TASMANIAN WORKER - SPRING 2017
YES! WE DID IT!
23%
ACTION DELIVERS AGREEMENT
This breakthrough sets a standard for members, raises expectations and shows what can be achieved when workers unite and act collectively.
Pumps and chasing a number of smaller plastering companies. Employees at these companies also deserve to be on the union rate.
In an unprecedented result for an unprecedented Tasmanian EBA campaign, the CFMEU is proud to announce to all its members in the construction industry that we have won a 23% pay increase.
One boss who will remain nameless (Bruce Maher – Hansen Yuncken), was heard to have said “over my dead body will we be paying those pay rises!” This sort of attitude is a snapshot into the mind of many Tasmanian employers BUT guess who does the real work? Our members do, and the big wheel has turned for the better.
For many years construction workers in Tasmania have been treated unfairly in terms of wages and conditions.
In the coming months we will be sitting down with the Scaffold industry, finishing off Mobile Crane Hire, Concrete
I would like to throw a special mention out, once again, to the Hansen Yuncken/ Vos membership for sticking fat with their protected action claims. Remembering the industry in Tasmania came to the union asking to help provide a level playing field - now the likes of Vos seem to want to turn and run the other way when they realise that it’s going to cost them a little bit extra (23%). The industry stands united with these members.
Richie Hassett Tasmanian Sub Branch Secretary
the union rate cw3-trade rate/hour
current $31.60
2018 $33.25
2019 $35.00
2020 $36.80
PRESIDENT MESSAGE
SETTING THE BAR Getting a new workplace agreement up with negative bosses that are supported by a hostile federal government intent on stomping on workers’ rights is no easy task. At every turn, Turnbull and his federal government are intent on making bargaining in the construction industry near on impossible. Gone are the days of including clauses that might protect apprentices or older workers, or those workers that may need our help and support in other ways. Why is it that a government elected to represent all the people want to pick on and bully construction workers? Why is it that they do not want workers to get a pay increase? Even the reserve bank governor says we need wages to go up! Not all employers support what the government is doing. Many
Getting wages and conditions up to a parity across the industry. And get the rate something near reasonable in Tasmania.
Kevin Harkins Tasmanian Sub-branch President
feel that a positive relationship with employees and unions creates a better, safer industry. The government has recently announced that the ABCC are banning pay rises outside of a registered agreement. This means if you have a valid reason to expect a higher rate and it’s not in the agreement, the boss can’t pay even if they want to! Ridiculous! This round of agreements have shown how successful the tried and true method of industry bargaining can be. Starting with mass meetings, we heard from members directly on what the most important items on the wish list were, and it was no surprise. As the lowest paid construction workers in the country, a good pay increase plus a bit of catch up was what was called for. Fairbrother CEO, Craig Edmunds had already agreed to the rates at the Royal Hobart Hospital in the full knowledge that it would flow to the rest of the industry, so that seemed like a reasonable starting
point even though John Holland Constructions later reneged on the deal. So... that was the bar that was set. Most of what followed is well known around the industry but particular kudos most go to our members at Hansen Yuncken and VOS for leading the charge. When industrial action was called for, all the members responded strongly and have been holding the line for months. Hansen Yuncken has now agreed and will be the first company in Tasmania to have the new agreement. Bruce Maher their manager always likes to be an industry leader. Now the job is for all the others to jump on board, the rates of pay has been set and it’s important that we spread it around. Let’s not have any employers undercutting the industry based on worker pay rates.
Importan stick togeth the indust enough wi industry,
YOUR SAY YOUR EBA
Worst EBA campaign in terms of the ‘No, no, no’ from the boss.
Feeling positive now, been a long battle.
This will help the younger workers now, a legacy for them to carry on.
About bargaining power, having the numbers.
HANSEN YUNCKEN
PROTECTED ACTION PAYS Bosses can’t say wages are a problem going for jobs.
We’re seasoned veterans now. Nothing will change next time, but there’ll be less apprehension for us.
Last rou was mini increases, g the indu togethe
YOUR SAY YOUR EBA
TASMANIAN PROFESSIONAL PLASTER The programs these days, jobs are so tight. Every bloke is working harder and harder.
nt for everyone to her with the rest of try. It was painful ith the rest of the we couldn’t do it alone.
S.
und imal getting ustry er.
IT’S FAIR.
We work hard. We deserve more.
Inflation, cost of living, everything. Things do get tight, every bit helps.
plasters on moving
from abn to wages!
On RDOs you can have a drink, spend time with the family. Leisure days are good too.
If you’re sick you’re sick, you get paid. Security of wages. When you were ABN you were used and abused. Made to take redundancy.
You don’t have to find the cashies when you’re on holidays. It’s the security.
On ABN you’ve got to scramble and try to budget for Christmas. Guys would be working sick, spreading it around the lunch room. Sick leave is a big one.
The John Holland safety management team seem to struggle to get anything right and after multiple visits to the site, the CFMEU found it necessary to provide a detailed report to the Director of Comcare. That helped for a while, but we now know that when safety Inspectors fly in to visit they ring John Holland in advance to let them know they are coming. We all know what happens next. If John Holland Constructions and the Liberal state government had their way, they would have us all believe the Royal Hobart Hospital job is the project that saved Tasmania, and nothing could be further from the truth. Already months behind the construction program, the government should spend more time fixing our chaotic health system and less time chest beating about the construction site.
The ambulance ramping and emergency department could all do with a bit of their attention. On the safety side there have multiple asbestos exposure events. Construction workers, hospital staff and members of the public have all been exposed to asbestos fibres. Who would ever know the exact number and long term impacts of these careless attitudes to safety by John Holland.
On an industrial front, while we had an agreement in place after a year of negotiations, when push came to shove, John Holland reneged on the deal. We now hear that most local contractors don’t want a bar of the project. Tight timeframes, enormous penalties and poor working relationships with JH senior managers have seen many local companies walk away. Those that are on site have been strongly cautioned by the CFMEU to be careful given the poor record of
SHAME FILE how JH treat their contractors, screwing them to the wall. Disappointingly, Interstate contractors will do much of the work but the bonus for local labour is that these companies will have to bring their home state agreements with them. John Holland have made it very clear to us that that is how they want it and so be it. It will mean that much of the money will flow back to interstate but I’m sure that not a concern to the Tasmanian state government. John Holland themselves are a huge, Chinese government owned company, so that’s where our taxpayer dollars will end up. Perhaps the state government should have considered that before handing the contract out in the first place.
These facts may come as a surprise to some. Nyrstar: • is listed on the ATO’s website as not paying tax in Australia • received taxpayer funded loan guarantee from the state government • sent close to 1 billion Euros overseas, out of Australia • bought a mine in South America for $300 plus million and sold it for $20 million • are currently undertaking a review of operations and have flagged significant redundancies when the workforce is already stretched • are currently receiving record high prices per tonne of zinc
Add to these facts that the company took the disgusting avenue of applying to terminate an EBA that had been in place for over 20 years after one meeting with the bargaining reps. Because of this outrageous behaviour the union was forced into a position of bargaining with one hand tied behind its back. As I am writing this, members will be voting to keep all their conditions of employment, which was the clear message the union received after discussions with the workforce. Moving forward the membership needs to stand ready and willing to participate organising the site in preparation for three years’ time. As to form, they may try again to serve up a shit sandwich (they are also trying to ban swearing on site).
ONSITE
TWO TOWERS
Crane crew with Doggie the shop steward at the Royal Hobart Hospital, now running two tower cranes.
SAFETY Fatigue Management: We have gotten through another winter and with the days getting longer the expectation from the bosses will be to get the whips out, meaning longer hours. Make sure if the company that you work for doesn’t have a fatigue management policy in place or doesn’t stick to it, contact your union.
Cranes: By the time you’re reading this it’s likely that there will be five tower cranes in the Hobart CBD. If you are working on one of these sites, once again, make sure that the crane interaction with other workers is minimised, if not contact the union. Loading Bays: As there is more and more work firing up in Hobart city, with this comes more
interaction with road users and construction sites. Each site should have designated loading bays with protective barriers between workers and road users. The union’s policy on these barriers is that they are of concrete construction not water filled barriers. This is vitally important as water filled barriers are not designed to physically stop a motor vehicle.
Following stunning success at the last federal election, the Australian Recreational Fishers Party has decided to deregister as a federal political party but continue as an informal lobby group – ‘Tassie Rec Fishers’. “Our members have very diverse political views but we will continue to support candidates and political parties that act in best interests of Tassie Rec Fishers and their families.”
“We have made our point strongly - when Rec Fishers have concerns about the conduct of our elected representatives, we have the ability to effect great change, ask the 3 amigos.” “We will continue to campaign to make sure recreational fishing as a sport, a family pastime, and as an industry is properly recognised at the highest levels.”
The ‘Rec Fishers Bite Back’ campaign will make sure politicians get the message loud and clear. Rec fishers are here to stay.
There’s companies the same size as us that are paying it.
YOUR SAY YOUR EBA VOS We’re not being greedy, we want it to be fair.
In the upcoming Tasmanian state election the Tassie Rec Fishers group will provide an opinion on which candidates best represent the interests of Rec Fishers, their families and communities. As always, the rest will be up to the individual.
Cost of living is going up, our wages haven’t gone up.
I had to go out and get a $20,000 personal loan, just to get by. I’m tapping into my CBUS, just to keep up.
I don’t see why we should get paid less than everyone else
How are these young blokes supposed to buy a house?
Taken far too long.
Look at the cost of power, firewood if you want to keep warm.
I’m over 55, I can’t live on Vos’ wages.
If everyone’s on the same rate, they quote on an even playing field.
Vos are a good company to work for, but it’s a fair compromise.