The Australian Worker Magazine Issue 3 2009 by Henry Armstrong

ISSUE 3 2009 $4.50 (INC GST)

A country that makes things Welcome to a brave new era

Peace & unity Unions work for an end to hostilities in the Middle East

As strong as steel It’s the Steel Industry Innovation Council to the rescue

Postcard from...

the deep

North

EVEN PAST THE TIP OF CAPE YORK YOU’LL FIND A PROUD AWU MEMBER!

Bigger & stronger than ever Our recruitment drive’s spectacular success

ISBN 978-186396379-4

INSIDE

• BACK ON TRACK – DEALING WITH BACK PAIN • RAGING BULL – RODEO RAMPAGE IN AUSTRALIA • WHY RUGBY IS FOR GIRLS • KIDS’ PARTIES

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contents Issue 3 – 2009

Features 06 AS STRONG AS STEEL The Australian steel industry is in crisis. But will the newly established Steel Industry Innovation Council help?

12 A COUNTRY THAT MAKES THINGS Heralding a new era, by putting aside historic differences, two of Australia’s strongest unions have forged an alliance to support the growth of Australian industry.

16 BIGGER & STRONGER

The AWU’s “July Intensive” recruitment campaign has delivered some spectacular results. But the driv to increase the Union’s membership has not drive stop stopped there.

20 POSTCARD FROM THE DEEP NORTH Even past the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, the mainland’s northern-most point, you’ll ﬁnd a proud AWU member. Welcome to Far North Queensland – and beyond!

44 PEACE & UNITY Forget high-end politics, it’s a global movement of workers and unions working towards peace in the Middle East that’s having a positive impact.

46 BACK ON TRACK What do you do if you have a “twinge” or a full-blown backache? Don’t try and live with it, seek help fast.

50 CESAR’S SALAD When he’s not busy representing workers, Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem likes to relax in his kitchen at home. Here, he whips up a deliciously fresh traditional Lebanese tabouli.

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52 RAGING RA BULL M the men who take on a tonne of angry Meet be beefsteak in the name of sport. It’s rodeo rampage Au Australian style!

56 GIRLS WITH BALLS Move over blokes! Australia’s success in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai means rugby is indeed a game for girls.

Regulars P04 National Opinion P26 Frontline News P42 Meet the Delegates/Ofﬁcials P61 Kids’ parties P65 Bindi & Ringer P66 Grumpy Bastard

AWU

EDITOR Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary AWU NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS CO-ORDINATOR Andrew Casey AWU NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Henry Armstrong Address: Level 10, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Email: members@nat.awu.net.au Website: www.awu.net.au Telephone: (02) 8005 3333 Facsimile: (02) 8005 3300

ACP Magazines Ltd Publishing EDITOR Kyle Rankin ART DIRECTOR Helen MacDougall SUB-EDITORS Graham Lauren, Rosemary Brown PRODUCTION SERVICES Jasmin Connor PREPRESS SUPERVISOR Klaus Müller PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Phil Scott PUBLISHER Gerry Reynolds PUBLISHING MANAGER Nicola O’Hanlon

Published for The Australian Workers’ Union (ABN 28 853 022 982) by ACP Magazines Ltd (ACN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park St, Sydney NSW 2000. © 2009. All rights reserved. Printed by PMP, Clayton, Vic 3168 and cover printed by Energi Print, Murrumbeena, Vic 3163. Distributed by Network Services, 54 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Articles published in The Australian Worker express the opinion of the authors and not necessarily ACP Magazines Ltd. While all efforts have been made to ensure prices and details are correct at time of printing, these are subject to change.

PRIVACY NOTICE This issue of The Australian Worker may contain offers, competitions, or surveys which require you to provide information about yourself if you choose to enter or take part in them (Reader Offer). If you provide information about yourself to ACP Magazines Ltd (ACP), ACP wil use this information to provide you with the products or services you have requested, and may supply your information to contractors that help ACP to do this. ACP wil also use your information to inform you of other ACP publications, products, services and events. ACP may also give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers and that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information ACP holds about you, please contact ACP’s Privacy Ofﬁcer at ACP Magazines Ltd, 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000. Cover photo: David Hahn

www.awu.net.au

theaustralianworker 3

NATIONAL OPINION

Sweet and sour

AWU LEADERS

he Federal Labor Government’s Fair Work laws have been in effect for a short period of time now, and once again it has been the AWU at the forefront under this new system, rightly so given the hard work AWU Members and Officials across Australia put in to getting them in place. AWU Members have been front and centre of industrial relations since 1886. AWU Members at Bundaberg Sugar are now just emerging from a long struggle with their employer to protect their leave entitlements. Bundaberg Sugar was determined in their intention to buy out five days’ travel leave from their workforce. Travel leave is an entitlement specific to the sugar industry in Queensland. AWU Members achieved an extra five days leave in 1980 by foregoing a wage increase. Bundy Sugar workers fought hard to keep travel leave, which for many of them was valuable extra time with their families after the long, hard crushing season. What the company could not understand was that family time is not for sale, at any price. What was pleasing to see (although not unexpected) was the support from other AWU Members for the Bundy Sugar workers. All of the other sugar mills in Queensland moved resolutions of support of their mates in Bundaberg. Sugar communities throughout Queensland also sent postcards

Russ Collison Greater NSW Branch Secretary

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Bill Ludwig National President Queensland Branch Secretary

“This campaign wasn’t about money; it was about workers having time to spend with their families.”

Richard Downie Newcastle Branch Secretary

to the Belgian owners of Bundaberg Sugar imploring them to intervene in the dispute. This campaign wasn’t about money; it was about workers having time to spend with their families. AWU Members weren’t prepared to sell that time off for any price. The contributions that people make to their families and their communities during the time they have off is part of what keeps communities strong. We should always remember that it is union members who won that family time, and it is the strength of union members like those at Bundaberg Sugar who make sure all in the community have access to that time. Time which is spent helping to raise kids, coaching sporting teams, and volunteering for community groups. These are the things that make our community a community. Without those union members who are prepared to ﬁght for these things, our communities would be much poorer.

Work and leisure should have a healthy balance and family time must not be compromised.

Andy Gillespie Port Kembla Branch Secretary

Cesar Melhem Victorian Branch Secretary

www.awu.net.au

A date to celebrate

PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

uly 1, 2009 was the day that really brought home the importance of the work of the mighty trade union movement in pushing Howard out and ushering in a new era of Federal Labor. On that date we saw balance and fairness returned to the workplace with the Fair Work Act coming into force. WorkChoices was ﬁnally buried and now workers and their unions would be able to operate under fare and decent laws. The Fair Work Act has returned fairness and balance to the workplaces of this country. It provides greater protection for delegates and union members in their workplace. It enforces good faith bargaining upon employers and it has brought back unfair dismissal protection to the majority of Australian workers. So, we should all be proud of what an achievement July 1, 2009 truly was, although we did not get everything we had campaigned for as a movement in the FairWork Act, we have achieved a great deal. It provides for a much better legal environment for us to access, service, and organise working people in this country. Most importantly it provides us a better environment to grow as a union. Growing our Union is a key aim of the leadership team of this great Union. In fact we see it as the most important focus for our organisation. Without growth we will not continue to be a powerful advocate for our members both in the workplace and in the national debate. That is why, on

Wayne Hanson South Australian Branch Secretary

www.awu.net.au

Paul Howes National Secretary

“For the month of July, Union recruitment increased by 140 per cent, on average! That is fantastic.”

Stephen Price West Australian Branch Secretary

July 1, 2009 we launched a new and exciting campaign, “The July Intensive”. For the entire month of July every Organiser in every Branch across the country was focused on recruiting members to grow our great Union. The degree of cooperation and effort that was seen at a Branch and National level between Delegates and Organisers, to successfully carry out The July Intensive, is to be commended. For the month of July, Union recruitment increased by 140 per cent, on average! That is a fantastic result and one that would not have been possible without the commitment and hard work of our Delegates, Ofﬁcials and Members. The results speak for themselves, but they are not the most important part of this campaign. What’s really important is; this campaign sets an example for every Organiser and Delegate in the AWU, and the union movement as a whole, that substantial growth is achievable, especially with the new Fair Work Act. Although the July Intensive has wound up for this year, our focus on growth has not. It is important that we use what we have learned and apply it to every workplace across the country. With every member gained, we become stronger and put ourselves in a better position to protect the rights of working men and women in this country. With a growing and strong Union we can continue our 123-year-old mission of ensuring that Australia will always remain a great nation in which to live and work. Post your letters to: The Editor, The Australian Worker, Level 10, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Or email them to: members@nat.awu.net.au

Ian Wakeﬁeld Tasmanian Branch Secretary

Norman McBride Tobacco Branch Secretary

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STEEL INDUSTRY

strong AS STEEL

The Australian steel industry is in crisis with many local infrastructural projects using imported products. But will the newly established Steel Industry Innovation Council help? WRITTEN BY CATE CARRIGAN PHOTOS FAIRFAX PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES

I OPPOSITE: An employee of BlueScope Steel, Hastings, on the ﬂoor of the Organic Finishes plant amongst 26-30 tonne coils of zincalume. FAR RIGHT: Bluescope Steel has felt the force of the global ﬁnancial crisis in the past 18 months with workers at the plant in Western Port fearing for their jobs.

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t’s been a passionate campaign in the face of a steep decline in demand for Australian steel but a joint Australian Workers’ Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union push to get a beĴer deal for home made products has now led to a new Federal Government strategy to bolster the industry. Steel workers at the BlueScope Western Port facility at Hastings, Victoria, have felt the crunch of the downturn of the past 18 months. Theirs has gone from being a bustling plant with plenty of orders, to one at which more idle time has meant rostering changes and budgetary cuts. “The boys can see that the orders aren’t what they once were and that makes everyone worry about their jobs,” says Shane Burd, an AWU Member and process control co-ordinator at Western Port, which employs 1000 steel workers. “We’re happy the AWU has pushed for Australian products to get preference over imports as that will help ęll the order books and keep the work going. So, it’s good to see the Government has taken on board what’s been proposed. Now we just need it to be managed in the right way so it delivers the goods,” he says. www.awu.net.au

A Government boost Under the plans announced by the Federal Industry Minister, Kim Carr, in August, Australian steel makers are to be given maximum access to the multibillion-dollar public infrastructure projects at the heart of the Government’s economic stimulus package, but without breaching trade agreements. As part of the strategy, a Steel Industry Innovation Council (SIIC), including industry, union, and research bodies, is to be set up and steel industry advocates appointed to champion the local industry, ensuring opportunities for projects for local manufacturers. The Minister says the steel industry advocate will be able to stop foreign companies rigging tender specięcations to shut out domestic steel, something that’s happened “too oĞen”. “If Australian steel is good enough to be used on projects around the world, it should be good enough for major infrastructure projects in this country. “But instead we are seeing entire plants imported from overseas, right down to the last nut and bolt,” Senator Carr says.

A fair go for all The steel industry measures build on another recent Federal Government commitment sought by the AWU – to give Australian business fairer access to opportunities arising from the substantial government investments in transport, energy, communications, housing, education and research infrastructure. ❯❯

www.awu.net.au

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STEEL INDUSTRY RIGHT: The WA Oakajee Port deepwater developmemt project has promised access to Chinese companies at the expense of Australian industry.

The Steel Industry Innovation Council

➜ Will include representatives from OneSteel and BlueScope, the AWU and Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, the Australian Steel Institute and the CSIRO. ➜ Will ensure the industry has the best possible access to billions of dollars of public and private sector projects. ➜ Will offer advice to the government on the appointment of a supplier advocate for steel, and generally on the steel industry. ➜ Will ensure the Australian steel industry remains world-class and responds to new challenges. ➜ Will improve connections between project proponents and suppliers, including ensuring that project speciﬁcations do not discriminate against Australian suppliers. ➜ Will advise on the creation of industry teams to pursue opportunities. ➜ Identify and advise on actions industry and unions can take co-operatively to support the activity of the steel supplier advocate.

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“Our focus is to ensure Australian steel has the opportunity to tender for major infrastructure projects. We have had a number of cases where project design speciﬁcations have been written in such a way as to risk excluding Australian-made steel.” The AWU and the AMWU – united as the Manufacturing Alliance to ęght for the steel industry – have welcomed the move as a great result and the best initiative since the former Hawke Government’s Industry Minister John BuĴon’s 1983 Steel Plan helped revitalise the local industry through a combination of product bounties, anti-dumping measures, increased productivity and industry modernisation. “This Steel Council will provide greater security for Australian steel workers, at a crucial time when the industry is in need of the best solutions that industry, business and government can ęnd,” AWU National Secretary Paul Howes says. “In 2009, steel production fell 50 per cent…and we lose 85 good steel jobs for every 1000 tonnes lost. So we support the Rudd Labor Government’s commitment to jobs and Australian manufacturing in this important ęrst step in securing the steel industry’s future.” (see our feature about the Manufacturing Alliance on page 12).

Working together Paul Howes says the Steel Council can impart strong pressure and build compelling cases for governments and private enterprise to use Australian steel. AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver says the latest Federal Government initiative, on top of its earlier other procurement announcements, will help address the 77,000 manufacturing jobs lost in the past 12 months. The Australian steel industry’s National Manager of Industry Development, Ian Cairns, agrees, saying his organisation has been arguing for the establishment of just such an industry organisation for months. Ian Cairns says the SIIC will draw together the “major players in the industry” – both employers and employees – on a regular basis, ensuring issues are brought to light and dealt with quickly and to ensure the industry keeps on looking forward and being proactive about change. www.awu.net.au

“I think that’s where the strength is – the council can ring the warning bells on industry problems. Issues can be Ěagged early rather than things geĴing out of hand and diĜcult to resolve.”

Keeping it Australian made As for the steel industry advocate, Ian Cairns says he or she can ensure the Industry Capability Network (which assists businesses in maximising opportunities arising from the purchasing requirements of both the government and private sectors), Enterprise Connect (a government initiative that provides comprehensive support to eligible Australian small and medium-size enterprises) and other agencies receive the right advice about what the local steel industry can do, something that is lacking at present. “At the moment, there’s a disconnect between what project proponents think the Australian steel industry can do and what it is capable of delivering.” Ian Cairns cites the Western Australian Oakajee Port project – a multibillion-dollar deepwater port development north of Geraldton – where the AIS argues the WA government has promised access to Chinese companies at the expense of Australian industry. “I think the advocate could play a role in a case like this by making it clear to the proponents that major Australian steel companies have the capacity and expertise to be involved in the project. “The advocate can work to ensure that project specięcations do not discriminate against Australian suppliers and provide checks and balances to ensure major project proponents do try to use the local steel industry,” he says.

The future for Australian steel BlueScope Steel – which will be part of the SIIC – sees this ability to identify and champion the capacity of Australian steel as vital to the future of the industry. A company spokesman says the creation of “a dedicated and focused working group identifying opportunities – such as major infrastructure projects – [through which] the industry can demonstrate its capabilities and competitiveness, can only beneęt the Australian steel industry.” www.awu.net.au

“Our focus is to ensure Australian steel has the opportunity to tender for major infrastructure projects. We have had a number of cases where project design specięcations have been wriĴen in such a way as to risk excluding Australian-made steel. So it is important to educate proponents of major projects, in both the government and private sector, about the capabilities of the Australian steel industry.”

Protecting our jobs Robbie Rudd, an AWU delegate at BlueScope’s Western Port plant in Victoria, hopes the measures will liĞ the industry. Its workers have “big concerns” about falling orders. “At the moment we are going through a lot of pain, with rosters being cut, people’s hours being changed and a few disputes popping up as a result. “I am hoping this will make a diěerence because we don’t want to see a repeat of the Carlton Football Club project where everything was brought in from overseas. For an AFL club to do that really hurts the working-class people of Australia,” Robbie says. And he’s calling on the Federal Government to act to protect Australian jobs. “In the past, the Union’s been called protectionist for trying to get a beĴer deal for Australian products, and I think that’s oěensive to the workers of this country. “I’ve always been a Labor man and would never vote Liberal, but if there’s one thing that could push me over the edge, it’s people not protecting Australian jobs,” he says. The ALP’s Federal Member for Throsby, Jenny George, whose NSW seat takes in the home of many Port Kembla steel workers, is also concerned primarily about jobs. “A number of workers at the Port Kembla plant have told me that this global downturn has had the worst impact on the steelworks that they can remember. So it’s been a very worrying time. “The steelworks – with its 12,000 employees – underpins our regional economy and has a profound impact on the community I represent.” Jenny George says the Federal Government strategy means that for the ęrst time since the ❯❯

ABOVE R ABOVE: Robbie bbi R Rudd, dd AWU Delegate at Bluescope’s Western Port plant, Hastings in Victoria. BELOW: Shane Burd, AWU member and Process Control Co-ordinator at Western Port.

theaustralianworker 9

STEEL INDUSTRY

“I just don’t want the steel strategy to turn into another debacle with a department of 200 well-paid people that just creates a money hole.”

BuĴon plan the future and viability of the steel industry will be at centre stage of the Government’s considerations. “It’s a recognition of the many months of hard work by the AWU, its members and local federal representatives in bringing these issues to light. “I was delighted to at last see some commitment from the Government. It won’t solve all the problems… but it will put companies like BlueScope and OneSteel in a much beĴer position to bid for both Government and private sector work,” she says. And Jenny George doubts there will be repercussions from other countries as the Government was careful to ensure it didn’t breach any trade obligations. “This just ensures as much as possible that we safeguard our domestic industry from the adverse consequences of the dumping of steel [from overseas].”

Praise for the unions’ approach The ASI’s Ian Cairns has high praise for the unions’ role in geĴing the Federal Government to act on a steel strategy. He describes their actions as fundamental. “In times gone by, the union movement has been criticised for its leĞ-wing stance on a lot of issues but in this case its been a good, consistent and reasonable approach.”

The AWU Steel Plan: What the Union has been seeking

✓ Steel declared a strategic industry and used for nation building during the global ﬁnancial crisis. ✓ Recognition of the competitiveness of Australian steel. ✓ Establishment of a steel price monitor to provide real-time information on prices, production costs, demand conditions and transparency in assessing dumping cases. ✓ Offers of full, fair and reasonable opportunities to local industry. ✓ Support for innovation and exports. ✓ Support in productivity, wage restraint and jobs. ✓ Recognition of steel’s importance as a strategic regional industry. ✓ Promotion of a global sectoral steel agreement and sharing technical and performance data among partner countries. ✓ Strengthening of the Foreign Investment Review Board’s powers to review future takeovers to protect the national interest. ✓ Establishment of a new industry policy to integrate steel with car plans, infrastructure investment, renewable energy supply (wind farms, geothermal, solar), and waterconservation projects.

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For 35-year-old father Shane Burd, it’s now a case of waiting to see what the Federal Government’s commitments will mean for him and his fellow workers at Western Port. “These guys want the best for their families, and worrying about job security is something they would rather not have to do. When there’s this constant niggle at the back of your mind that you may lose your job, it’s hard to plan for a holiday or just get on and enjoy your life with your family. “I just want the Government to be serious about this and make sure Australian steel companies get a fair and equitable chance against imports. “I’m in the CFA and we’ve seen all this money raised for the bushęres and yet people are still living in caravans six months aĞer the event. I just don’t want it [the steel strategy] to turn into another debacle with a department of 200 well-paid people that just creates a money hole.”

Looking to the future But the ASI’s Ian Cairns is more conędent about the future. “We see some light at the end of the tunnel coming out of this crisis. There is a lot of work still to be done but we see that we can be competitive, and the steel council and steel advocate are steps in the right direction to achieve this.” As one of the country’s major steel companies, BlueScope Steel prides itself on being internationally competitive. A spokesman says this was demonstrated recently when BlueScope won a competitive tender to supply steel for construction of three Destroyers within the Government’s defence program. “We are grateful for all our orders but to be providing steel to such an important project for Australia is especially pleasing,” the spokesman says. Looking to the future, the company welcomes strengthening relationships with the Government and the relevant working parties that make up the Australian steel industry. ◆ www.awu.net.au

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THE MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE

Busy at work in an aluminium production plant.

A COUNTRY THAT

makes things Heralding newulput era by asidehendreros historic differences, of quat. Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strongest Ureros eroacon autputting accumsan alis et, venttwo lutat, Uptatem il iriliquat, unions have forged an alliance the growth of Australian industry. vero commy nonsequis autpat. to Untsupport vel eummod modolenis el dolutpat. WRITTEN BY TOM SCAHILL PHOTOS NEWSPIX/FAIRFAX PHOTOS

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www.awu.net.au

eĴing aside diěering political approaches to concentrate on the bigger picture, Australia’s two largest blue-collar unions – the Australian Workers’ Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union – have joined forces to create the Manufacturing Alliance. Launched on July 24 in Canberra, the Alliance was formed to draw the Federal Government’s aĴention to the escalating job losses in the manufacturing industry. The Manufacturing Alliance wants to ensure expenditure and procurement in Government-funded public and private infrastructure projects prioritises the use of Australian materials. This will create jobs in the manufacturing industry, AWU National Secretary Paul Howes says. “The key issue is ensuring we are maximising the Australian content, not necessarily by giving Australian manufacturers an advantage, but by having a level playing ęeld,” he explains. “What we know is Australian manufactured goods can compete competitively with imported goods. Australian steel can be just as competitive as Chinese steel, so can Australian aluminium.”

Job losses in manufacturing The Australian manufacturing industry currently employs 1.3 million people, but has faltered recently, with 76,000 jobs lost in the past 12 months alone. “If things keep going the way they have, potentially there are a lot more manufacturing workers out of work,” Paul says. AWMU National Secretary Dave Oliver agrees that if nothing is done, and manufacturing jobs continue to slide, the situation will be dire. “Eěectively, it means that one million Australians would be out of work,” he says. “Manufacturing is essential and underpins a strong ❯❯

LEFT: AWU National Secretary Paul Howes (left) and AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver, have joined forces forming the Manufacturing Alliance to protect jobs and continue the growth of Australian industry.

www.awu.net.au

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THE MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE economy. We can’t leave the future of the industry to the market alone, and the Government needs to be actively involved and helping to aĴract investment to sustain the industry into the future.”

Keeping Australia productive The Manufacturing Alliance will work to give Australian industries the opportunity to bid on supplying products for government and private sector infrastructure projects. Coming from opposite ends of the Labor political spectrum, the AWU and AMWU are prepared to meet in the middle to protect Australia’s right to continue as a productive country. “What the Union [AWU] is keen to do is ensure that Australia is seen as more than just a big sandpit for China, or a tourism resort for north Asia, and that we remain a country that makes things,” Paul says. Manufacturing underpins a strong economy in Australia, Dave says. “It is the hub for research and development, for aĴracting investment and developing management systems and many of the processes pioneered by manufacturing are adopted by other industries,” he adds. “I wouldn’t like to see Australia become simply a farm, quarry or tourist destination.”

Staying one step ahead

“What we know is Australian manufactured goods can compete competitively with imported goods.” 14 theaustralianworker

While pleased with the Federal Government’s stimulus packages and green investment opportunities and incentives, Dave Oliver says more could be done to protect the manufacturing industry. “Our union [AMWU] has been calling for action for an interventionist approach and advocates the motoring industry as a good example of this approach. The previous government would have been asleep at the wheel, and I’m preĴy certain we wouldn’t have a car industry in Australia today. “The other area we would like to see the Government focus on is ways that we can make manufacturing more aĴractive for schoolleavers,” Dave, who leĞ school at 15 to become a ęĴer and turner, says. A recent survey of 1044 people conducted by Essential Research on behalf of the

ALWAYS BUY Aussie made! Wee all know that buying Australian made goods and nd Australian grown fresh produce is good for the economy and for our standard of living. Log onn to www.australianmade.com.au to ﬁnd out which companies produce their goods in Australia.

Manufacturing Alliance, showed that 85 per cent of respondents saw the best way to preserve Australian jobs was through Government investment in Australian industry and production. The same number thought the government should buy Australian-made products, even if they cost slightly more.

Proudly Australian made Paul Howes says the “Buy Australian” message is a constant for AWU Members. “It’s important that our members in the aluminium industry support our members in the food-manufacturing industry by buying Australian-made food and produce, and it’s important that our members in the steel industry support our members in the glass industry by buying Australian-made glass boĴle products.” Within days of the Manufacturing Alliance’s launch, the Federal Government announced its “Buy Australian” initiatives. Both Alliance unions support the plan. “It ensures that our manufacturing industries in this country have a viable and strong future as they access new opportunities available from the Federal Government’s infrastructure spending,” Paul says.

Good news for jobs Dave Oliver agrees that the announcement was a boost for manufacturing jobs. “The Federal Government has listened to what the Manufacturing Alliance has been asking for in respect of opportunities to maximise local content. This is good news for manufacturing workers around the country.” The Alliance’s survey also showed almost all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the Federal Government should take action to prevent local manufacturers from closing down www.awu.net.au

LEFT: A car factory worker works on a production assembly line. With the closure of plants in Elizabeth, Ballarat and Albury the future of the Australian manufacture of cars needs more protection to avoid further job losses.

The ‘Alliance’ at a glance “What the AWU is keen to do is ensure that Australia is seen as more than just a big sandpit for China, or a tourism resort for North Asia, and that we remain a country that makes things.” and losing jobs (85 per cent) and supporting Australia’s manufacturing industries was “very” or “quite” important (91 per cent). Australia’s key manufacturing sectors, such as aluminium and steel, are key in its economy, Paul says. “If we don’t have that base of metal production in Australia, then all our downstream manufacture becomes unviable in Australia as well.”

Unity strengthens the cause The Alliance will call on the combined membership of 250,000 AWU and AMWU workers to help win a formal policy agreement from all levels of government by geĴing the message out into their communities. All members will receive updates via the Union web sites and The Australian Worker, and Paul and Dave will tour those regional areas aĝicted with high unemployment to talk to members and encourage them to speak to their local politicians about the Alliance. Those regions include Newcastle, which www.awu.net.au

is still experiencing the eěects of BHP’s closure in 1999; Elizabeth, which was severely aěected when the Holden plant closed in 2007; and Ballarat and Albury, where major motoring components ęrms closed in March this year, taking workers’ jobs and entitlements with them. “We’ll be encouraging our members to get active in their local communities and we will demonstrate the fact that Australian manufacturing is a vital part of our nation, and particularly our regions,” Paul says. For more information about the Manufacturing Alliance go to www.manufacturingalliance.org.au. ◆

www.manufacturingalliance.org.au

➜ When? The Manufacturing Alliance was forged between the Australian Workers’ Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union in July, 2009 ➜ Why? The Manufacturing Alliance believes that Australian manufactured goods can compete constructively with imported goods ➜ What? The Manufacturing Alliance believes that encouraging and supporting manufacturing in Australia is essential for a strong Australian economy. ➜ How? The Manufacturing Alliance is campaigning for government involvement in helping to attract investment to sustain Australian industry. ➜ Who? The Manufacturing Alliance is calling on the combined 250,000 members of the two Unions to get the message out into their communities.

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UNION GROWTH

The Howard years brought fear to many Australian workers about joining a union. Now union membership is growing.

Bigger&Stronger THAN EVER

The AWU’s “July Intensive” recruitment campaign has delivered some spectacular results. But the drive to increase the Union’s membership has not stopped there. WRITTEN BY DONNA REEVES PHOTOS JIM SKOURAS/SALIM BARBER

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www.awu.net.au

s far as negotiations go, securing a couple of new microwaves and toasted sandwich makers for a group of call centre workers wasn’t exactly one of Bob O’Neill’s toughest baĴles. A quick conversation with management explaining the need for some new kitchen appliances did the trick. Yet, in terms of encouraging people to join the Union, it proved to be a real drawcard for the young workforce from AGL in Canberra. “I didn’t realise the Union did those small things like helping us get a microwave,” new recruit Laura Stubbs, a 27-year-old customerservice representative, says. “I didn’t know that was part of it. I’m sure it’s deęnitely helped boost numbers because every time we go into the lunchroom it’s something tangible that we can see the Union has done for us.”

It’s no surprise, really. Bob, AWU Greater NSW Branch Vice President, along with Growth Organiser Salim Barber, has spent four days at the AGL site, meeting and signing up new members. Together, they’ve put in long hours to make sure that someone has always been around to answer questions about the Union’s role and the beneęts of joining.

That’s cooking with gas SiĴing in the AGL lunchroom on an icy July Canberra morning, Bob is clearly comfortable in his surrounds. Some workers on a break greet him by name and stop for a quick chat, while others ask how the recruitment campaign is going.

Benefits for all Bob believes that being readily accessible and allowing people to sign up on the spot played a huge role in aĴracting new members. And, of course, sorting out the kitchen crisis helped. ❯❯

ABOVE RIGHT: Canberra AGL Ofﬁce employee Samantha Stewart talks to AWU Organisers Salim Barber and Michael Kerley. LEFT: (From left) AWU Ofﬁcials Liam O’Brien, Marcus Hanson, John Boyd and Daniel Walton.

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UNION GROWTH

Why I joined Workers at Canberra’s AGL Ofﬁce

➜ Nick Moller, 19 “I don’t know why I wasn’t signed up prior to these guys coming here. I’d always wanted to be a member, so I don’t know why I didn’t put my hand up. I like the beneﬁts they offer. You feel safer when you’re in a union because you feel as if you can’t be dismissed for trivial reasons that a workplace may think is acceptable. Going in collectively is a much stronger position to be in. Now I’ll be trying to promote the AWU to the new members of staff.”

➜ Natalie Blakey, 22 “I didn’t really know what the AWU was doing and how they could help me make a better workplace. It was good to have them listening to us and our ideas. Generally, with management you have to go through a lot of other avenues, but the Union guys seemed to be talking to people who could actually help us. I’d be interested in getting involved with the AWU. I’m from a child-care background, so I’d really like to go into the Union and help other people who work in child care.”

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“When you have a large number of workers with a limited amount of time to make a toasted sandwich or reheat food, giving them extra equipment certainly allows them to enjoy their lunch break a liĴle bit more,” Bob says. “But the impact is so much bigger than that. It allows these guys to see the beneęts of the Union straight away, and now they’re coming up and saying ‘Jeez, Bob, we were waiting three months before a microwave turned up. You’ve been here for a day and that’s happened’.”

National view

decision was made to ramp up our campaigning,” AWU National Secretary Paul Howes says. “By increasing the membership in our sites, we put our members in a stronger position to protect and improve their conditions.” It worked. At the end of July, the AWU boasted 2386 new members. “It’s certainly one of the most successful months we’ve had in a long, long time,” National Campaign and Organising Co-ordinator Daniel Walton says. “It went well beyond everyone’s expectations.” Part of the campaign’s success can be aĴributed to months of planning by the Organisers. Each of the 228 sites was handpicked, with many of the chosen workplaces having employment agreements due to expire. “What we were looking for were sites that had agreements that were expiring in the short-term future, and sites where we had a good access or a good delegate structure,” Salim says. “We also wanted a site where we could get access to staě in an appropriate venue, like a lunchroom or a smoking section.”

“... if I need any advice, I have someone to go to to get that advice. It deﬁnitely makes me feel more secure.”

Bob and Salim’s work at AGL wasn’t an isolated recruitment campaign. Rather, it was part of a national initiative called “The July Intensive”, which saw the AWU target 228 work sites across the country in July. Around 110 organisers spent every day throughout the month meeting with potential new members in an eěort to boost AWU member numbers. The July intensive was borne out of two resolutions passed at the AWU conference in February, both of which focused on developing and implementing a growth and membership renewal strategy to take the AWU forward “for decades ahead”. “With the ongoing eěects of the global ęnancial crisis on our members, the crucial

Why I joined

Co-ordinated approach All of the sites targeted already had an AWU presence on some level, but many of those

Customer-service workers at Canberra’s AGL Ofﬁce explain what motivated them to join the AWU during the July intensive.

➜ Lindsay Smith, 22 “It’s good to know if you have a problem that you’ve got a majority of people who will be able to stick up for you. It had crossed my mind to join the AWU, but not much was said about it until the boys came. Our Delegates here are usually working, so it’s hard to talk – just having some around to have a chat about the Union was good.”

➜ Laura Stubbs, 27 “I was originally against joining the Union. I didn’t think I could afford the extra money out of my pay, but understanding that you do need the majority to be part of the Union for it to be effective convinced me. I wouldn’t have joined the AWU if they hadn’t come.”

➜ Frances Myers, 20 “I always knew what the Union was, but I didn’t know what they did. I’d thought about joining and I knew it cost money, but I didn’t realise it was taxdeductible. If the guys didn’t come here, it would have taken me a long time to realise what the AWU was because I had no idea. Down the line, I’d like to jump in and get more involved. I want to get the numbers up so if we have any kind of work situation we are strong.”

➜ Lauren Sette, 21 “I joined so that I always have support at work if I need it, and if I need any advice, I have someone to go to to get that advice. It deﬁnitely makes me feel more secure.”

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identięed had low membership numbers that could make negotiating with management from a position of strength diĜcult on issues such as pay rises, beĴer working conditions or redundancy entitlements. Delegates from the sites welcomed the visits from experienced campaigners who were able to explain what the Union did in detail, and the beneęts of belonging. OĞen, given the nature of their working environment, delegates were unable to ęnd enough time or the right situation to approach new members, and the July intensive helped overcome that problem. Steven Birchall, who has been a Delegate at AGL for four years, is a classic example of an enthusiastic Delegate who was ęnding it diĜcult to secure new recruits. As he works in a call centre, people are always at their desks, manning phones, and the opportunity for conversation with colleagues is rare. “I tend to recruit socially, like talking to people in our short break times,” Steven says. “The July Intensive has been very important – having our colleagues on site has been fantastic because it’s given us a lot more insight into what the Union’s all about, especially with the recent changes in IR laws. It’s also made it easy for people to join up.”

hanging fruit” that was ready to be picked. No sector was overlooked. If there were numbers to be had, there was a campaign to be run. Liam O’Brien, the Victorian Growth Organiser and Campaign Co-ordinator, hit 18 workplaces, focusing on the funeral and cemeteries industry. Liam identięed that the industry was entering its bargaining phase, and saw an opportunity. “We generally found that it’s easier to grow the Union when you talk around the bargaining agenda,” Liam says. “Results were varied, but where we were most successful was where we were able to get nonmembers in an environment they were comfortable, generally one on one, and discuss workplace issues. I think what you ęnd with a lot of the non-members it’s that the reason that they hadn’t joined before wasn’t because they just hadn’t been asked, but more oĞen it was just because they didn’t understand what the Union was.”

“I like the AWU for the fact that there’s always someone there to fall back on if there are any issues.”

Working around the clock While call centres present their own challenges, Marcus Hanson, the Recruitment Co-ordinator for the South Australian Branch, had his own issues. One of the industries he targeted was manufacturing, with some sites operating their factories 24 hours a day. To ensure they reached as many people as possible, the South Australian team worked around the clock, working shiĞs just like the employees. “We had four guys and we put them into a workplace across three shiĞs,” Marcus says. “As a result, we got big numbers out of manufacturing, whereas before we were geĴing more of a trickle.” The Branch targeted local government, an area that had previously responded well to campaigns and which still had a lot of “lowwww.awu.net.au

Team spirit AWU Newcastle Branch Assistant Secretary John Boyd had a slightly diěerent experience during the July intensive. “One guy had worked at the same place for 16 years and said he hadn’t joined the Union because no-one had asked him, and another guy from the [NSW Roads and TraĜc Authority] had been there 30 years and just joined in July,” he says. John campaigned across of lot of industries, including the steel and aluminium sectors. While he says he didn’t get a lot of one-on-one contact because of site-access restrictions, everything they managed to do, like chaĴing to people on smoko breaks, was very helpful. “The biggest thing I found about The July Intensive was the focus that it brought back on recruitment,” he says. “It got all of the Organisers a liĴle bit more alert and ready to get out there, and I’m very happy with the results. There’s no doubt about it. Now that we’ve started, we’re not going to take our foot oě the pedal at all.” ◆

Why I joined Workers at Canberra’s AGL Ofﬁce

➜ Amy Burling, 20 “I’ve had a lot trouble with my back at work. Since I’ve joined the AWU I’ve already had an external ergonomist come out – on the day I joined they organised that. I was pretty amazed. Also, if any other problems come up I know they’ll work for me to resolve it.”

➜ Lyndal Carrig, 21 “I’ve worked for big companies before and I know that it’s good to be a part of a union because they’re all about your rights as a worker. If something happens at work they’re good to have on your side. They’ll always back you up and they work for the best for the employees, as well as working with the organisation to get the best outcomes for each and every one of us.”

➜ Jeff Allen, 20 “I like the AWU for the fact that there’s always someone there to fall back on if there are any issues.”

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POSTCARD FROM FAR NORTH QLD

THE

deep north

Even past the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, the mainland’s northernmost point, you’ll ﬁnd a proud AWU member. Welcome to Far North Queensland – and beyond! WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BLAYNEY PHOTOS DAVID HAHN/GETTY IMAGES

t’s morni morning smoko at tthe Torres Shire Council Depot on Thu Thursday Island. Resting on a table in th the open-air break room is a tree branch w weighed down with clusters of small ruby-coloured fruit. Half a dozen workers are hungrily eyeing them. Today, bush tucker is on the menu. “The fruit’s called wongai,” says Richard Abednego, Torres Shire Council AWU Delegate and truck driver. “They taste a liĴle bit like a dry orange.” Richard knows his bush tucker. The size and shape of a large grape, wongai grows wild here. Bite into one and the texture is powdery, but the tang is pure citrus. Island legend has it that if a non-local eats just one wongai, they will one day be drawn back to the island.

Our man up North Sunset at Loyalty Beach, Cape York. BELOW: Locals live on a very restful “TI time” on Thursday Island!

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Cairns-based Darryl Noack is the AWU’s Queensland Far Northern District Secretary and must have scoěed a plateful of wongai on his ęrst visit, because he regularly passes through Thursday Island in his role as AWU Far Northern District Secretary. “My area runs from Cairns all through Cape York and Torres Strait, basically the top half of Queensland,” Darryl says, serving over 300 members in this remote part of Australia. Thursday Island lies just under 40 kilometres to the north of mainland Australia. TI, as it’s known throughout these parts, is by no means large in area – 3.5 kilometres square – or in population, at just under 2700 at last count. But it serves as the administrative hub for the 274 small islands in the Torres Strait region.

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Health & unity The locals don’t seem to mind – they’re all on TI time, an expression explained, somewhat mischievously, as “if you’ve got something to do yesterday, you can do it today.” The pace may be pedestrian, but you get the feeling that when things need to get done, they get done. In the past year, Darryl’s made real and lasting inroads into Union membership up here. “It takes a lot of time for indigenous people to open up to a non-indigenous person,” he says. “I’m proud of the fact people know who I am, and if they have a problem, they’re happy to have a chat.” Today, Darryl and Richard are discussing the upcoming enterprise bargaining agreement round, ticking oě members’ concerns one by one. This time there will be particular emphasis on provisions for skills training and wage increases.

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EPY

Our next stop is the island’s primary health-care centre and long-time AWU Member and Manager of Health Worker Services, Seri Stephen. His concerns lie with the health of Torres Strait Islanders. “It’s not unusual for some people to live 20-25 a house,” Seri tells us. “This overcrowding is a serious health issue for the whole community. We’re experiencing Third-World conditions in a First-World country. This is a challenge that contributes to the mental, physical, social and spiritual wellbeing of our people.” From the health centre, we drop in on the island’s 40-bed hospital, a recent and impressive addition to the landscape. This would have to be one of the more spectacular locales in the world to recuperate, its hospital rooms oěering sweeping views of the coastline and neighbouring islands. You’d almost fake an illness...

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Visitors generally arrive by air, landing at Horn Island before taking the short ferry ride to TI. At this time of the year, it’s all sun-kissed sands and turquoise waters. But, despite dry and predictable weather shining down on shoulders, tourists are thin on the ground.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hospital Admin Union members, Lui “Joe” Bon (left) and Barry Williams at the open air chapel; Seri Stephen, Manager of Health Worker Services; Darryl Noack, the AWU Queensland Far Northern District Secretary; Thursday Island’s 40-bed Hospital is a welcome recent addition. BELOW: Richard Abednego, Torres Shire Council AWU Delegate and truck driver; Bush tucker, wongai fruit.

Workplace issues We meet up with Lui “Joe” Bon. Back in the early 1980s, Joe played football for the Canberra Raiders. Lui is a traditional family name handed down in recognition of “the bloke who shot ❯❯

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POSTCARD FROM FAR NORTH QLD

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Croc warning at Loyalty Beach; Popular ﬁshing area in Seisia; An llegal Indonesian ﬁshing vessel off the coast; the Gab Titui Cultural Centre. INSET: A wooden carving by local AWU Member, Barry Williams.

“Our level of expertise deserves to be recognised professionally. We’re doing all the specialised training and not getting rewarded for it.” 22 theaustralianworker

through here one day”, Spanish explorer, Luis Vaez de Torres. Joe works as a Supervisor in Operational Services. The hospital cares for many Papua New Guinean nationals who have managed to make their way down here aĞer presenting at Saibai, an Australian island less than four kilometres from the PNG shoreline. Unfortunately, many of the diseases are preventable, Joe says. “Tuberculosis is a real problem in PNG. We’re the only hospital in the region, and these are very poor people. Once they’re here, we’re morally obliged to treat them.” On weekends, Joe gives the hospital’s radiographer a break, operating the X-ray machine. “He goes out ęshing and I work for him,” he says, with a dry smile. Although Joe’s happy to help out, this is a real workplace issue throughout Torres Strait: many healthcare workers are doing jobs they’re not fully qualięed to handle. This is one of the reasons why the issue of entitlements is so hotly contested in a region that already struggles with the high cost of living.

“We get lost in the bureaucracy sometimes because we’re a minority and so far away from Brisbane,” chimes Joe’s hospital colleague Barry Williams, Acting Manager of Support Services.

Keeping up tradition Barry’s weekends are reserved for more traditional pursuits than X-raying broken limbs. He carves hard wood from the wongai tree, and several of his impressive creations are suspended from the ceiling at the island’s cultural centre, Gub Titui. “Only a handful carve now,” Barry says. “I’ve been happy to pass on the skill to my son, and he’s passed it on to his 12-year-old son. He recently carved a turtle, and he seems to know where he should be carving, which is always a good sign.”

Around the islands Bright and early the next morning, we catch a ferry to the Australian mainland. Leaving in darkness, the boat arrives onshore one hour later, the Torres Strait sunrise washing over us. The

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FROM TOP: Water and sewage worker Obediah Kris; Stephen Christian, Manager of Regional Health Centres; AWU Queensland Far Northern District Secretary Daryl Noack with a giant ant hill; the Jardine River Crossing; Patricia “Kutchie” Nona and Sister Leoni Lippitt.

Northern Peninsula Area, or NPA, takes in ęve communities: Seisia, Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon and Umagico. Our ęrst stop is the Bamaga Primary Health Centre, where we chat to workers Patricia “Kutchie” Nona and her nephew, Stephen Christian. Kutchie was born and bred in Cairns, but has worked throughout the Torres Strait. She spent 16 years as Health Manager on Badu Island, a busy posting 60 kilometres north of TI. “It’s a lot quieter here at Bamaga. On Badu, it was 24/7. Health workers are more hands-on on the small islands.” Her nephew Stephen is the AWU District Delegate and Manager for Primary Health-care Services in NPA. A passionate straight-talker, with 24 years’ experience in health, no one is more qualięed to speak of workplace injustices throughout the area. “We want a complete review of remote-area incentive packages,” he says. “Our level of expertise deserves to be recognised professionally. We’re doing all the specialised training and not geĴing rewarded for it. Queensland Health is turning a blind eye to workers illegally practising outside their scope.”

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Highlighting Stephen’s demands, nurses are giĞed incentives to the tune of $3000 to stay in the area for the ęrst year, $6000 for the second and $9000 every year aĞer. On top of that, they’re entitled to two airfares every year and an accommodation allowance. The issue of allowances will be a big talking point this EBA. The simple fact is that some workers throughout the region are beneęting in these areas, while equally deserving, and mostly indigenous, workers are being given short shriĞ. Understandably, Stephen is calling for similar incentives. “We’re 100 per cent unionised up here, we’re strong, and we’re prepared to ęght.” Close by, we visit the local council depot, the scene of a major victory for workers in 2008. The AWU stepped in to negotiate when ęve local ❯❯

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Enterprise bargaining

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POSTCARD FROM FAR NORTH QLD

councils were amalgamated and rebranded as Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, or NPARC. For the ęrst time ever in the region, the council workers were guaranteed award wages and conditions as a bare minimum. Some are now pocketing up to $100 a week more in their pay packets and collected back-dated entitlements worth several thousand dollars. “The boys on the site are very happy with the Union,” says Titom Tamwoy, Parks and Gardens Manager for NPARC. “When the workers are happy, so is the community. More people are keen to work on the council, and there’s more commitment from the workers because people want to work here now.”

“The boys on the site are very happy with the Union. When the workers are happy, so is the community. More people are keen to work on the council.”

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In the picture AĞer a quick chat with Titom about the upcoming turtle-hunting season, we head oě to crocodile country and the Jardine River. AĞer half an hour’s bumpy ride through savannah and over red earth, we come to a stop at a narrow car-ferry crossing. The ferry is manned by AWU Member Nelson Stephen, a man who clearly enjoys his work. “I reckon it’s the best job in the world. I get to talk to people from all over the world. They’re always happy to arrive here because they’ve just driven for seven or eight hours on dirt roads,” Nelson says. The tourists generally begin their trip from Cairns or the bauxite town of Weipa. From bank to bank, the river crossing is no longer than 100 metres. Many of the tourists hop out of their cars to take a snap of Nelson steering the ship. Darryl points out that we’re in the company of the most-photographed AWU Member in Australia.

Where are all the crocs? FROM TOP: Titom Tamwoy, Parks and Gardens Manager NPARC; AWU member Nelson Stephen is the Jardine River Ferry Driver; from left Lucas Ned, Allen Bond, Casimero Mark. INSET: Lionel Soloman, council worker NPARC.

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Leaving the mighty Jardine without a crocodile sighting, we drive back to the Seisia township and Eugenie Ball, the Assistant Manager of the town’s council-owned camping grounds. Many of the campers are here for the deep-sea ęshing, and Eugenie herself is a keen angler. “My life

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revolves around work, ęshing and church. I’m also studying small-business management,” the 22-year-old says. “It’s a preĴy quiet life.” “It can get quiet,” Darryl adds. “One of the biggest drawbacks of living here is the lack of access to social activities. People can’t just go out to the movies or do things that are second nature in the big cities.” Not that any of that maĴers when we cap oě our journey enjoying one of the most jawdropping sunsets on the planet. A hundred or so holiday-makers at Loyalty Beach near Seisia are spellbound by the show of many colours. Sure beats the latest Hollywood movie. On the ferry ride back to TI, Darryl spells out the AWU’s future plans throughout the Torres Strait. In light of the recent council amalgamations, he believes there is scope for at least 250 new AWU members throughout the region. “Word is starting to get around about the beĴer wages and conditions we negotiated for the workers at NPARC. It makes our job a whole lot easier when there is real trust in the communities for the work we’re doing.” ◆ FROM TOP: Eugenie Ball, Union member and Assistant Manager of the town’s council-owned Seisia Holiday Park; The very most northern tip of Australia, Cape York!

“I reckon it’s the best job in the world. I get to talk to people from all over the world. They’re always happy to arrive here.”

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Fact ﬁle

➜ In 1606, Spanish explorer Luis Vaez de Torres was blown off course, inadvertently becoming the first European to sail between mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea. His intended route was to skirt the northern coast of PNG. ➜ In 1868, the first pearl shell was collected from the waters of nearby Thursday Island. Shortly after, the Japanese were recruited to dive and, by 1929, 99 per cent of all divers’ licences in the Torres Strait were Japanese-owned. The local cemetery has a section devoted to the Japanese. The industry continues on a smaller scale to this day. ➜ TI’s Green Hill Fort was constructed at the end of the nineteenth century as protection against the threat of Russian invasion. More immediately, the fort was a line of defence against the Japanese in WWII. Today, the elevation provides striking 270-degree views of the island and its neighbours. On a fine day, the Australian mainland is visible. ➜ Although washed-out roads sometimes prevent a visit, the northernmost point of mainland no nort orrtt Australia is accessible from Aust Au st Seisia. The last half hour of the journey is on foot. Locals call it “the tip”. ➜ The ARIA-award-winning 80-year-old Seaman Dan strums his island blues at TI’s Grand Hotel on Sunday nights. One hundred metres up the road is the Torres Hotel, famous for being Australia’s northernmost drinking hole.

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FRONTLINE NEWS NATIONAL

National News Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU... ■ Pacific solution The AWU has been working with the horticulture industry and the Federal Government to develop an innovative temporary unskilled worker program. Part of this program, a pilot version of the Pacific Islander Guest Worker Scheme, has just come to a finish with the first fifty Tongan workers being flown home to a heroes’ reception after seven months of working in Australia. With more than a quarter of people in the Pacific Islands not able to earn enough to meet their basic needs and rife youth unemployment, the workers who participated in this scheme will be welcomed home as heroes. Many of them will be returning to communities and villages where they have earned more than 10 families would in a whole year. Part of the plan is that these seasonal workers will return home and invest their earnings back into their local communities. The AWU has been involved from the beginning, making sure that this scheme and others, like the 457 Scheme, meet certain requirements to prevent any workers, Australian or foreign, being disadvantaged. Over the next twelve months workers from Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea will be brought over for seasonal horticultural work as phase two of the Pacific Guest Islander Worker Scheme rolls out. The AWU’s involvement has helped ensure that these workers will be paid the Australian market rate, will not be taking jobs from available Australian workers and will receive training and education about 26 theaustralianworker

their rights and responsibilities. “It’s great to see this scheme up and running, as this will improve Australia’s role in building regional economies and help address the skills shortages in this industry.” AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said. And the Paciﬁc Island guest workers are happy with the AWU and its concern for their welfare and working conditions. “I’m privileged that I was picked out of my kingdom. There are a lot of people in my

community that would have loved to have this opportunity,” said 25-year-old Uluakiola Kafoika. “We were brought here by one labour hire company where we worked with almonds and then we changed to another labour hire company, All Recruiting Services, where we picked oranges in Mildura.” “I can see how important it is to be a member of a union, I strongly feel that there should be a union back in Tonga as well, simply because people are sometimes getting ripped off there and not getting paid for all the hard work that they are doing.” Uluakiola is from Monga, a small island with a population of around 50 people made up of 15 families. “On the little island where I came

from, each family was told that they had to put up $200 to install a solar panel. Ten of these families have no income or savings,” Uluakiola said. “My heart goes out to them and I felt that I could use some of my earnings to help pay for their share of the solar panels. That’s just the way I was brought up. The solar panels will give us electricity, which is a big upgrade from torches and gas lights,” he said. According to the Reverend Sione Pinomi, of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Australia and Community Liaison Ofﬁce for the Tongan Consulate, it’s not about taking jobs away from Australians, it’s about having enough workers at the right place at the right time. “Last year the Australian agricultural industry lost 2 billion dollars in unharvested fruit,” Reverend Pinomi said. “The Tongan community has come together to support this pilot scheme, because they know that without community support the Tongan workers might get homesick and not want to continue with the scheme.” And Reverend Pinomi also understands the important role of unions in the scheme. “Thank God the AWU understands that this is not a loss for Australia, it is a gain for Australia,” he said. “This would not have got off the ground without the AWU getting behind it. Pure and simple,” said Paul Kiley, Human Resources Manager at All Recruiting. “No matter how much the National Farmers’ Federation or Horticulture Australia pushed.”

ABOVE: Reverend Sione Pinomi, from the Tongan community in Australia. LEFT: Young Tongan worker Uluakiola Kafoika, who participated in the Paciﬁc Islander Guest Worker Scheme.

“Thank God the AWU understands that this is not a loss for Australia, it is a gain for Australia.”

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Immigration assistance 457 visas. “The temporary skilled migration 457 visa program allows employers to hire skilled overseas workers to supplement the local workforce where there are demonstrated skills shortages,” Jennifer explains. The Government’s priority is to provide training and job opportunities for Australians. Subclass 457 visa holders who have recently lost their jobs have three options available to them:

① Find another employer willing to sponsor them. ② Apply for another type of visa for which they may be eligible. ③ Make arrangements to depart Australia. Any AWU Member in this situation is encouraged to contact Jennifer to discuss the options. She can be contacted by calling 1300 885 653 or by email, at jennifer.wilson@nat.awu.net.au. Members are encouraged to contact the AWU if they need immigration advice.

PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

AWU Members now have direct access to advice on immigration and visa matters. Specialist Jennifer Wilson has been seconded from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to assist AWU Members and Union Organisers with immigration matters. Working with the AWU National Office, Jennifer is located in Sydney and will provide a liaison point for all immigration enquiries. Jennifer’s role is to explain visa conditions, provide advice on rights of overseas workers and explain the rules for employers wanting to hire overseas workers. She can also help Members identify visa options and provide guidance on how to lodge applications. Jennifer will also ensure the AWU is made aware of immigration legislation and policy changes that may affect the Union. Jennifer says she has received numerous enquiries from the Union about

■ The deadly dust The record of Australian companies taking responsibility for asbestos exposure is a national disgrace. From the mines at the infamous site of Wittenoom to the use of asbestos in steelworks, generations of workers have been exposed to and affected by asbestos, and the death toll keeps rising. Around the country, the AWU is stepping up the pace of its long-running campaign to rid Australian industry of asbestos and compensate workers who suffer from exposure and dust diseases. It has been revealed that NSW has the largest number of new asbestos-related cases reported each year in Australia. Maurice Blackburn Principal and asbestos diseases expert Theodora Ahilas says that many people who worked at the Wollongong and Illawarra steelworks in NSW www.awu.net.au

were potentially exposed to asbestos fibres. “Diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis can be traced back to exposure to asbestos fibres decades earlier,” Theodora says. “BHP has admitted that asbestos was used as a construction material at its Wollongong and Illawarra steelworks. Many people working in the steel and building trades were exposed.” But employees who have worked directly with asbestos are not the only people who may have suffered the detrimental effects of exposure. “There have also been incidences of women who were exposed to the fibres by washing their husband’s asbestos-covered work clothes,” Theodora says. And worse news is to come. An Australian Government report recently released by the newly-formed

Safe Work Australia Council has indicated that the peak of mesothelioma will occur some time in the next 15 years. Theodora Ahilas says that despite the Wollongong and Illawarra steelworks closure in 1999, claims for compensation can still be made. “Unfortunately, there’s no cure for asbestos diseases,” she reminds people. “However, ﬁnancial compensation may relieve some of the burden for sufferers and their families.” Any worker who was exposed to asbestos, whether through BHP or other companies, can register for free through the National Asbestos Register. For more information, or to join the register, AWU members can go to the Union’s website at www.awu.net.au or call toll free on 1300 885 653. ❯❯

“There have been incidences of women who were exposed to the ﬁbres by washing their husband’s asbestoscovered work clothes.”

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FRONTLINE NEWS NATIONAL / QLD

The AWU has welcomed the establishment of a compliance program for the horticultural industry, aimed at ensuring a level playing field for the industry’s employers and compliance with the law in terms of pay and conditions for workers. In August, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the compliance program, which involves the Federal Government, the AWU and employer organisations. AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said the Union had long-standing concerns about the level of compliance with legal standards in the industry. “A combined effort by partner organisations within the industry will beneﬁt both workers and employers who comply with the law, who are placed at a competitive disadvantage by the many rogue players who refused to comply with legal standards by widespread use of illegal labour and by refusing to pay workers the minimum award conditions. “We look forward to working with the Government and industry organisations to reach the shared and worthy goal of universal compliance with the law.” Paul also expressed disappointment that the Deputy Prime Minister had referred the new Horticulture Award back to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission for review. “We have always believed that the decisions of the independent umpire should be respected without government interference but whilst the Government’s actions are a disappointment, our members in the industry can be assured that the AWU will do all it can to ensure rogue employers in the horticultural industry don’t use this process to leave Australian workers worse off,” he said. 28 theaustralianworker

Unions welcome changes to employee share ownership The AWU has joined with three other unions, the Australian Services Union, the Finance Sector Union and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, to welcome the proposed Government changes to employee share ownership schemes in a submission to the Treasury in June. The proposed amendments would lift the income threshold from $60,000 to $150,000 for tax

exemption on share allocations up to $1000. They would undo unpopular measures announced in the 2009 Federal Budget. The unions, whose members were most affected, opposed changes to ESOPs, arguing their members on modest incomes were being penalised in the attempt to close tax loopholes used by executives. “Giving employees a small allocation of shares in

■ Global solidarity for steel workers in the UK

ABOVE: The steel company Corus in the UK. The Indian owned company is to cut 2500 jobs in Britain in reaction to the global economic downturn.

In July, More than 5000 workers and their families marched through a northern England steel community town. They were joined by port workers, chemical workers and steel workers from other English steel communities, all angered by the threat to shut a Teesside steel plant, throwing between 2000 and 3000 people out of work. They got some extra support from the AWU as we too are ﬁghting our own battle to keep Australia’s steel industry alive. The BBC reported that a message of support from the AWU was read out at the rally. The AWU and the main union at steel producer Corus, Community, have worked closely together to look for solutions to the global steel crisis. “As your union, Community, organises to bring thousands of steel workers, their families and supporters out into the streets this Saturday, please let everyone attending know that the Australian Workers’ Union supports your campaign,” AWU National Secretary Paul Howes wrote to Community.

The Community union – the main union at the centre of the crisis – says the whole of the Teesside would be devastated if the Corus plant is shut down, as many local families and businesses depend on the plant for their livelihoods. The rally was warned that British manufacturing as a whole would not survive if the British Government failed to act on the Corus closure. The steel workers say the Government must act to ensure the UK manufacturing base survives. “Steel is the key to that, without steel there is no manufacturing base in this country,” a Community speaker told the rally. ■ Iranian ambassador refuses

to meet union delegation In June, the AWU faxed a protest letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Ambassador Mahmoud Movahhedi, after he refused to meet a union delegation. Union members wanted to hand a letter to the ambassador from the Australian Council of Trade Unions on behalf of the Australian union movement outlining the anger of members at the treatment of unionists in Iran. Around 100 union members and supporters from the Australian Workers’ Union, the Australian Services Union, the Australian Education Union, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy www.awu.net.au

PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

■ Horticulture industry compliance program announced

■ Gas and nuclear central to a company is vastly different to millionaire executives exploiting tax loopholes,” AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said. “Comparing them never made sense and we welcome this change of heart.” After the budget, some employers announced suspensions or cancellations, which the unions said they hoped would be reinstated.

Union, the Maritime Union of Australia and the Rail Tram and Bus Union protested outside the Iranian embassy in Canberra. “The AWU supports today’s global protests by union members in many countries demanding justice for Iranian workers,” AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said in the Union’s protest letter. An International Labour Organisation report shows Iran violates rights of women, children, minorities, workers and unions. “It is no wonder that last week in Geneva the International Labour Organisation placed Iran on a shortlist of countries that consistently violate internationally recognised standards for the protection of women, children, and religious minorities, as well as workers and trade unions.” Paul said the AWU was particularly concerned about current reports that the heroic representatives of the AWU’s brother unions in Iran, the Food Workers’ Union and the Haft Tapeh sugar workers’ union, are currently in jail. He also noted that the “Lech Walesa of Iran” – Mansour Osanloo, President of the Tehran Bus Workers’ Union, has spent more years in the Evin prison – a well-known and hated centre of torture in Tehran – than he has in freedom since he formed the union in 1995. “Their only crime has been to demand their democratic right to form a trade union and campaign for respect and dignity in their workplaces,” Paul wrote. www.awu.net.au

Australia’s energy security AWU National Secretary Paul Howes has endorsed strongly the development of a domestic nuclear energy program for Australia, saying it is vital for the nation’s future energy security, and an economic and environmental necessity. In a speech to the Sydney Institute in August, Paul called for the abolition of current bans on mining and exploration in several states, describing them as superstitions and outlined the strong economic future that our natural gas industry holds for Australia. “Energy security and climate change are driving a renaissance of nuclear power around the world, and hence the imminent fortunes of the uranium industry here in Australia, as a way to a lower-carbon future. These two global considerations – energy security and our response to climate change – have combined to make

more attractive to any thinking person the future development of the uranium industry.” Paul also called for consideration of onshore downstream processing domestically as a way to ensure value adding for an enhanced uranium mining capability. He said that nuclear energy could assist greatly in ensuring Australia meets its carbon-reduction commitments by 2050, saying nuclear power would remove 2.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and allow the nation to realise energy superpower status. “Our share of the world’s uranium, which is greater than Saudi Arabia’s share in the planet’s oil, makes it likely that we could become an ‘energy superpower’.” Paul said that if just one state, Queensland, joined in uranium production, Australia could supply 35 per cent of the global demand for uranium by 2030 and increase its gross domestic product by $32.3 billion.

“Energy, security and climate change are driving a renaissance of nuclear power around the world.”

Queensland News Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU... ■ Vale Ted Brischke It is with great sadness that we report that former Far Northern District Secretary Ted Brischke and his wife Cecilee were killed in a car accident In June. Ted, who had clocked up 40 years of service to the AWU and was last year awarded Life Membership, is remembered by many in the Union for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to it and its members. Ted started his working life at age 14 as a trainee bridge carpenter with the Queensland Government Railways. The day he started work he was approached by the Australian Railways Union rep and so began his involvement with unions.

During his nine years with QGR, Ted was a delegate and campaigned for better health and safety conditions, the abolition of the use of asbestos in ash pits and stopping the railways from using red lead paint. Ted eventually left his position as ﬁrst-class bridge carpenter and went to work for the Cairns Port Authority. A short time later, he was elected AWU rep on the job and was involved in implementing many changes and award-enforcement issues. He was also involved in the campaigns to license scaffolders with certiﬁcates and to upgrade diving equipment used for port maintenance. During his time at the authority, Ted expanded his involvement with the ❯❯

ABOVE: Former AWU Far Northern District Secretary, Ted Brischke.

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FRONTLINE NEWS QLD Union and became a rank-and-ﬁle Member of the Far Northern District local Committee, where he came to understand the full responsibilities of unions. When he was offered the position of Organiser, he realised that the commitment required was around the clock. For 10 years, Ted organised across the huge range of industries that the AWU covers and his detailed knowledge of each was widely acknowledged. He became District Secretary in 1985 until his retirement in 2008. At his retirement, he said: “I thank the Union for allowing me to represent members of the AWU.” Ted will be missed by all who knew him and all members of the National Executive were present at Ted and Cecilee’s funeral in Cairns. There they expressed their condolences to Ted and Cecilee’s family on behalf of all AWU members.

International campaign to protect travel time in sugar industry Precious family time is under attack in the sugar industry after Bundaberg Sugar launched a concerted attack on the entitlement. Workers in the Bundaberg region working at the Bundaberg Sugar mills have been fighting since February to hang on to their five-days annual travel leave entitlements during the current EBA negotiations. The five-days leave is an industry standard for sugar workers in Queensland. Sugar workers first won their entitlement to travel leave by forgoing a pay increase in 1980. During the crush season, AWU Members work long hours to get the sugar cane crushed. The five-days travel time is used by most workers to spend time with their family. In response to Bundaberg Sugar’s attempt to take away this long-held entitlement, the AWU has begun a state-wide community campaign in support of members fighting hard to keep travel time in Bundaberg. Members in all of the 26 sugar mills across Queensland have moved motions in support of the AWU Members in Bundaberg, with those in all mills also moving resolutions committing to fight the removal of travel leave in their own mills. The AWU, through its affiliation with the International Union of Food Workers, has written to Bundy Sugar’s Belgian owner, Finasucre, asking it to intervene in the dispute. Hundreds of community members in sugar towns across Queensland have signed postcards addressed to Finasucre Chief Executive Olivier Lippens asking him to stop local Bundaberg Sugar management from

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taking AWU Members away from their families for an extra week a year. AWU Members in the sugar industry know that if Bundaberg Sugar workers lose travel time, the rest of the industry is under threat. The AWU applied for a ballot to take protected industrial action after negotiations had gone on for several months without the company moving on its plans. AWU Members voted overwhelmingly in support of industrial action, and on Thursday August 20 stopped work for 24 hours, and began an indefinite ban on overtime. Chants of “no sale of travel leave” and “family time: not for sale” rang out as hundreds of AWU Members united at the gates of Bundaberg’s Millaquin Mill. AWU Member Jeff Haupt brought his wife Stacey and daughters Isabella, 7, and Laura, 12, along to join the rally. “I’m fighting for them too, not just for us (the workers),” Jeff said. “I’ve got four kids – two in high school – and I want to be able to see them.” Engine driver Eric Howard was blunt about the company’s stance. “It’s a two-letter word: ‘no’. We don’t want to trade off travel leave – why can’t the company understand that?” he asked. Despite the clear message from AWU Members, at time of writing Bundaberg Sugar was still refusing to put an offer to the workers which didn’t include travel leave. AWU Members will keep fighting, knowing that around Queensland, and around the world, people are watching them.

www.awu.net.au

LEFT: Bundaberg Sugar workers voted in support of protected industrial action.

“I’ve got four kids – two in high school – and I want to be able to see them.” ■ Rangers vote in support of collective

bargaining agreement AWU Members who work as rangers in the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, part of its Department of Environment and Resource Management, have voted overwhelmingly in support of the proposed collective bargaining agreement to cover their working conditions for the next three years. Members and Delegates have been involved in a collectivebargaining campaign to protect and improve their working conditions since the ranger Delegates’ conference in May, where the items for the log of claims were developed for endorsement by members. Since June, AWU ranger Delegates Roly Dowling, Stirling MacDonald and Monique Shepherd have been involved in the negotiations with department representatives. Items on the log of claims included protecting their ranger identity, the QPWS logo of the Herbert River ringtail possum, increased remuneration for participation in ﬁre operations and clariﬁcation of after-hours call-back provisions. The protection of the QPWS identity was an important initiative that had the potential of saving the Queensland government around $7 million into the future by reducing costs associated with signage with every department name change. It was also important to protect the identity to continue recognition for the logo when rangers interact with the public. Because of pressure brought to bear by members, Minister for www.awu.net.au

Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones made the commitment to maintain the identity while she was the minister. This will remain an issue, given the frequent ministerial changes that have occurred with the QPWS in the past. Based on the active participation of AWU rangers, increases in fire operations and travel allowances were also received. The increased application of the restricted area allowance was also won because of the campaign. Because members voted in support of the agreement before September 1, rangers will also receive an initial wage increase of 4.5 per cent or $34 (whichever is the greater) back-dated to August 1, 2009, and 4 per cent or $34 (whichever is the greater) in 2010 and 2011. During the 2009 collective-bargaining campaign, AWU membership increased by just over 33 per cent. The improvements gained in working conditions are a direct result of the increased bargaining power members won by growing their Union. While rangers endorsed the proposed collective-bargaining agreement, concerns still remain about the QPWS’s ability to respond to after-hours emergencies. Instead of remunerating rangers for being on call, a directive has been sent out clarifying that no ranger is required to be on call after hours. This means the first step in an emergency response is using a “phone tree” and hoping and praying that a ranger will be available to respond. The department has also refused to commit to filling current or future vacancies citing “operational and budgetary” reasons. While there is a commitment to deal with any workload issues through a consultative forum, there still seems to be no real plan to increase ranger numbers in line with the 58 per cent increase of the National Parks estate by 2020. AWU delegates and members will be working vigilantly to ensure that all the

conditions they have fought for and the commitment and improvements that have been gained will implemented over the next three years. ■ Thanks for everything, Bob AWU Northern District Secretary Bob Boscacci, who retired from his role in June, was born in northern Queensland and commenced an electrical apprenticeship in the early 1960s. He joined the RAAF as an instrument fitter and after being discharged in 1971, went to work at Mount Isa Mines on construction. Bob joined the AWU in November 1973 while working for Roberts Holland Constructions, on the Townsville to Greenvale Railway Line. In 1975, he started work at the Townsville Bulk Sugar Terminal and became the site AWU rep within a week, taking over from his father. Bob was appointed to the Northern District Committee in 1978 and in 1981 was approached by AWU Organiser Lance Butler to take up a position as an Organiser for the Northern District, based in Townsville. He was informed that “the job’s not easy and you get no thanks”. But Bob was delighted that he’d been asked. He started the job on April Fool’s Day, 1981. Bob’s responsibilities lay geographically from Sarina in the south to Ingham in the north and Mount Isa in the west, across health, sugar, mining, tourism, hospitality, retail, construction, pastoral and local government workplaces. He was involved in important negotiations including the Northern Australian Cement Limited dispute over the 36-hour working week in 1983, and the construction of the Townsville Hotel Casino in 1986. In July 1986, Bob was called to Brisbane where the Branch Executive advised him that due to the resignation of the Northern District Secretary he was ❯❯ theaustralianworker 31

FRONTLINE NEWS QLD / NSW

ABOVE: Retired AWU Northern District Secretary, Bob Boscacci.

“Bob said he has enjoyed his 28 years as an AWU Ofﬁcial and has made it his life. We wish him all the best.”

being appointed to take over. It had five offices spread over a larger area and included, as it was known then, Mount Isa Mines. After the 1964 Mount Isa Mines strike, an arrangement had been reached that every two years thereafter negotiations would take place. Bob says each he went into had at least 80 to 90 persons in attendance. The two-yearly negotiations in 1995 led to the biggest strike in the city since that in 1964, when the AWU intervened to stop other unions on site encroaching on work performed by AWU members. Following the dispute, three separate agreements were negotiated for each area of the mine. No industrial action has taken place since. For the past six years Bob been involved in negotiations with multinational companies which introduced AWAs in Northern District, for renewal of union collective agreements to cover members who did not accept the AWAs. He was the Union’s representative on the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF) in 1995 and attended its executive meeting in Geneva in April that year, remaining on the executive until 1997. He was elected as the Pacific Region executive member at the congress and has attended executive meetings in Geneva each year since. Bob also attended the United Steelworkers of America Congress in 2005 and is a past member of the Hospitality, Recreation and Other Services Sector Standing Committee, a past member of the Barrier Reef College Council, of the Townsville Enterprise Economic Development Advisory Committee, and is a past director of the Burdekin Agricultural College. Bob said he has enjoyed his 28 years as an AWU Official and has made it his life. We wish him all the best in his retirement.

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■ ASK for help Mark Tosh, AWU Delegate for the Bundaberg Regional Council, is not only concerned with improving conditions for AWU Members at his workplace, he is also involved in a charity organisation called Aussies Serving Korando. ASK helps the community of Korando, a village in Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya, gain relief from poverty. Mark got involved with ASK after meeting the founder and director of the nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Maryanne Cooper. Maryanne and Liam Dunn, a plumbing contractor from Cairns, have recently returned from Korando after successfully completing stage one of the Korando Water Project, thanks to a major donation from the Rotary Club of Bundaberg East. A 3.4-kilometre trench was dug by the residents of Korando, including widows working as hard as the men with whatever implements they had to complete the task – including shovels with broken handles, chip hoes and picks. Mark Tosh, now Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of ASK, explains: “ASK is an initiative of concerned, dedicated people who recognise the social inequity, access and justice issues that have lead to poverty, illness and disempowerment for the people of Korando. Residents live in helpless and frustrating circumstances in an environment which does not enable them to lead lives free

from hunger and disease. Many die from treatable diseases and illnesses. “Korando has a population of 6000 in an area of 7.7 square kilometres. We are working together to identify the problems, their causes, prioritise the issues and brainstorm for solutions. ASK is mobilising the resources necessary to enable Korando to overcome the obstacles to sustainable and productive community growth, development and good health. The organisation will assist Korando to develop potential solutions to promote positive change for the citizens of Korando. We will raise money and resources to meet their objectives for a sustainable and povertyfree future. “Drawing from existing resources, ASK encourages Korando to be self-determining within structures and processes developed within the partnership. ASK needs donations to meet these objectives which include: sponsoring orphans for education, purchasing land and development of a health clinic, housing for the poor and more. “Donations are pooled into the ASK account. Funds are distributed to where priority needs exist. All donations are used to meet the projects’ aims and objectives for sustainable community growth and development within Korando. There is no middle person, 100 per cent of donations go directly to where it is needed. Aussies Serving Korando is an accountable government-registered charity. Every dollar will make a difference. Thank you!”

HOW TO MAKE A DONATION ➜ Aussies Serving Korando (ASK) ● Mail: PO Box 4188, Bundaberg, 4670 QLD, Australia ● DIRECT DEPOSIT or monthly pledge to: The National Australia Bank. 168 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg, 4670 QLD, Australia. Account name: Aussies Serving Korando (ASK). BSB number: 084 571. Account number: 59 295 0631. SWIFT CODE: NAT AAU 330 4B (outside Australia) ● ENQUIRIES: Maryanne Cooper (founder/director) ● (07) 4152 1495, 0407 693 933 ● Mail: PO Box 4188, Bundaberg, 4670 QLD, Australia ● Email: Maryanne4@bigpond.com ● www.supportkorando.org

www.awu.net.au

NSW News Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU...

Donnie and Pam Flanagan.

“Donnie’s many friends and colleagues remember him as a strong man.”

connection with his origins as a shearing judge at many regional shows throughout NSW. Following the death of his wife Pam in 1996, Donnie retired from the AWU to return home to be a full time grazier. Donnie’s many friends and colleagues remember him as a strong man, who was committed to his family, his workmates and friends, the Labor Party, his Union and his Church. Throughout life Donnie’s placid temperament, good humour, self discipline, compassion and mateship were evident to those that knew him. But Donnie’s AWU connection doesn’t end with his passing. His son, Robert Flanagan, is the AWU Tasmanian Branch’s Assistant Secretary, something which made Donnie very proud.

Vale Donald Flanagan The AWU was saddened by the news that former NSW Branch Organiser, Donald (Donnie) Flanagan passed away recently. Donald Flanagan was born in the regional town of Scone, NSW, in February 1939. Growing up, Donnie did all the things a country boy loves – rabbiting, horse riding and eeling in the creek. Around the age of 15 he started work as a station hand. He then left home to seek work as a shearer and, with limited experience behind him, he had a tough ﬁrst year travelling the state to ﬁnd work. But Donnie’s determination paid off as he was to stay in the industry for another 27 years. Donnie’s thirst for knowledge stayed with him all his life and he enjoyed reading at every opportunity. He was passionate about Australian history, Australian poetry and all sports, especially boxing and cricket. The 1960s saw Donnie shearing from Julia Creek in Queensland all through NSW and throughout Victoria. He also went to New Zealand shearing with his life-long mate, Cecil Pascoe. Donnie was known as a strong bloke and while not always the fastest in the team, as many came and left, he continued on. In 1964 he married his wife Pam and they settled in Scone and had two sons. He continued shearing until 1978 when he slipped a disk in his back at Narromine. He was no longer able to shear, however he remained in the industry as a woolclasser and overseer. Prior to returning to Scone in 1981, Donnie received a call from the AWU. He was offered a position as a Union Organiser which he took on with enthusiasm. While his background was in shearing and rural work, he soon expanded his capacity to assist and represent workers across a broad range of industries. He also continued his www.awu.net.au

ABOVE RIGHT: (from left) Adam Tos, Abogor Goda and AWU Greater NSW Branch Organiser, Paul Farrow.

■ Recycling mess Workers at Global Renewables in western Sydney have been stood down as it appears a bureaucrat in the NSW Government is making a personal mission of driving the company out of business. GR has been a recycling success story. Rubbish from standard household rubbish bins is sorted and much of the material is diverted from landﬁll. The problem arises through the poor contractual conditions established by Waste Services, a NSW Government agency, an agency that is currently being offered for sale. Waste Services’ job is to deliver waste that is 70 per cent recoverable. Unfortunately, most waste delivered to GR is approximately 52 per cent recoverable, thereby requiring more workers available to sort the rubbish and renegotiation of the contract. Hazardous waste has also been delivered, including ❯❯ theaustralianworker 33

FRONTLINE NEWS NSW / NEWCASTLE

“The company tries to be a fair employer but is now being driven out of business by Government bureaucrats.”

medical waste, that could jeopardise workers’ health in the sorting process. The contractual dispute between the parties had been heard before the NSW Supreme Court, where GR had an emphatic win. Waste Services admitted during the court case that no loads have ever been delivered to GR that met the specifications of the contract. Despite the decision, Waste Services has decided to appeal, thereby placing enormous financial distress on GR. The workers, many recently arrived from overseas, are confused as to why they have been stood down. They thought winning the court case would secure their jobs. They believe their jobs have a positive impact upon the environment yet someone in Government has decided to jeopardise it all for them. Abogor Goda is married with five young children. He said, “It is difficult to

explain to my young family why I cannot go to work. I have a job, but then again I don’t. I have to look for work elsewhere so I can feed my family until all the mess is sorted out.” AWU Organiser Paul Farrow said, “It’s a dirty and difﬁcult job, but the workers do it well. The company tries to be a fair employer but is now being driven out of business by government bureaucrats. I thought Government was all about improving the environment and protecting jobs. What has gone wrong here?” AWU Greater NSW Branch Secretary Russ Collison said, “We have made contact with various NSW Government Ministers and board members of Waste Services. Some bureaucrat has created this problem and we need political action to solve it quickly.” The case is on appeal and the court is scheduled to hear the matter.

RIGHT: It’s a dirty and difﬁcult job, and workers in the waste industry work extremely hard.

■ Civil construction

agreements The AWU has negotiated a great outcome for its Members at Baulderstone. Significant increases were achieved with wages (up 5 per cent per annum) and increases in various allowances including travel (up 20 per cent), meals (up 33 per cent), first aid (up 10 per cent), and redundancy payouts (up 36 per cent). Greater NSW Branch Vice-President Kevin Brown believes this agreement sets the benchmark for the industry. Income protection due to non-work-related accident and sickness has also been incorporated into the agreement. Baulderstone is one of the largest civil construction businesses and therefore sets an industry benchmark. With many new infrastructure projects about to commence as a result of the Federal Government’s stimulus spending, it is important that wages, conditions and safety are constantly improving in this dangerous industry. ■ Strike action imminent

Great agreement at State Water Agreement was recently reached at State Water Corporation with some excellent outcomes for AWU Members. Working hours have been reduced to 36 hours per week, there is a better career structure in place and a four-per-cent per year wage increase guaranteed over the next three years. Well done to Greater NSW Branch Vice-President Glenn Seton and Delegates Ross Hillary, Tim Trembath and Troy Sands.

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The AWU was applying to Fair Work Australia on behalf of workers at brake systems manufacturer Knorr-Bremse to engage in protected industrial action. The collective agreement expired in March 2009 and negotiations have faltered over the company’s insistence on reducing redundancy entitlements, over minimal increases in pay rates and its reduction of the arbitration powers of Fair Work Australia in disputes procedures. AWU Organiser Ted Mitchell said, “We have negotiated with the company, but the workers will not cop an agreement that cannot be enforced in the commission if a dispute arises in the future.” www.awu.net.au

■ Welcome new members to the AWU

Newcastle News

Delegates and workers at the various AWU sites encouraged fellow workmates to join the AWU over the past couple of months. The introduction of the new industrial relations laws allows people to join unions more freely. The collective bargaining strength of all workers allows members to negotiate better outcomes. Membership increased in workplaces throughout regional NSW, including ActewAG, GrainCorp, Murray Irrigation and Nugan Quality Foods. Sydney workplaces experiencing signiﬁcant increases in membership included Capral Aluminium, Victa, Valvoline and Hanson Precast. AWU Greater NSW Branch Secretary Russ Collison welcomes all new members and looks forward to seeing great results being delivered in the workplace.

Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU... ■ Senior Delegate achieves recruitment success

LEFT: (from left) Stephen Bali, AWU Greater NSW Branch Assistant Secretary; Forest NSW workers Greg Burns, Allan North, Joe Agland and AWU Organiser, Terry MacQuillan.

Forestry workers win in the Commission NSW Industrial Relations Commission has issued directions to Forests NSW that the practice of offering voluntary redundancies without consulting the AWU must stop. In the past three years, the workforce has been reduced by 89 workers (approximately 17 per cent) and most through the practice of offering individuals a redundancy without examining the consequences on the remaining workforce. Forests NSW has also substantially increased the number of contractors, with the total labour cost undertaken by contractors amounting to 75 per cent in some regions. AWU Greater NSW Branch Assistant Secretary Stephen Bali said, “The focus should be on establishing that the job has been eliminated, not the person. It is ridiculous for Forests NSW to reduce the workforce by 89 and then attempt to engage a contractor with 90 employees to undertake hazard-reduction burns.”

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Senior Site Delegate, Tom Matheson works at DSI Australia in Bennetts Green, which produces mining and tunnelling products. Employees at DSI will come under a new agreement on January 1, 2010. In preparation for the new agreement, The AWU Newcastle Branch, with Tom’s help, conducted two mass meetings to formulate a log of claims. For some time, DSI has been increasing the number of casuals it employs to handle an increasing workload. With the help of the Union, Tom has been using the meetings and the incoming new agreement as an opportunity to recruit new members, particularly new casuals. Tom applied the tactics that were used during the “July Intensive” growth campaign such as mapping, structured conversation and activating new members. Newcastle Branch Secretary Richard Downie was pleased to see delegates getting behind recruitment. “It is great to see Delegates adopting some of the growth tactics that were such a success for the Union during the July Intensive growth campaign,” Richard said. After carrying out this recruitment drive in parallel to the new agreement campaign, Tom and the AWU Newcastle Branch have had great success with picking up members every week. DSI is now at 100 per cent membership thanks to the good efforts of Tom and the other DSI Delegates. ❯❯

“It is great to see Delegates adopting some of the growth tactics that were such a success.”

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FRONTLINE NEWS NEWCASTLE / PORT KEMBLA / VIC ■ Union fights hard for

Member facing redundancy

“It is always distressing to see a member made redundant after so many years of loyal service.”

An AWU Member who had worked for the Wyong Race Club for 23 years was recently made redundant. Newcastle Branch Secretary Richard Downie said, “It is always distressing to see a Member made redundant after so many years of loyal service. It is important that when members ﬁnd themselves in this situation that the Union does everything it can to get them the best possible outcome.” AWU Newcastle Branch found that under the employees’ current agreement, which expired but was not terminated, Clause 9 stated, “No employee will be made redundant unless the Union and the race club agree.” On this basis, the Union put a position to the board to apply four weeks’ notice plus a package equal to four weeks’ pay for every year of service. The WRC chief executive replied with an offer of the appropriate four weeks’ notice plus one week per year of service as per the Race

Club Employees’ State Award. The Union rejected this offer and the club counter offered with two additional weeks’ pay. After consulting with the member, this offer was also rejected. The Union has proceeded to notify the commission of a dispute relating to Clause 9 of the agreement. ■ New coal loader set to increase Newcastle port capacity The construction of a third coal-loading terminal in Newcastle Harbour will see its coal-exporting capacity increase by 330 million tonnes a year. Construction began 12 months ago and the project is on schedule for completion in first quarter, 2010. The terminal is owned by Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group with construction being managed by Aurecon Hatch which has engaged a number of subcontractors including Daracon, Thiess, Abi Group, Laing O’Rourke and Sandvik. A major dredging operation of Newcastle Harbour was required to facilitate

Chickens have ﬂown the coup When Assistant Secretary of the Newcastle Branch, John Boyd, first became a Union Official back in 1995 he was given responsibility for the chicken industry, including Steggles at Beresfield. The Union’s membership there was low, but with continual servicing of its site, the numbers peaked at 236 in 1998. When Steggles was taken over by Goodman Fielder, an enterprise agreement was negotiated which included a redundancy package that more than doubled Members’ entitlements. John says at that time the Union could not have realised how important

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those particular negotiations would become. Goodman Fielder soon merged with Barter and, as with any merger, the rationalisation process began with the greater part of the Union’s membership being made redundant. Recently there has been another merger, with Baida, and with this merger came more redundancies and the introduction of contract labour in the live pick-up area. “In 2009, the Union’s membership base is currently around 20, with more redundancies to come,” John says. “And with that a it’s a bleak look for the future of rearing/breeding and live pick-up of chickens in the Hunter Region.”

ship movements with most of the dredge material being utilised as ﬁll for the site, the work being conducted by a BoskalisDredeco joint venture. The project includes a rail loop for the delivery of the coal to the site, two combined stacking/reclaiming machines for the coal beds, a ship loader and a new wharf. To date, there have been around 2.5 million man hours worked with an average of 700 employees on site per day. The project has a great safety record with one lost-time injury and seven medical-treatment injuries. Newcastle Branch Secretary Richard Downie said, “There has been no time lost to industrial action, which can be attributed to active Union involvement that has delivered great wages and conditions and effective communication between Members right across the various contractors on the site.”

Port Kembla News ■ BlueScope Number

5 blast works fires up On August 19, BlueScope Steel’s No 5 Blast Furnace at the Port Kembla Steelworks was restarted, following a $350 million upgrade. It had been inactive for six months, but reopened on time and on budget. This is good news for Port Kembla steelworks as the production of the plant will now increase, which will have a ﬂow-on effect to other parts of the local economy. It’s also good news for AWU members who are local contractors and rely on repair and maintenance from the steelworks for their employment. AWU Port Kembla Branch Secretary Andy Gillespie said, “Our members who were forced to take annual leave and www.awu.net.au

long-service leave due to the [global ﬁnancial crisis] have now been able to return to work. This is a great relief for our members and their families.” As a result of this upgrade and re-lighting, conﬁdence has increased amongst everyone in the steel industry. Bluescope Steel management would not

have lit the blast furnace if it had insufﬁcient orders to keep it running. Port Kembla has also seen the coke ovens ramped up and they are now up to full production. The rest of the plant looks to be heading back towards full production, which is good news for AWU members in Port Kembla and the wider community.

Victorian News Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU... ■ AWU wins first ruling on majority

AWU Member disciplined for trying to support Aussie workers Les Millar, an AWU Delegate at RTA Bellambi depot, has been threatened with a demotion and a pay cut after he tried to take a stand against the RTA’s use of Pacific Brands as a supplier. Pacific Brands is the Australian company that recently offshored a large portion of its industry, resulting in thousands of Australian workers losing their jobs. When Pacific Brands made this decision, many unions in NSW endorsed a ban against Pacific Brands as a supplier. Unions also called on the State Government to source an alternative supplier for work clothes for all government employees. In his role as an RTA storeman, it is Les Millar’s responsibility to order and issue work clothing to fellow employees. As a dedicated Union Delegate and proud Australian, Les was concerned that the RTA was still using Pacific Brands as a supplier. Les held off ordering stock from Pacific Brands and wrote upwards of 20 emails to RTA management and to NSW Minister for Roads, Michael Daley. At no time did RTA management address Les’s concerns or try to sit down and find a solution. It also took around four months for the Minister’s office to respond to Les’s correspondence. When the Minister finally did respond, it was in defence of the department’s decision to continue using Pacific Brands, despite the company’s decision to sack more than a thousand Australian workers.

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By this time, frustrated, Les had already begun ordering from Paciﬁc Brands again because stock was running low and he was fearful his fellow employees might be reprimanded by management for not wearing appropriate work attire. Les responded with a strongly worded email expressing his frustration and disappointment at both the RTA and the department’s lack of concern over the matter. As a result, the RTA took disciplinary action against Les that included docking his pay and demoting him to a truck-driving position for 12 months. Considering Les Millar’s 35 years of loyal service to the RTA and the severe implications of the Paciﬁc Brands decision for so many Australian workers and fellow Union members, the AWU felt that the disciplinary action was extreme. At best, he should have received a warning on the type of language used within the email but certainly not its sentiments. AWU Port Kembla Branch Secretary Andy Gillespie said the Branch has appealed the decision and is currently arguing the case before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. “Unless this matter comes to a satisfactory conclusion, AWU Members will take whatever action is necessary to support Les,” Andy said.

right to collective bargaining In a test case on the new Fair Work laws, the AWU Victorian Branch has won Australia’s first legal ruling confirming that a majority of workers want to bargain collectively with their employer. The independent umpire, Fair Work Australia, made its ﬁrst majority support determination on August 12 after the AWU lodged a petition signed by an overwhelming majority of workers at InvoCare Australia’s funeral parlours. The company had previously resisted previous attempts by the AWU to start bargaining for a collective agreement on behalf of the workers, despite the fact that most of them wanted to. AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem welcomed the decision as a victory for workers’ democratic right to get together and to bargain for better wages and conditions, even if their employer is reluctant. “Detailed consultations with workers and careful preparation for this case have cleared the way for the workers to get on with negotiating a better deal. Full credit goes to AWU InvoCare Delegate Richard Slingo and Victorian Branch Vice-President Liam O’Brien for their meticulous work,” Cesar said. The ruling applies to around 70 funeral directors, funeral directors’ assistants, embalmers and trainee embalmers working at InvoCare Australia’s parlours in Victoria – including Le Pine, White Lady, Simplicity, Mulqueen and Value Funerals. In line with the ruling, the company started bargaining with AWU representatives and meetings were continuing in September. “This case shows how the new Fair Work Act gives stronger power to workers who stick together, and can bring employers to the negotiating table,” Cesar said. “We are now preparing to ensure that workers beneﬁt from another right under the new system – for their employer to bargain in good faith,” he said. ❯❯ RIGHT: AWU InvoCare Delegate, Richard Slingo.

theaustralianworker 37

FRONTLINE NEWS VIC / SA ■ Slow Down @ Road Works

– road workers need speed patrols “This is our workplace, and we end up getting killed here,” Phil Tuck, the AWU Health and Safety Representative on Melbourne’s M1 freeway upgrade project, says. Speaking at the start of the Victorian Branch’s Slow Down @ Road Works – Speed Kills campaign in August, Phil said reduced speed limits at many roadconstruction sites are not being enforced – by Victoria Police, VicRoads or Worksafe. “A speeding driver might get home 10 minutes earlier, but we end up not going home at all,” Phil said. To ﬁx the problem, AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem is calling on the Victorian Government and leading

construction companies to introduce speed patrols by clearly marked “pace cars” at major road works. The idea passed its first test with flying colours when the AWU trialled three pace cars on the M1 upgrade during the launch of the Slow Down campaign. With flashing orange lights and warning messages, the pace cars travelled the length of the road works at the maximum reduced speed limit to deter dangerous speeding. When the cars were operating, AWU organisers counted 14 speeding vehicles, compared to 71 on the same road at the same time of day just two days earlier. To boost public support for reduced speed limits, the AWU has also proposed that traffic management companies be more flexible by only reducing speed limits to the lowest levels when workers are on site, allowing higher speeds when workers are off shift. “We should try these new methods because the current system is not working, and small increases in speed trigger big increases in crashes, injuries and deaths,” Victorian Branch President Dick Gray said. LEFT: The AWU trialled three pace cars at the launch of the Slow Down campaign.

■ Better ways to get back to work after injury “I had my employment terminated as I could not perform all of my job description, even though I could do 80 per cent of it,” Phil [not his real name] recalls of his own experience of being injured at work. “I was locked out of the site, denied access to my payslips and humiliated.” Now an AWU HSR in the steel industry, Phil is one of 1400 Victorian Branch HSRs and Delegates to have been surveyed to help develop a new return-to-work program for injured workers. The survey found 71 per cent of HSRs and Delegates felt they didn’t have enough knowledge about return-to-work issues to assist an injured worker, and 85 per cent would complete training about it. Fully 69 per cent have never been spoken to by their employer about the issue. The Union is using the feedback to produce a return-to-work awareness package for workers, HSRs and managers as part of a Worksafe program. The Consensus Based Disability Management Audit tool is based on consensus principles requiring agreement between workers and employers. It rigorously tests decisionmaking to cut out biases and misinterpretation. Better outcomes include improving rehabilitation and ﬁnancial security, maintaining skills and productivity and more viable insurance payments and premium costs. Lucky winners Congratulations to the two lucky winners of the Return to Work Survey prizes of $500 vouchers to Bunnings stores. Well done Peter Hogbin, HSR at Dow Chemicals in Melbourne, and Shane McDowell, HSR at Alcoa, Portland.

Record pay rise after 25-day picket AWU Members at Foster Plastics won their biggest-ever pay rise after a 25-day picket outside the company’s Glenroy factory in Melbourne. AWU Victorian Branch Vice-President and Lead Organiser Ben Davis said the 35 workers are receiving pay rises of 4 per cent per year for the next three years under an agreement approved by a mass meeting at the picket on May 22. “This is the highest wage increase in the history of the company, both in dollar and in percentage terms,” Ben said. “It has been a hard-fought and at times ugly industrial dispute and, while the outcome is a

38 theaustralianworker

compromise, the workers can hold their heads high.” The 4 per cent annual increase is a significant improvement on the 1.5 per cent originally offered by the employer and is in line with a recommendation by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem commended Ben and his fellow AWU Organisers and Delegates for their hard work in resolving the dispute.” “Organisers worked around the clock to support their members at Foster Plastics and the 4 per cent pay rises demonstrate the benefits of AWU membership, especially during the global financial crisis,” Cesar said.

“This dispute was conducted under the scrapped WorkChoices laws and shows how they promoted conﬂict by stopping protracted disputes from being referred to the independent umpire when they need to be,” Cesar added. BELOW: Workers from Foster Plastics celebrate their record pay rise.

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■ When fewer hours are not enough

■ Royal Commission fails firefighters

The AWU is fighting attempts by some bosses to use the financial crisis as an excuse to slash working hours and take-home pay. Tens of thousands of Victorian workers have had their hours cut since the global credit freeze began last year but productivity has increased at the same time, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Many workers are having to do just as much work but in less time and for less pay – some proﬁtable companies are using the economic downturn simply as an excuse to cut costs”, Cesar Melhem, AWU Victorian Branch Secretary, says. “We will not stand by and allow workers to be intimidated by the threat of losing their jobs when production levels are being maintained at their expense,” he adds. The AWU is taking legal action against attempts by a Melbourne manufacturing plant to extend a temporary cut in hours for over 12 months, despite an original agreement that it would only apply for three months. “After that period expired, they asked us to do it again, and again, and again, and now we’ve worked like that for one year. All my life I’ve been working there, and where have I got to go?” asks one of the workers who asked not to be identiﬁed for fear of retribution. BlueScope Steel, OneSteel and Alcoa Roster are among those major manufacturers using changes, shorter shifts and cuts to regular overtime, and other methods are being used to cut hours and take-home pay. “We are working to ensure that genuine changes to hours are only made in full consultation and agreement with all the workers affected, and include measures such as phase-in periods, so that take-home pay is not slashed,” Cesar said.

Victorian firefighters have been badly let down by the interim report of the Bushfires Royal Commission and are carrying the burden of failed State Government policies, says AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem. “Both professional and volunteer firefighters are the victims of short-term cost cutting to proper bushfire preparation – then they are dumped with the crisis of fire emergencies”, adds Ben Davis, Branch Vice-President and Public Sector Co-ordinator. Representing hundreds of forest firefighters in the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, the AWU Victorian Branch provided the Royal Commission with a detailed written

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submission on better planning. “The issues of resourcing, training, fire prevention and mitigation – including back-burning to reduce fuel loads – are ignored in the Interim Report. We shouldn’t have to wait another fire season until the Commission’s final report next July,” Ben says. The AWU is pressing the Brumby Government urgently to invest more in fire management by DSE and employ more full-time forest firefighters, whose numbers have been cut from 1500 in the 1990s to 240 this year. “DSE’s minimal budget is repeatedly blown out by the massive extra clean-up costs of fires, with an extra $400 million needed after Black Saturday – but this year’s State Budget cut DSE funding by $47 million,” Ben said.

ABOVE: DSE ﬁreﬁghter.

Bushfire victims get $128,000 from National AWU relief fund: The AWU has distributed the $128,000 raised by its Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund to 28 members hit by the fires, many of whom lost their home and all possessions. Three kindies in the Marysville area that were running out of temporary accommodation also received $9000 each. Thank you to all those who gave generously!

South Australian News Gawler offer not good enough The AWU SA Branch has been negotiating an agreement with a local government council of Gawler since April 2009. Gawler local council offered a 3 per cent wage increase to AWU employees, municipal council workers, general maintenance and infrastucture maintenance and parks and gardens employees. There are two separate agreements with Gawler council. The ﬁrst agreement is to

cover administration staff. The second agreement is to cover staff who work outdoors. The admin staff received a 5 per cent increase in April this year. AWU Members were only offered a 3 per cent increase, this is why the AWU has knocked back the offer. It has come to a head today where management have refused to budge on their offer of 3 per cent. After management’s rejection the South Australian Branch held a meeting with ❯❯

“The AWU has distributed the $128,000 raised by its Victorian Bushﬁre Relief Fund to 28 members hit by the ﬁres.”

theaustralianworker 39

FRONTLINE NEWS SA / WA / TASMANIA

Continued… its Members, informed them of managements’ position and the membership voted to take industrial action. “I know that it is never easy for a group of workers to take industrial action but it’s good to see these workers are prepared to stand up for their rights rather than get kicked in the guts by their boss.” Gary Henderson, Organiser, South Australian Branch.

■ A great night for a good cause On August 14, the South Australian Branch held its annual Members’ Dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre. With the significant increase in interest and in numbers this year, the Union decided to move to this bigger and better venue. Nearly 500 Members and guests packed the hall, which had superb views overlooking the lights of North Terrace. The event is designed to reward the efforts of Branch Members and Delegates, and to raise funds for the Neil Sachse Foundation, which raises awareness of spinal cord injuries. For a small $10 per person donation to Neil’s foundation our guests were treated to a fabulous three course meal, beer, wine and soft drinks package plus entertainment from a great local band.

There are further stop work meetings planned for a fortnightly schedule until senior management understand that they must pay equal wages for all council employees. There are 25 Members covered by this agreement. “Equality is the key point here in negotiations. Our AWU Members refuse to be seen as the poor relations to white collar workers.” Wayne Hanson, South Australian Branch Secretary, said.

Through registration income and rafﬂes the AWU again raised in excess of $16,000 for Neil and his Foundation. Special guests on the night were Senator Penny Wong, Hon Jay Weatherill, Hon Robert Sneath MLC, Hon John Gazzola MLC, Hon Ian Hunter MLC, Senator Anne McEwen, Stephanie Key, Francis Bedford, Steve Georganas and Tony Zappia. The evening was once again generously supported by our sponsors; Australian Financial and Career Consortium, Association of Independently Owned Financial Planners, Australian Super, International Underwriting Services, Local Government Risk Services, Local Super and with the co-operation of AWU National Secretary Paul Howes. It was evident that our Members appreciated the sponsorship, which gave them the opportunity to share in a top night amongst friends.

BELOW LEFT: AWU Member Joe Mezzini with his wife Maria. BELOW RIGHT: South Australian Branch Secretary Wayne Hanson (L) and David Wilson.

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West Australian News

AWU West Australian Branch Assistant Secretary Paul Asplin and Michelle Mcintyre with Peter Quinn from Chapmans Barristers and Solicitors.

■ Justice for cyclone survivor An AWU Member has won a fight for compensation against Fortescue Metals Group after he was left traumatised in the aftermath of Cyclone George which devastated the Pilbara two years ago. Last month, Perth law firm Chapmans Barristers and Solicitors secured a confidential out of court settlement for Jamie Mcintyre who was a subcontractor based at FMG rail camp 1 when the category four cyclone hit in March 2007. The cyclone, which ripped through with winds of up to 275 kilometres an hour, sent temporary accommodation buildings flying and flattened the railway construction camp, south of Port Hedland. Three people were killed and more than two-dozen injured were airlifted from the site the day after the cyclone tore through the camp. Mr Mcintyre, who spent hours rescuing injured people trapped under buildings, soon developed post-traumatic stress disorder and couldn’t return to work. He later argued Fortescue Metals had failed to provide a safe working environment and protect him from the cyclone’s destructive path. His solicitor, Len Gandini, said the firm was confident Mr Mcintyre would have had success at trial, which was scheduled to start on 13 July 2009. www.awu.net.au

Taking a long-term view, Mr Mcintyre’s wife Michelle said the payout was her husband’s future and not some sort of lottery win. “It will help pay for his medications, but who’s to say six months down the track he won’t end up back in hospital?” she said. “When you’re looking at posttraumatic stress you can’t put a date on when it’s going to get better but now we are going to have the money to pay for it.” Mrs Mcintyre said she was grateful for the help she got from the AWU during the ordeal because there had been no support whatsoever from FMG. “To begin with the weekly payments weren’t right, but ‘Curly’ (Paul Asplin, AWU West Australian Branch Assistant Secretary) got onto it and sorted out Jamie’s entitlements,” she said. “Jamie was hospitalised at the time and when you’re in a situation like that it’s impossible to have to chase up wages. It’s the last thing you want to be dealing with.” Mrs Mcintyre said the legal windfall helped bring closure to a period she could only describe as a nightmare. “It’s hell watching your husband who was previously a workaholic being reduced to someone who hasn’t been able to work for two and a half years,” she said. In 2007, following the aftermath of Cyclone George, shell shocked workers were left asking hard questions. But two years on, Paul Asplin says workers’ safety is still an issue. “There would be around 35 per cent of the camps out there that don’t meet the fundamentals purely to save costs and there’s a host of things you can condemn these camps on,” he said. “What we need to do, and hopefully the laws are going to allow us greater access as right-of-entry laws have changed, is a thorough audit of all the camps and report back to the responsible Minister in terms of that and go from there.” www.awu.net.au

Tasmanian News Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU... ■ Asbestos campaign moves

forward with major book launch The AWU Tasmanian Branch has launched an information brochure on its Prioritised Removal Campaign for asbestos from Tasmania. It can be downloaded from the Union’s website. “The time has come for a completely new approach to dealing with the menace of asbestos in homes and workplaces,” Tasmanian Branch Secretary Ian Wakeﬁeld says. “The pain and suffering of asbestos-related disease has gone on for far too long.” Ian and the AWU believe that generations of workers to come will not forgive us if we fail to attack this problem head on. “We believe that we need to remove all asbestos from the state over the next 20 years,” Ian says. The Tasmanian asbestos campaign was also given a boost with the launch of a book by Matt Peacock, one of the ABC’s most experienced reporters, currently a journalist with The 7.30 Report. After breaking the story of the link between asbestos, James Hardie and the deadly health epidemic facing employees, their families and customers in an awardwinning radio series for the ABC Science Unit back in 1977, Matt Peacock has followed the tragic trail of the asbestos story for more than 30 years. Matt’s book Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed was launched at a forum hosted by the AWU Tasmanian Branch. At the launch AWU National Secretary Paul Howes called for the creation of a federal National Asbestos taskforce to manage the prioritised recall of asbestos contaminated products in all its forms. “The scourge of asbestos has taken a heavy enough toll on this country already,” Paul said. “This slow moving catastrophe has destroyed the lives of thousands of

working people and will kill and maim thousands more over the next 20 years.” Paul told the gathering that a National Asbestos Taskforce could facilitate and resource an Asbestos Summit, to bring together industry leaders, regulatory bodies and the nation’s top asbestos disease experts, including from the medical profession. “Together with Federal, State and Local governments, such a summit could identify priority areas for asbestos removal and develop a national strategy to deal with this national emergency once and for all,” Paul said. He also said he believes that the prioritised removal of all asbestos from Australia by 2030 was achievable if the Federal Government makes it a priority. Paul commended the AWU Tasmanian Branch for its involvement in that state’s prioritised removal of asbestos. Matt Peackock’s book, Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed rips the cloak of secrecy from one of the greatest corporate scandals in Australia’s history. Matt delves into the secret world of James Hardie and the fortune it made for one family as its products reached into every corner of Australian life. The book reveals how James Hardie silenced Australia’s largest asbestos union, corrupted health authorities and concealed the nation’s biggest peacetime disaster. Matt was a friend of Bernie Banton, the much-loved and widely respected “face” of asbestos victims in their battle for compensation. Bernie’s personal story is woven throughout Matt’s compelling account of a much larger struggle. This explosive book is a chilling reminder of how rich and powerful people in pursuit of proﬁt can destroy the normal protections society imposes on corporate behaviour, and how easily they can evade punishment. ◆

We have two copies of Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed to give away. The first two AWU members to email us at members@nat.awu.net.au, giving their name, address and membership number, will receive a copy of this timely book. Please include the words “Killer Company” in your email’s subject line. Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed by Matt Peacock, ABC Books (rrp $32.99). Available at ABC Shops and good book stores nationally or online at www.abcshop.com.au. theaustralianworker 41

MEET THE OFFICIAL

Name

Job

And…

Emma Davies

Stable Hands Organiser – Victorian Branch

Horse enthusiast, former track-work jockey and mum to two daughters

Ten years ago, when I first came to Australia from New Zealand where I was born, I brought with me my love of horses, a love that has endured since I was a child of about nine years old. I am one of those lucky people who have been able to combine their job with an abiding passion. I have been working with horses for most of my life in one capacity or another – for example as a track-work jockey – and in various places, including Japan. Becoming the Victorian Branch’s Stable Hands Organiser, is yet another incarnation of my work with horses and the people that care for them. I have a friend who worked for Racing Victoria Limited and she put my name in for an Organiser’s job with the Association because she thought I would like, and be suited to, this kind of work. Well, she was right. I do love the work. One day is never the same as another. Ours is a family-friendly employer and I am the only female Organiser in the Victorian Branch, but not the only female employee. At first I was bit sceptical about working for a union, but it has not turned out to be the boys’ club as I first imagined it would be. I’m just treated like one of the comrades. AWU Organiser John Paul Blandthorn is my mentor, and he is fantastic. He lets me do my own thing and make my own mistakes, but he’s always there for me if I need to run anything by him or need his support and advice. He has made my transition from working at a grass-roots level in the racing industry to becoming a union organiser very smooth. 42 theaustralianworker

Emma Davies

“At ﬁrst I was a bit sceptical about working for a union, but it has not turned out to be the boys’ club as I ﬁrst imagined.”

The Stable Employees Association was born out of a study conducted by the University of Victoria and commissioned by Racing Victoria, which found that stable employees felt they had little or no worth in the scheme of horse racing. There was a real need for employees to have a voice in an industry they are so passionate about. The AWU has since taken that on as a long-term project, but it’s only under way in Victoria at present. For the first five months after starting in the Organiser’s role I travelled around the state with a rep from industry bodies Racing Victoria, Victorian Government, Stable Safe, and me (as the representative of the AWU), talking about the obligations of employers and employer-employee relationships and health and safety issues. My workdays vary now. I might get up early and go trackside and talk with employees at work, or attend race meetings to chat with strappers. Union visibility in the workplace is an important part of my position, as is supporting existing Members and recruiting new ones. Horses play a big part in my private life too, and in my spare time I ride my six-year-old gelding Jerry, who is a slow thoroughbred! My two daughters, Vanessa, who is 12, and Page, 10, share my love of horses and Vanessa has her own pony. We live on five acres on the Mornington Peninsula. My partner, Gavin, is a former dairy farmer and steeplechase jockey and now drives livestock transport trucks, carrying horses. He also has a lot of contact with stable employees and helps champion the Stable Employees Association’s message. The girls play netball and we love spending summers at the beach. Two years ago I went back to school and I completed my VCE (HSC). I did quite well and really enjoyed the politics and international-relations subjects. I was unsure of what direction I wanted to take and deferred a place in midwifery when the opportunity to work for the AWU came about. I am grateful the opportunity arose and can see myself studying further in the coming years so I can continue to help workers within the union movement. www.awu.net.au

MEET THE DELEGATE

Name

Job

And…

Bob Fraser

AWU Delegate at Qenos and Greater NSW Branch President

Golf lover, father of ﬁve and grandad to four grandsons

AS TOLD TO LAURA MACFARLANE

he first full AWU Delegate role came to me at my present place of employment, which is Qenos Australia. Some readers may remember that the company was previously known as ICI and is a petrochemical operation that makes chlorine, detergents, brake fluids and coolants. In 1980, I started at ICI at the Botany site, where I worked for a few years. During this time, I moved to the NSW Central Coast. I found commuting impossible, so I left to work at Steelmains on the Central Coast, which is an offshoot of BHP. This was in heavy industry making smelting pots for the aluminium works at Tomago and it was the lowest-paid job I’ve had, as there was no union organisation. I was instrumental in getting the AWU in to sign members up. After about 14 months, the job finished and the manager took pleasure in making me his first redundant employee, and this was only because the AWU had struck a short-term employment redundancy agreement. But, as luck would have it, I got a call from one of the boys at ICI wanting to know if I’d be interested in returning to Botany plant and so, in 1984, I was back. In 1987 a huge wave of redundancies took place across the Qenos Botany site and roughly 250 jobs went during that time. Naturally, the union leadership was first out the door and we had to regroup. That is when I became more involved, and in that year I was elected the workshop delegate. The friction between management and the workforce between 1988 and 1990 pushed a group of us to put together our first EBA. This has proved a win-win at the Botany site, despite the organisation now being an amalgamation of www.awu.net.au

Bob Fraser

“After about 14 months, the job ﬁnished and the manager took pleasure in making me his ﬁrst redundant employee.”

three companies as a consequence of ICI listing on the Australian stockmarket in 1996. The EBA was established under Section 115 of the Industrial Relations Act, and in 1995 the last of the demarcation barriers disappeared when it became a single-union site endorsing the AWU. In 1996-97, there was a challenge led by management to de-unionise the site, but it was defeated in the Commission after 18 months of to and fro. I had started my working life at Cockatoo Island in 1963 at the age of 16 as a trades assistant/ironworker, and from there I went on to the Sydney Slipway in Darling Street, Balmain, went to tech and got my riggers ticket in 1966. During this time, I moved from Rozelle to Granville, and, not having a car, I left the waterfront to start in heavy industry at both Commonwealth Engineering and Clyde Engineering which was much closer to home. But ironically, in 1973, I started at Unilever back at Balmain. This was a great job, as this workplace gave me the insight into worksite agreements and the amount of work involved in getting your message across with 14 unions at the conference table, and then to get something endorsed to take to a mass meeting. Now my working life is coming to an end, I look forward to being on the golf course more often and I look back at the struggles I have been involved in to get some sort of quality of life for my fellow workmates. Unfortunately, the young workers of today at the Botany site do not have a clue about how other workers still struggle to maintain some sort of quality of life. But if I had my chance over I would certainly do it all again – some people appreciate the effort that you put in to maintaining good conditions. In January of this year I was nominated as the first rank-and-file Honorary President of the Greater NSW Branch of the AWU, which was endorsed in June 2009. I find it an honour to be given the chance to be part of the AWU structure. I have five children from two marriages – four boys and a girl – and four grandsons. My beautiful wife, Jill, has just resigned from her job in membership at the AWU’s Greater NSW Branch after 10 years. We have tended to become attached to the pet dogs that we had for the kids as they were growing up. Although our last dog passed away about two years ago, I am almost sure there will be another once we get up to Umina Beach for our retirement. theaustralianworker 43

WORLD NEWS

Peace

and unity

Forget high-end politics, it’s a global movement of workers and unions working towards peace in the Middle East that’s having a positive impact. WRITTEN BY DONNA REEVES PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

eace between Israel and Palestine will only be achieved with the creation of two states, and trade unions must be prepared to oěer practical support if an end to their conĚict is to be sustained, an AWU meeting has heard. “We know that unions are at the forefront of peace and democracy everywhere,” ACTU president Sharan Burrow said when speaking in July at a fringe event of the 2009 Australian Labor Party National Conference sponsored by the AWU, with the support of the Maritime Union of Australia, and chaired by AWU National Secretary Paul Howes. The meeting was held in response to the newly formed TULIP – Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine – and involved a panel of keynote speakers tackling the issues of progressive solutions to support peace, justice and reconciliation for Palestine and Israel. “Build unions, you’ll build democracy; threaten unions, tear them down you’ll threaten democracy and ultimately peace,” she said.

ABOVE LEFT: A Palestinian boy in the West Bank town of Bethlehem looks at grafﬁti depicting a soldier checking the ID of a donkey, in a work by internationally acclaimed British street artist Banksy. LEFT: A Palestinian stands behind his national ﬂag in the Israeli-occupied West Bank village of Bilin.

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Ms Burrow, who is also president of global union body the International Trade Union Confederation, said that unions needed to look for ways they could provide real, practical support for the peace process in the Middle East. “I think we need to say we want trade unionists at the table during these peace talks, showing what they can do, showing how we can get a real outcome.” More than 200 people aĴended the discussion, at which the overriding theme was the need for Israel and Palestine to accept a two-state solution if peace is ever to be achieved. Palestinian Ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi said trade unions had two key roles to play in the peace process, including mobilising the Australian government and the Australian people to support the current peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis, and in particular to support the two-state solution. He also said he was in discussion with the AWU to seek their help in strengthening the legal environment within which Palestinian unions operate. “These projects will build the actual skills, the experience and the education required for ongoing stability, institution building and informed, educated and commiĴed governments, all of which are needed by Palestinians if they are to build their own state,” Mr Abdulhadi said. “These two roles are integral to each other. National liberation and state building cannot be separated from democratic, economic and social development.” Fellow speaker and president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Robert Goot agreed that Australian unions needed to oěer their assistance. “The Labor Government has increased its monetary aid and assistance to the Palestinian authority,” he said. “The Government, the ALP and the ACTU might now consider geĴing more directly involved in these critically important nation-building activities in an aĴempt to inspire sorely needed conędence and trust to give the peace, when it comes – as I believe it will – a real prospect of succeeding.” www.awu.net.au

Mr Goot said it was crucial that any peace seĴlement between Israel and Palestine must stop the conĚict. “What the world wants and what Israelis and Palestinians desperately need is the creation of two states as part of a comprehensive peace seĴlement that will bring about an end to the conĚict, and not merely mark the beginning of a new phase of the conĚict,” he said. “It has to be a no-further-claims agreement. Anything less than that would be a two-state non-solution that would only guarantee more bloodshed and privation for both peoples.” Federal Labor MP and Parliamentary Friends of Palestine member Janelle SaĜn told the audience that, as in any conĚict, what both parties in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis had to reach was some sort of accommodation. “There’s justięcation on everybody’s sides for entrenched positions, but we have to be clear about human rights, about advancing human rights and speaking out wherever they happen,” Ms SaĜn said. “We have to be clear that our actions don’t hinder a peace process, that they actually enhance the peace process. This conference is a ęrst step, a good step, and let’s see where it takes us.” ◆

“What the world wants and what Israelis and Palestinians desperately need is the creation of two states as part of a comprehensive peace settlement that will bring about an end to the conﬂict...”

BELOW: Speaking at the event, Mr Izzat Abdulhadi, the Palestinian Ambassador to Australia.

Blossom of hope Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP) is a group spanning three continents challenging the apologists for Hamas and Hezbollah in the labour movement and to ﬁght for a two-state solution to the conﬂict between Israelis and Palestinians. AWU National Secretary Paul Howes is a founding member of TULIP, along with Stuart Appelbaum, President of the US Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union and Michael J Leahy, General Secretary of the UK’s Community Union. TULIP believes in engaging with workers and their unions in Israel and Palestine, promoting co-operation and reconciliation. It does not believe in boycotts, divestment and sanctions, unlike unions from other parts of the world. The Scottish Trades Union Congress, as well as unions in South Africa, Ireland, the UK and Norway, have recently come out in support of boycotts, divestment and sanctions of Israel. For more information visit www.tuliponline.org.

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HEALTH

Back

on track Back pain is more or less guaranteed to hit all of us at some time in life and its discomfort can be debilitating. So what do you do if you have a “twinge” or a fullblown backache? Don’t try and live with it, seek help fast. WRITTEN BY MELISSA SWEET PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

M ABOVE: Former shearer and manual worker Michael Lawrance is now an occupational therapist specialising in back pain care.

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ost of us know something about back pain – it is estimated that nearly everyone will suěer from at least one bout at some stage in life. But few have such an intimate understanding as Ballarat therapist Michael Lawrance, who knows about the problem from many diěerent perspectives. As a former shearer and manual worker who has gone on to become an occupational therapist specialising in back pain care and research, he has heard many suěerers’ stories over the years. His extensive experience, combined with his understanding of the research evidence, has taught him that the best advice for suěerers is

that they cannot rely upon a magic cure to solve their problems. Seeing back pain as a medical problem that can be solved by medical tests and treatments is counter-productive and is likely only to prolong the suěering and disability, he cautions. “One of the key pieces of advice for people with back pain or injury is that they will get the best quality of life if they manage their back rather than forget it,” he says. “You need to encourage people to be in control of their own life and treatment, which means not medicalising it, not waiting for a silver bullet. I always counsel people not to wait for any test to tell you what’s wrong.” Instead, he advises ęnding a good GP who will spend the time to discuss and co-ordinate www.awu.net.au

Back from the brink patients’ care, as well as support them in staying as active as possible. “A key question that I would ask of any treater is, ‘What are you educating people to do between appointments?’” he says. “The mark of a good clinician is that they’re encouraging you to do something when you’re not in the clinic earning money for them.” Michael, who runs a consultancy promoting musculoskeletal health, Joint Action (www. jointaction.com.au), and has worked closely with the AWU, including the development of a health and safety code of practice for the shearing industry, also recommends avoiding “quacks”. “They’re the people who tell you they can cure all your pain,” he says. Michael’s general approach is backed by guidelines recently released in the UK by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, covering the management of back pain which has persisted for more than six weeks. The guidelines recommend against the routine use of tests such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and encourage people to remain physically active and continue with normal activities as much as possible. They suggest oěering one of the following treatment options, depending upon patients’ personal preferences: an exercise program, a course of manual therapy (such as physiotherapy) or a course of acupuncture. If one of these approaches doesn’t help, they suggest trying another. For those not aided by these options and suěering signięcant disability or psychological distress, the guidelines recommend referral to a combined physical and psychological treatment program. Such recommendations – similar to those issued in Australia by the National Health and Medical Research Council several years ago – have been controversial in some quarters. This is partly because they challenge widespread health industry practices - back pain is one of the most common reasons for patients being referred for an X-ray or other imaging test. Recent research has also shown that many www.awu.net.au

ABOVE: For many shearers, and other manual workers, back problems seem almost inevitable. Treating problems quickly is the key. BELOW: Professor Nikolai Bogduk.

doctors, especially those who specialise in back pain care, continue to recommend prolonged bed rest, although this risks making things worse. The guidelines have also come under ęre because they have been perceived by some in the occupational health and safety ęeld as encouraging a victim-blaming approach, with critics arguing that such an approach puts too much responsibility on the individual rather than encouraging a focus on safer workplaces. Nikolai Bogduk, Professor of Pain Medicine aat Royal Newcastle H Hospital, has been a leader in encouraging evidenceb based approaches to back p pain, and has been su successful in his hospital unnecessar surgery. in stopping unnecessary But he is sympathetic to concerns that more could be done to create safer workplaces, especially through measures which enable workers to control their own workload. “There has too much of a swing of the pendulum away from the real risks of moderate to heavy work circumstances,” he says. “The pundits who sit around in ivory towers and say it’s all psychosocial and not to do with physical factors have never been out there and done a hard day’s work in their life.” Professor Bogduk agrees with Michael Lawrance that the best advice is to ęnd a caring doctor who will spend the time needed to ❯❯

In 1991, Sam Beechey’s world collapsed when a doctor told him to give up shearing because of his bad back. He had been shearing for 25 years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, and it had been his life. A champion shearer, his weekends – and even his honeymoon – had been devoted to shearing competitions. “I remember coming home to my wife, and just looking at her and saying, ‘they’ve told me I can’t shear anymore’,” he says. “I was devastated.” Looking back, Sam sees that his back problems were almost inevitable. “I was left-handed in a right-handed world. All the sheds were designed for right-handers, and that exacerbated my problems,” he says. After leaving work, Sam went into a downward spin, putting on weight and slumping into despair. It’s a different story these days, however. Now an AWU organiser based in Gippsland, he has turned his life around. The pain is still there, but he has learnt to manage it. Now he tries to share what he has learnt, pushing for shearers and other workers to take more care of their health, and to understand the benefits of regular exercise, and that pain is a warning sign. “Now I’m out there preaching the gospel about how important it is to exercise and warm up,” he says. “Shearers work through an incredible amount of pain.” Sam, 59, also advises fellow back pain sufferers on how to take control of their situation. For him, finding a new job with the AWU and a new meaning in life helped him to move on. “You have to be conscious of your own attitude, as it’s important,” he says. But there’s also a need for safer workplaces, he stresses. “When I first started shearing, there was no thoughts of health and safety, because sheds were designed to keep sheep and wool dry; there was no thought put into what might make it easier for the shearer. “We have about 8500 shearing sheds in Victoria and there wouldn’t be one of them that those farmers could say, ‘I have the perfect shed’.”

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HEALTH

Taking control of your aches and pains ACHES These are associated with tired muscles after a hard day’s work. Try stretching, a massage and a warm shower.

Lapping up some therapy After years of doing the medical rounds, traipsing between doctors and tests, Tony Nicholson (above) has discovered there’s one thing that really helps his bad back. “Anybody who says they’ve got a sore back, I tell them to go for a swim,” Tony, 46, says. “It stretches everything out and relieves the pressure.” Tony had been shearing and an AWU Member for 20 years and was as ﬁt as a ﬁddle, from years of running and playing football, when his back gave out suddenly in 2002. “I couldn’t stand up,” he says. “There were no warnings before that.” He has since discovered that swimming offers the best pain relief, and swims two kilometres at least three times a week. Stopping shearing – a family tradition stretching back to his great grandfather – was tough, but he now runs a family contracting business and also works part-time as a swimming instructor. On Saturday afternoons, he can be found in the Geelong Aquatic Centre, teaching disabled children from the Rainbow Club. He recently taught two children how to rescue someone drowning. “A couple of weeks later, one of the kids came up to me saying, ‘Mum has something to tell you’. He was too shy. His mother said, ‘He went on a camp down to Lorne and saved one of the younger kids who got into trouble’.”

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PAINS These are more specific than aches and are not significantly relieved by techniques described above. You may have some loss of movement and function. If there is no improvement after RICE treatment (see below), have it assessed by a physiotherapist or doctor. INJURIES Pain arising after a specific incident suggests the tissues have undergone some trauma or damage, and there is likely to be local inflammation and swelling. Implement RICE treatment. If full use and movement does not return have the injury assessed by a physiotherapist or doctor. Source: The Ultimate Shearers Handbook (www.shearingsafety.com.au)

provide reassurance and explanation. “And don’t panic,” he adds. “Most back pain is not worthy of panic.” Professor Rachelle Buchbinder is a Melbourne specialist who wants to see more awareness campaigns for the general public and workplaces, so that people develop a beĴer understanding of back pain and how best to manage it. She says a campaign called “Back Pain: Don’t Take It Lying Down”, run by the Victorian WorkCover Authority from 1997 to 1999, was eěective in changing people’s aĴitudes and behaviour. The campaign was mounted, according to the authority, because of concerns that “although the traditional biomedical approach to back pain management was playing a role in the development of disability, and contributing to the escalating costs, targeting health-care providers alone had limited impact upon changing clinical practice”. One of its main messages was that people can do a lot to help themselves. “There’s a lot of money and a lot of time spent on trying to prevent back pain in both the workplace and elsewhere,” Professor Buchbinder says. “The evidence isn’t very good that you can prevent it. The evidence is much more that everybody gets back pain, and let’s just manage it beĴer.”

She would also like to see an end to the “blame game” that so oĞen occurs when workers have persistent back pain, as this only worsens their chances of recovery. “It’s a maĴer of making sure that everybody’s onside, including their peers and managers at work,” Professor Buchbinder says. ◆

RICE treatment

➜ Rest Stop what you are doing immediately and rest the injured part. ➜ Ice Apply an ice or cold pack to the injury site for up to 15 minutes. To prevent an ice burn, place a damp towel between skin and pack. ➜ Compression Remove the ice or cold pack and apply a ﬁrm bandage. ➜ Elevation Elevate the injured limb in a supported position. ➜ After 24 to 48 hours, gradually begin moving your injured body part. The aim is to restore your full range of movement and strength. ➜ Do not apply heat, do not massage your injury or drink alcohol – all these activities increase bleeding and swelling.

For more information • 2009 UK guidelines for early management of persistent low back pain: www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG88NICEGuidelineWord.doc • 2003 Australian guidelines for management of acute pain in the back and other areas: www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/cp94syn.htm • www.jointaction.com.au • michael-lawrance.com.au

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PRIVATE LIVES

Cesar’s SALAD When he’s not busy representing members around the state, Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem likes to relax in his kitchen at home. Here he whips up a traditional Lebanese tabouli salad for his wife and two children. And his recipe is a winner! WRITTEN BY JEREMY VERMEESCH PHOTOS BEN SEARCY

To serve 6: Finely chop two bunches ch off parsley and six spring onions. Place in a serving bowl. These and the other ingredients MUST be chopped very ﬁnely to ensure the right taste combination and presentation.

Cesar says... “When I get home I dump the phone and go straight to the kitchen. I cook all styles of food, and I don’t like following recipes. Good food is about what you like – it’s better to experiment. Growing up in a family of 10 children, there was a lot of cooking going on and I guess I just picked it up. Preparing a meal gives me time to myself, when I’m not thinking about anything else. I guess I ﬁnd it very therapeutic.”

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Ad Add six ﬁnely chopped A fresh fres tomatoes – aim for small pieces, less than a centimetre cubed, as these work best.

Squeeze the moisture Sq outt oof the soaked cracked wheat, using your hands.

Pour Po in one-third of a cup of olive oil and the fre freshly squeezed juice of two lemons, or according to taste.

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Finely chop a small bunch of Fi fresh ba basil and a small bunch of fresh mint. Add these chopped herbs to the salad bowl.

Add Ad the cracked wheat to the tabouli mixture. m

Soak So 100 grams of cracked wheat in cold water for ﬁve minutes. w

Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to taste.

Stir St ingredients together. Maybe garnish the tabouli with whole herb leaves. Serve IMMEDIATELY for best ﬂavour and texture. Enjoy!

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AUSTRALIAN LIFE

g n i g a R ABOVE: Brendon Allen and a bullďŹ ghter take a dive.

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bull

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THIS PHOTO: Grant Wells and Patches in action. BELOW: A ringside spectator.

Meet the men who take on a tonne of angry beefsteak in the name of sport, and one of the “angels of rodeo” who helps keep them safe. It’s rodeo rampage Australian style! WRITTEN BY CHRIS RYAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEITH & BARB FRENCH OF RODEOPHOTOS.COM.AU

ight seconds doesn’t seem long for you to prove your meĴle in a sporting arena, but it’s an age when you’re trying to stay on the back of a wild bucking bull. At 30, Grant Wells has ridden bulls for almost half his life. He has no trouble explaining the aĴraction of climbing aboard. “I like the rush; being able to match something that’s wild and uncontrollable for a certain amount of time,” he says. “There’s no beĴer feeling than riding something that no-one’s ever ridden, and jumping oě and landing on your feet.” Rhys Angland, 21, agrees. “If a contractor runs his best bull, everyone talks about it, and www.awu.net.au

if you ride that bull, you feel preĴy great satisfaction,” he says. “It’s just a rush knowing you can match every move with something as athletic and powerful as that bull.” The downside is that sometimes the rider comes oě second best. In his short career, Townsville-based Rhys has sprained ankles, broken his thumb, and undergone a shoulder reconstruction. He calls them the “liĴle things” that go with the sport. Grant, from Boulia in Western Queensland, has suěered a more persistent injury, and concedes he probably doesn’t have long leĞ in the sport. “I’ve found out my back’s bent; it’s crooked up the top. I didn’t really know until I was on my honeymoon. I was waking ❯❯

“You see a guy who just goes stiff. He’s out cold, but he’s still ﬂying through the air. Wherever he lands – on his head, or on his side, or on his back – he just stays there.” theaustralianworker 53

AUSTRALIAN LIFE

THIS PHOTO: Rhys Angland riding the storm. RIGHT: A rodeo fan watches the action.

“The ones that grab you the most is when you see the young fellas coming down, and the bull’s coming up, and you see that head clash.”

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up at night – not to the missus – and geĴing out of bed. She wasn’t real happy with that. We thought we’d get it checked out when we got back. It was a bit of a shock when my doctor said, ‘Mate, your spine’s bent.’” Both riders play down their own injuries, and save concern for colleagues. “The ones that grab you the most is when you see the young fellas coming down, and the bull’s coming up, and you see that head clash,” Grant says. “You see a guy who just goes stiě. He’s out cold, but he’s still Ěying through the air. Wherever he lands – on his head, or on his side, or on his back – he just stays there. Every time I see that, it’s like, shit, I hope he’s not dead.”

ull riders, riders Rhys and Grant Like all bull reserve special praise for the protection clowns, or bullęghters, who put themselves between a fallen rider and a bull. “Those guys put their lives on the line every time,” says Rhys. “They don’t just jump in and ęght one bull. Those guys ęght sixty, seventy bulls.” The 2008 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Bullęghter of the Year is modest about the risks he takes. Brendon Allen, whose day job is managing a property outside Rockley, near Bathurst, says, “It’s probably not as dangerous as riding. You’ve got to face more animals per night, but generally you’re in control of the www.awu.net.au

THIS PHOTO: Luke Snyder makes it look easy, but we know it really isn’t!

situation. That’s your job, to control the bull and take him away from the rider, and if the rider gets hung up, get in there and get him out.” The bullęghters work in pairs, and Brendon says, “If you know you’ve got a good man backing you up, you’ll do anything you can to save the bull rider.” Retiring from bull riding because of injuries, 35-year-old Brendon hasn’t stayed out of the wars in his new role. “I broke my sternum last November in Melbourne,” he says. “A bull stood on me, and that knocked me around. Normally you can shake it oě, take a few deep breaths, and come back in and you’re not too bad aĞer a while, but this, I couldn’t shake it.” www.awu.net.au

The cheering rodeo crowds appreciate when a bullęghter takes a big hit, but oĞen their work is overlooked. It’s not something that worries Brendon. “Our job is there to protect the cowboy, and if they can feel conędent in someone who’s out there looking aĞer them, that’s got to help them ride, because that’s one less thing on their mind,” he says. “As long as the bull riders know what we do for them, that’s preĴy good.” And they certainly do. “Love ’em,” says Grant. “A lot of them guys are my best friends, and I’ll try and keep it that way.” Rhys puts it bluntly: ”If you didn’t have bullęghters, you wouldn’t have bull riders. They’re the angels of bullęghting.” ◆

“I broke my sternum last November in Melbourne. A bull stood on me, and that knocked me around.”

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SPORT

Cheryl Soon hands off a tackle in a match against China at the 2009 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.

The Aussie men’s team cheers the women’s team.

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The Australian women’s team with the trophy after beating New Zealand.

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Girls balls with

Move over blokes. Australia’s success in the 2009 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai means rugby is indeed a game for girls! WRITTEN BY CHRIS RYAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

ith Australian rugby teams failing to crack this year’s Super 14 ęnals, the Kiwis dominating the Tri-Nations competition for most of this decade and the Wallabies geĴing knocked out of the last World Cup in the quarter-ęnals, you could be forgiven for thinking something was roĴen in the state of Australian rugby. But to come to that conclusion, you’d be ignoring the phenomenal success of Australia’s women’s team at the 2009 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai in March. Team captain Cheryl Soon realises it has been an uphill baĴle geĴing the acknowledgement the women deserve in the past. “A lot of people don’t

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even know there is a women’s Sevens team,” she says. “I think the success in Dubai highlighted that we are a very good team, we’ve got very good skills, and women can play rugby with the best of them. Respect comes with success, and now we have been geĴing the recognition. It’s quite pleasing to put ourselves on the map.” Cheryl was a touch football player in WA who never dreamt of playing rugby, when friends pressured her to have a run with Nedlands Rugby Club. “I thought I was too small and it was too rough, and I ęnally caved in and went to a training session,” she says. “They threw me on the wing, where all good liĴle players should go, I guess. In my ęrst game, I ran into the biggest player on ❯❯

“I actually played a test match in 2007, and my family were on the sideline cheering in their Kiwi accents for Australia!”

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SPORT

“I probably don’t look like a typical rugby player. I’m not massive, I’m pretty small and skinny. I think that’s why people get taken aback.”

the field. I closed my eyes and freaked out, but it wasn’t so bad. Then they put me in at half-back at half-time.” The switch of role suited her. Cheryl went on to play in the position in both the Australian Sevens and 15-a-side team. Now even her family in New Zealand, where she was born, is supporting the Aussies. “I actually played a test match in 2007, and my family were on the sideline cheering in their Kiwi accents for Australia,” she says. “That was quite nice to hear that and see it. They’re very supportive.” The women in the team came to the sport from a variety of backgrounds. While Cheryl was playing touch footy before she made the change relatively late, Tobie McGann has played tackle footy most of her life. “I always loved playing footy growing up,” she explains. “I played league with the boys when I was 10 and 11.” When the chance came to play rugby at Kincumber High on NSW’s Central Coast, Tobie

brate their The women cele 09 IRB Rugby victory at the 20 ns. World Cup Seve

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jumped at it. A star playmaker in the team at Dubai, Tobie says people are still surprised when they learn she plays the game. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, touch,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, tackle rugby.’ I probably don’t look like a typical rugby player; I’m not massive, I’m pretty small and skinny. I think that’s why people get taken aback. They’re like, ‘Don’t you get hurt?’” The women don’t play a sanitised version of the game, and sometimes they do cop injuries. Ruan Sims, who played prop in the Sevens team, says, “Last year, I broke my fibula, but it ended up pulling my ankle joint apart. I had to get two operations to put it back together. And I shattered my collarbone, so I’ve got a steel rod that runs through that part of my body.” Ruan got caught up in the game as a bit of a dare. “My brothers played for the Kiama Cows, and Mum and I were giving the boys a bit of stick about how they hadn’t won a game for a fair while. They said, ‘You girls couldn’t do any better.’ We decided to put a team together the following year, and ended up winning the competition.” One of the attractions of the game is that there’s a place for everybody, as shown by the 59-kilogram Cheryl Soon. “People have this perception of, ‘You’re too small you can’t do this, you can’t do that,’ but it just makes me strive more to hold my own out there,” she says. “I enjoy all aspects of rugby, and it’s definitely the game for all shapes and sizes.” It also has the social aspect that attracts blokes to the sport. “After a game, we hang out and have a couple of drinks and tell war stories,” Ruan Sims says. “The props tell stories about their try from 10 metres out, and say it was from halfway. It’s exactly like the men – there’s a camaraderie that goes with it. It’s that cliché; you’re putting your body on the line, with all of your mates, and it tends to draw you together.” And, Tobie McGann says, what happens on the field, stays on the field. “You’ll go out on the field, belt each other up, and then you’ll still be happy to go and have a beer together after it.” U

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KIDS’ PARTIES

HAPPY

birthday! Don’t let the current economic woes spoil everything. Forget expensive children’s party venues and go the old-fashioned way. Because, as Jayne D’Arcy discovered, a party at home is still the most budget-friendly option. And just as much fun! WRITTEN BY JAYNE D’ARCY PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

o you remember your childhood birthday parties? All you had to do on the day was wake up, wait for the guests to arrive, then excitedly unwrap your presents. When it’s your turn to run the whole shebang, you suddenly wonder how your own parents managed it. Then you start thinking of ways you can avoid it. But before you run screaming to the nearest fast food joint begging for their party menu, consider organising your own. It can be easy, satisfying, cheap and fun. No, really! ❯❯

Childhood birthday parties make for happy memories. And a kid’s party needn’t break the bank.

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KIDS’ PARTIES

Getting started If the pressure of inviting the whole class is too much, try the four years old = four friends, ten years old = ten friends formula. Once you’ve got your list of names you might want to think of a theme. Superhero/movie themes are popular, but you don’t need to buy the expensive paraphernalia that goes with them. Write out the invitations on plain paper, then decorate them with cheap themed stickers. This works with lolly bags, too – just use brown lunch bags.

ABOVE: Jayne’s little boy, Miles, couldn’t wait to blow out the candles at his fourth birthday party!

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“To keep sugar levels down, offer drinks like fresh juices, natural cordial and water, and place a bowl of cut up fruit on the table.”

Cakes can be diĜcult: I outsource the cake making to my mum (she loves a good baking challenge) – but you can always buy a $2 toy car/ horse/ęgurine and stick it on top – there’s your themed cake in a Ěash!

Top birthday party tip! To avoid new presents geĴing broken, pop them into a washing basket and hide them away until the party’s over.

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Food and the ﬁnish line Stick to a basic ‘party food’ menu: Fairy bread (buĴered bread sprinkled with hundreds and thousands), party pies and sausages. To keep sugar levels down, oěer drinks like fresh juices, natural cordial and water, and place a bowl of cut up fruit on the table. Since allergies are common, avoid peanut products, and oěer some glutenfree treats so kids with allergies don’t miss out. To save money, buy up lollies for the lolly bags when they’re on sale. Bring out the cake when guests start making moves for the door, and wrap slices in servieĴes so they can take them with them.

Shopping list for a party of 12*: 3 loave

s of bread $4 spreadable buĴer $3 sausages (16) $10 24 sausage rolls/party pies $10 .80 cheese & spinach pastr y triangles $3.60 2 boĴles of juice $5 cordial $3 chips $10 candles $2 party prizes for 12 $4 cake mix $4 lunch/lolly bags $2.50 balloons $2 streamers $2.30 12 party hats $4. 20 servieĴes (100) $1 8 bags of lollies $14 hundreds and thousan ds $1. 60 fruit: apples/oranges $5

The cleanup: Use baking paper when baking (less washing up), and keep the household recycling and garbage bins close to the party action. Disposable plastic plates and knives and forks can be washed and reused for the next party.

Total: $92.00

Games Free time: Try half an hour of play, half an hour eating, then have a couple of games to round the day oě, just before the birthday cake. Pass the parcel is a classic: Wrap the prize in layers of old newspaper (12 layers for 12 people). Pop a few chocolate frogs, snakes, or stickers in randomly as you wrap. Everyone seems to cheat in this game, and geĴing the DJ to stop the music so everyone gets to open a layer is the norm (though the winner should be a surprise!). Pin the tail on the donkey: Use a tea towel as a blindfold, and draw the donkey with chalk on a brick wall. Tails can be cut out from a couple of pieces of paper folded in half then half again, and stuck on with Blu Tack. ◆ * Prices are approximate and may vary from store to store. www.awu.net.au

theaustralianworker 63

KIDS’ MOTORCYCLE SERIES BORN TOPAGE BE WILD

animals are suěering because of the damage humans are causing to their surroundings. The animals want us to know that we must work together to protect their future, as well as our own. Colour in our picture to bring the International Union of Animals to life!

Illustration Myles

indi and d Ringer are Australia’s tes to the International Delegates Union of Animals. This year the animals have had a busy conference agenda and top of the list was the environment. Across all continents

www.awu.net.au

theaustralianworker 65

GRUMPY BASTARD

hold the phone! Did you ever imagine that you’d hear yourself whingeing about “the youth of today”? Well, neither did Michael Blayney… until ultra-modern technology stepped in to destroy all he’d grown accustomed to!

66 theaustralianworker

www.awu.net.au

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BLAYNEY PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

friend of mine was recently having a quiet “Um, no,” I admiĴed. “Hold on a minute. whinge about the young people who driĞ in Was that a sneaky way of calling me a silly old fart?” and out of his workplace. These are bright In my day (and that’s the ęrst time this old fart’s ever used kids, he reckons, but have liĴle experience in that particular phrase), the telephone itself was known as an the workforce. In short, they know bugger all. impersonal mode of communication. When I was a teenager, it “I asked one of them to make a phone call was reinforced by both peers and parents that breaking up the other day,” he said. “A few hours later, I asked him how it all with someone over the telephone was not on. Dumping went. He told me he hadn’t made the call, and that he’d emailed someone by phone is probably considered polite now. Doing the person instead. Said that he didn’t like using the phone.” it face-to-face is like something from a 1950s TV show. In the wash-up, this young worker I’m aware that paying out on Gen Y ofﬁce types communicate had to be nursed through the entire the whole of Generation Y over with technology. But try and get phone calling process. “He didn’t the actions of a few is a sweeping them to talk to you face-to-face! understand what all the fuss was generalisation. However, take it from about,” my friend said. “I’m not joking me, Gen Y is collectively shaping up when I say I just about had to dial the to be a bunch of self-absorbed, bloody number myself to get him to socially retarded, internet addicts. talk on the blower.” There are no exceptions. Every last The question has to be asked. Is this one of them is a disappointment – normal behaviour? Not on your life, to themselves and to their families. but it does expose the mindset of the Of course, they can’t take all the age-group now entering the workforce. blame for their Ěakiness. Parents For a generation that loves being and teachers have been lining up for connected 24/7, Generation Y quickly years to pat these bludgers on the turns disconnected when a real-life back aĞer each and every crap connection is on oěer. performance. It didn’t maĴer if As a lapsed member of the they moved across the ground like once-relevant Generation X (born a garden slug in a three-legged race. approximately 1964-78), I mentioned It didn’t maĴer if they bombed out this friend’s conversation to a card-carrying member of of the Grade 6 spelling bee when they spelt dog with two g’s in-demand Generation Y (born approximately 1979-1997). aĞer Snoop not Snoopy. It didn’t maĴer if they were “chilled He responded not by email, not by text, not through TwiĴer out dudes” for their ęnal year of school because no one fails or Facebook, but in actual person! these days. “You have to understand that we grew up with diěerent Yes, everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s the truth. technology,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “The computer The result of all this? An entire generation of kids with and the mobile phone have been standard gear in people’s a sense of entitlement the equal of anything you’d ęnd at a homes and lives for ten years now. Some teenagers have had Young Libs meet-and-greet. And let’s not forget the telephone. access to this stuě from the day they could read. You probably Yes kids, tapping your ęngers all over it as stress release is just didn’t have any of those things growing up, right?” one use for the phone. You can also talk into it as well! ◆

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