CFMEU Tasmania Worker Summer 2017

TASMANIAN WORKER - SUMMER 2017

From the Secretary Well where has that year gone?

The construction industry in Tasmania has seen significant changes over the last 12 months, the likes of which we haven’t seen before.

Wage increases are up, safety standards are lifting, cranes are in the air and most importantly, workers are organising themselves to stand united to improve things for themselves and their families.

Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) Local subcontractors are running for the hills when the joint venture puts such tight timelines and shitty contracts in front of them. All designed to send them broke, this is the John Holland way.

The union is fielding more calls from interstate subcontractors showing interest in the project and we will continue to fight for local workers to get a start, even if local subbies don’t win work.

Hazell Bros After falling flat on their faces through the demolition process at the RHH, Hazell Bros again showed their true colours, that being ‘safety comes last and production first’ at the Parliament Square site. The union will always, regardless of circumstances and actions by management, stand up for workers rights when it comes to safety.

The wheels are fallin g off Vos Construction The disgusting tactics by Vos upper management threatening workers that they would be docked 4 hours for attending a BBQ shows just how much they value their workforce. Not only that, threatening workers with redundancy while negotiating their new EBA is a shitty tactic, but not unexpected. Congratulations and continued support to the Vos lads for sticking to their guns at present.

Nyrstar Nystar are still up to their old tricks by pretending to consult with their workforce and union officials regarding major change.

When significant questions have been raised at these meetings Nyrstar management have no answers.

But would we expect anything less from a company that decides to save a little bit of

pocket change by not spraying our members overalls with fire retardant and trying to cover this up after a serious accident?

If you are a worker out there feel free to contact your union regarding double standards around safety last and production first.

Finally, enjoy your time with family and friends over the Christmas break. Unfortunately at the time of writing this sadly 2 construction workers won’t be able to. These tragic fatalities highlight the struggles our members face day in and day out and the seriousness of when things go wrong. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and affected workers/union members affected by these incidents.

STAY SAFE, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Big support for Vos workers at MACq1 Construction workers rallied behind Vos workers, gathering for a BBQ at MACq1 on the waterfront.

Upper management are full of threats for workers, but they’re doing just fine themselves. Plenty of flash cars making visits.

Congratulations to Vos workers for sticking together and thanks to all the members who have shown their support.

VEC MEMBERS ON TRACK WITH NEW EBA

The CFMEU has represented VEC employees through many EBA negotiations over recent years with the latest being the most difficult, and ultimately, the most successful.

A good wage outcome was achieved and reasonable improvements in other areas, but

there is still plenty of work to do in future agreements.

VEC’s manager tried on all the usual tricks to frustrate the negotiations: never responding to calls and emails and issuing warnings to a number of employees during the process.

These threats are designed to frighten people

off, including those representing the workers!

CFMEU members stuck together through all of this and the hard work of CFMEU Delegate, Ryan Spicer, needs to be recognised along with his workmates.

The workgroup now knows what they can achieve by sticking together and supporting their reps. If anyone is a not a CFMEU member, sign them up now! The next agreement talks are just around the corner!

FAIRBROTHER SAFETY MANAGER RINGLEADS BROCKLEHURST CIRCUS

STILTS ARE FOR CIRCUS ACTS, NOT CONSTRUCTION SITES The Safety Manager at Fairbrother ticked off the use of stilts for Brocklehurst plasterers turning a Hobart job into a circus.

Stilts don’t belong on construction sites, workers aren’t clowns and falling from that height can do serious damage.

Get all the safety alerts: vic.cfmeu.org.au/ohs/alerts 02

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SCAFFOLDERS BRING MAINLAND CONDITIONS TO RHH Scaffold Logistics are looking to get a foothold in Tasmania and they’ve got a start on the Royal Hobart Hospital job.

That means more Victorian wages and conditions in Tasmania and they’re putting locals on to make sure the benefits are spread.

What will be an 8-10 man crew will be made up of just 4 mainland boys, the rest will be locals.

Dusty is the first local on the job, he spent 10 years in Melbourne so he’s used to the working with the mainlanders. They’ve got another local young bloke just finishing his scaffold ticket now and they’ll be putting him on shortly.

All on Melbourne CFMEU EBA rates.

They get 26 RDOs a year too, but they’ll work in with the local calendar. That likely means the Christmas shutdown can be banked up RDOs instead of taking annual leave.

Dusty’s sure isn’t complaining, it’s “definitely a bonus” he says about getting Melbourne rates on a Tassie job.

As for the mainlanders, there’s a mix of enjoying the relaxed Tasmanian pace on the weekends and heading home to see family and friends. All four are living in the same house, which presents its challenges.

There’s an experienced tourer among them who will be bringing his mates back for a tour around the state again soon. They might even organise a fishing charter, just for the scaff crew.

RHH will keep them here for around 2 years, but Scaffold Logistics are pricing more work. If they get it, they’ll be setting up a proper yard and that means more construction workers who won’t accept the second class treatment dished out to Tassie workers far too often.

For one thing, these guys won’t be working in the rain, a good example for all of us.

SAFETY COMMITTEE MAKES A BETTER JOB

Workers at Vos’ Rosary Gardens Nursing Home job have formed a Safety Committee to improve conditions.

Craig Halton, Russell Lynch, Len Pastoor and Kyran Frerk have been elected by their workmates and it’s already making a difference.

“The Union came in last week, we decided together to approach management and put up a safety committee,” they said.

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“It's a good idea, it's not one trade that should be looking out for things, it's everybody.”

As well as keeping an eye on housekeeping, they’re being more proactive and there’s good signs of progress: air conditioning and heating going in the sheds, a dedicated first aid room with Registered Nurses on-call and an improved approach to asbestos removal.

There's no real cost, just improvements in productivity.

"While Vos continue to employ incompetent safety managers, workers are left with no choice but to take action and start up their own safety committees,” says CFMEU Tasmania Secretary Richie Hassett.

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INCOLINK

A VALUABLE SAFETY NET Did you know that most workers have a choice of redundancy funds in commercial construction in Tasmania?

Incolink is the only redundancy fund to offer free insurance cover to all worker members.

Incolink Insurances offer financial security to members and are a key Incolink benefit.

For a worker who is in a period of unemployment due to a leisure time injury, everyday household expenses can make family life very difficult. Incolink Insurances can help smooth these out.

Incolink Insurances are unique to Tasmania Incolink Insurance includes Leisure Time Accident Insurance which can provide both weekly benefits and lump sum payments if you are injured outside of work. This insurance also includes Journey Cover, Dental (Accident) and Funeral Cover. This free insurance has recently been improved for Incolink Tasmanian members to include the valuable new Bill Payer cover.

What is Bill Payer?

Bill Payer reimburses a number of important household bills if you are off work due to a leisure time accident. With Bill Payer cover, up to $250 per bill can be reimbursed.

Bills include: Electricity bill Water bill Gas bill Telephone bill (landline or mobile) Tuition fees (Primary/Secondary/Tertiary) for dependants under the age of 18.

NOTE: your employer must be up to date on your redundancy fund payments for the insurance to be valid. In the event of the Injury/Illness of a worker for which a weekly benefit is payable under this part of the policy we will also reimburse paid bills. The bill must be issued within the period of disablement and we will not reimburse any late

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fees applicable to any bill. The bills must be addressed to the worker and for the worker’s residential address. This benefit will not apply for a reoccurrence of the same Injury/Illness.

An Incolink Insurance family example*

Aki and his partner Samantha have 2 children, Amy (5) and Tam (2). This year they have used Incolink Insurances to cover unexpected costs. Aki has experienced periods of being between jobs as well as a period of being unable to work.

Example of incident

Example of payout

Accident benefit as Aki was unfit for work for 8 weeks due to an accident resulting in broken bones on the weekend

$14,800

Accidental Dental when Samantha chipped a healthy tooth

$740

Bill Payer - Utilities costs*

$500

Total

$16,040

CHECK YOU ARE COVERED You can check your redundancy payments and your balance at any time via the Incolink smartphone app or via Workerlink at incolink.org.au Switching Redundancy Funds is simple If you are not currently with Incolink and receiving these benefits simply call our Tasmanian Field officer Chris Gard on 0419 864 135. * These calculations were made using Incolink Insurance coverage data and are illustrative only.

The scenario described above is hypothetical. Terms and conditions apply. Utility usage for a family of 4 in Tasmania from www. energymadeeasy.gov.au. Costs from Aurora Energy www. auroraenergy.com.au

SUMMER 2017