000.00.

FROM

KINGY & LANCE SWANBANK SET FOR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE After being mothballed and prepped for sale with the workforce sacked under the LNP, Ipswich’s iconic Swanbank precinct will be transformed under Labor as part of a $54.4 million investment into more good, local jobs through clean, cheap, reliable power.

The commitment includes $41.5 million to support the installation of a 250MW battery at South-East Queensland’s future Clean Energy Hub, along with a turbine upgrade and other overhauls. We’re also exploring alternative energy options at the CleanCo site, including potential hydrogen production and use, solar power and battery storage. We’re committed to continued public ownership of our power assets like Swanbank, so we can continue to offer our nation-leading cost of living support, which includes at least $550 off every household’s power bill.

FIRST NEIGHBOURHOOD BATTERIES INSTALLED Neighbourhood batteries continue to be installed across Ipswich as part of a Queensland first initiative to deliver our renewable energy revolution in our suburbs and streets. The partnership between publicly owned Energex and retailer Origin is delivering 35 neighbourhood batteries in our local community under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. Battery technology supports increased reliability, reduced costs, and a cleaner supply, storing excess energy generated by the equivalent of nearly 600 rooftop solar systems during the day. The power is then pumped back into the grid during peak evening periods, lowering household energy bills. $12M BATTERY BOOSTS LOCAL JOBS A $12 million investment in Queensland-made battery technology will help deliver more clean, cheap, reliable power to homes and businesses across Ipswich. The state-of-the-art zinc-bromine flow battery from Brisbanebased Redflow is set to be installed in Ipswich, backing more good, local jobs in energy and manufacturing. By backing Queensland businesses we’re supporting jobs right through the clean energy supply chain, and this is a Queensland battery, built by Queenslanders, using Queensland minerals.

COST OF LIVING RELIEF FOR EVERY QUEENSLANDER THANKS TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP Last year Queenslanders got $175 off power bills to help relieve cost of living pressures, and this year’s rebate is even bigger – we're giving every Queensland household $550 off your power bill. Pensioners and concession card holders will get an even bigger rebate of $1,072, the most support for pensioners in the nation. Because we've kept our assets in public hands, the budget makes sure all Queenslanders get a fair share from current high coal prices thanks to our progressive coal royalties.

It’s a part of the biggest cost of living relief package in Australia – a great stocking filler!

I wish you, your family and friends all the very best for the remainder of 2023 and beyond.

In solidarity Lance McCallum MP Member for Bundamba Assistant Minister for Energy

38

It’s been a busy couple of months with State Budget Estimates and Parliamentary Committee travel. The Transport & Resources Committee that I chair covers three Ministers, including the Minister for Energy, Renewables, Hydrogen, and Public Works. Highlights included overall progress on the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan – including opportunities in the hydrogen development space, consultation on Queensland Renewable Energy Zones, and the rebuild of QBuild. The exciting thing for our trade is the number of skilled electrical tradespeople we will need over the next decade, it is and will be phenomenal.

And I’m more excited than ever about building the world’s biggest pumped hydro project in Borumba, after recently visiting Lake Cethana in Tasmania (pictured). This awe-inspiring project includes a new off-river upper storage, underground tunnels linking to the lower storage, an underground pumped hydro power station with reversible pump turbine units, and a new transmission line connecting into Tassie’s energy network. They have plans for Pumped Hydro from here as well.

I’ve been tasked with chairing the Inquiry into scrap metal theft which has significant impact on our trade and associated industries. I’m confident from the early submissions that we can put together a good report with some recommendations on how to pull up this dangerous and costly activity.

Finally, our government is easing cost of living pressures with rebates on energy bills, partnering with the Federal Labor Government; and helping Queenslanders switch to more energy efficient appliances with $44 million in Climate Smart Energy Savers rebates. If you’re making the switch to heat pump or solar hot water, installing new air-conditioning, or just ready for a new washing machine, dryer, dishwasher or fridge, check out what you could get back at www.queenslandsavers.qld.gov.au.

Kingy

Apprentices & training for the industry, by the industry