CFMEU Tasmanian Worker - Summer 2015

TASMANIAN WORKER SUMMER 2015

NEW EBA fOR All BRIcK Great news for All Brick members as they have the opportunity to adopt a new EBA, the first they’ve had with the company.

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t’s taken 18 months of work from Richie and the CFMEU team, but it’s finally here.

Will Casey is a bricklayer who’s been in the industry for 9 years and this will be his first EBA, a sure sign the industry is changing and the CFMEU is here to stay.

Arron Ladlow, an apprentice bricklayer with All Brick is also working on the Charcoal Restaurant site. Arron says he’s loving the work and is looking forward to completing his apprenticeship.

There’s 45 workers on All Brick’s books so it’s a significant win – it pays to be paid up and proud!

Members save $10 on Hurricanes Tickets The CFMEU has once again partnered with the Hobart Hurricanes to provide our Members an even better deal to the best value family entertainment this summer!

CFMEU Members will receive a special general admission family ticket price of $40 plus relevant ticketing fees. This is a saving of $10 per match.

Match dates: 22nd December New Year’s Day 4th January 10th January

Get in to Blundstone Arena and be part of the excitement.

With new boom recruit, Sri Lankan Superstar, Kumar Sangakkara plus West Indian Darren Sammy, tearaway fast bowler Shaun Tait and Tasmanian champions George Bailey and Tim Paine the team is sure to set Blundstone Arena alight.

To access your discount simply visit ticketek.com.au and when purchasing enter the code ‘CFMEU’. For all details on the Hurricanes season visit hobarthurricanes.com.au

CFMEU TAS STRONGER THAN EVER

THE YEAR THAT WAS Noel Washington Senior Vice President

2015 has been a year of growth, consolidation and active campaigning. We end the year stronger than ever and focused on the basics of safety, wages and conditions.

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ork has continued to pick up as a few larger projects begin construction.

Wage claims have continued to keep us busy, but most often successful in getting Members their entitlements.

Our local jobs campaign has struck a chord with Tasmanians and hit a nerve in the Hodgman Government, who have continued to turn a blind eye as cheap imports appear on Government-financed projects.

The strength of worker and community support for the Union campaign on local jobs was demonstrated with a big turnout at the rally in August.

More EBAs are being negotiated and

approved by Members with increased wages, RDOs, improved conditions and the introduction of Incolink in Tasmania.

Incolink is an important win for Members providing redundancy payments, optional income protection, free health checks and a range of other member benefits.

We have more delegates on more jobs looking out for the interests and safety of Members. Our first delegate training has taken place, giving delegates more knowledge to resolve issues, grow membership and better represent Members.

Branch renewal Richie Hassett has been appointed as Sub Branch Secretary after Bill White vacated the position. Big thanks to Bill for many years of solid service to Members and their Union.

A big welcome to our new delegates who will assist in protecting your wages and entitlements, winning new EBAs, growing the Union and monitoring safety on site.

Incolink health checks have been well received, another Union win for Members.

Following the pilot program at Myer we are talking to other employers about broadening the program.

EBA progress A recent EBA ballot at Nyrstar provided for a short term agreement that allows ongoing negotiations on a classification

structure to take place. The short term agreement is for 15 months, so it will need to be replaced in mid 2016.

We are sitting down with all the concreters, roofers and scaffolding companies to discuss their EBAs.

Hospital build must be local jobs While work is generally picking up, the Royal Hobart Hospital continues to be a frustration. No contract has been signed as yet, however the first major contract will be a $20 million tender that has gone interstate, bypassing a local company.

Once again, the reality makes a mockery of the Hodgman Government’s spin on jobs – they’ve washed their hands of local workers.

Farewell Dicky It’s sad to see Dicky Post going, he’s done a great job as CBUS coordinator and deserves all the accolades. It’s very disappointing that CBUS have so far chosen not to reappoint a local Tasmanian coordinator.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays The CFMEU office will be closed 22 Dec - 11 Jan. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. Stay safe in the lead-up to Christmas and enjoy your holiday break – you’ve earned it.

We will be back in the new year ready to build on the successes and growth of 2015.

lOcAl IS BEST 2 ExAMplES

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CFMEU WORKER

1: unsAFE GlAss stAys GrounDED

2: sHoDDy MAtEriAls in tHE Bin

Dodgy Chinese made glass turned up at the Hansen Yuncken Parliament Square job. The glass was packed in a condition that the crane crew couldn’t safely lift, so they refused to put workers and the general public at risk.

Poor quality joinery/cabinetry turned up the Myer site from a Chinese supplier. It was so substandard that most of it ended up in the bin.

A local company had to work around the clock to bring it up to an acceptable standard.

This wouldn’t happen if the materials were Australian made. Overseas suppliers are not aware of or ignore Australian standards. Good on the crane crew for putting safety first.

The builder could have just gone to the local company in the first place, which would create local jobs and would have saved them $1.3 million in this instance, which ultimately Myer’s customers will have to pay for.

SUMMER 2015

Union Benefits CasCading to

CfMeU MeMBeRs - CFMEU Members at the Cascade Brewery are benefitting from increased representation with new supporting delegate Rachel Gerding joining current delegate Dushan Hlis -

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ushan has been with the CFMEU for 3 years now and Members have had one CFMEU EBA so far, with a new one to come in 2016.

Since multinational SABMiller took over the brewery, the approach has been harsher with a ‘dictate not negotiate’ style. However, with a recent successful CFMEU-led campaign in Victoria at the CUB Brewery, also owned by SABMiller, there is every reason for members to be optimistic.

Dushan and Rachel are focused on making sure everyone is represented equally. Dushan says ‘when it comes to important decisions, majority rules. We try to make sure everyone is content.’

Rachel began her role as a supporting delegate just last month and is also focused on representing everyone as a whole and trying to find the happy

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CFMEU WORKER

medium in resolving issues.

Rachel is the only woman in the production area of the Cascade Brewery.

The Union has been strongly supporting Dushan and Rachel and they will soon undertake some training to learn more about negotiation processes and their delegate role.

With 100% of workers in production at the Cascade Brewery Union Members, everyone is getting ready for an important EBA negotiation year in 2016.

SUMMER 2015

dicky RETiRES higher wages not a crime

100% Union To THE End

Dicky Po earned re

would be the delegate, Dicky the Safety Rep. Times were different and with different unions for the different trades, if just one critical worker stopped it would put everyone in the sheds with just that one worker risking their pay.

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here’s no questioning Dicky Post’s commitment to the Union and workers’ rights. Starting out in 1980 on the Bowen Bridge, Dicky was initiated into the industry and Union at a time when Jim Bacon was the Secretary of the BLF. Coming from the timber industry, Dicky was very impressed with the Union presence and conditions in the building industry. He’s proud to say that he’s been a continuous financial member for 35 years (a fine example for everyone).

‘The thing blokes today don’t realise is that if you all stick together you can get better conditions, better pay, get what you want,’ says Dicky. He fondly remembers the strong camaraderie amongst workers, who were always sticking up for their mates.

Plenty of ‘war stories’ Dicky was staunch from early on, recalling a Leightons job in New Norfolk where he was the only labourer. Leightons wouldn’t have a Union delegate, so Dicky was asked to go on a solo strike. The strike dragged on and Dicky stood strong, despite suffering an injury to his leg. They won of course, the union got in and looked after Dicky all the way through.

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CFMEU WORKER

It was during a stint with Boral Building Services doing some tough scaffolding work that Dicky did some damage to his back and was offered a supervisor job.

How do you have a job?

Dicky laughs when he recalls someone asking him why he wasn’t given the sack when he was always stirring up the bosses, but they respected him. Still, some tried he faced virtual black bans for sticking his neck out for blokes.

‘super’ from the start Dicky’s history with CBUS goes back almost as far as his union and building industry history. At the Interchange in 1984, Dicky sat in the sheds on strike for weeks in order to win superannuation amongst other benefits for workers. The BLF was being deregistered as a union at the time.

Amongst all this, Dicky moved to the Trafalgar job where the boss tried to keep them out. Jim Bacon was still on hand and after a chat with the Melbourne boss they were in.

Dogged with Doggie for 34 years Doggie Cracknell first ran into Dicky in 1981 on a Purity (now Woolworths) job. They would go on to work together a lot - Doggie

Dicky’s last job was Risdon Prison with John Holland and fittingly he was once again the Safety Rep with Doggy on as the delegate.

CBus full circle In 2005 Dicky was offered a job with CBUS. He thought he’d give it a go, finished up at Risdon and stepped into a fairly different office job.

CBUS has changed a fair bit in Dicky’s time, but Dicky hasn’t stopped standing up for workers. The coordinator team largely come from union backgrounds. After all, superannuation was started by unions, it certainly wasn’t a gift from the bosses.

While there is no permanent replacement for Dicky at this stage, when asked if he’s is looking forward to retirement, he says: “Fuckin’ oath I am”.

SUMMER 2015

cfmEu dElEgATES

SAM BONES SETTINg ScAffOld STANdARd

n HE

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ost takes welletirement Family and fishing Looking forward to some freedom, Dicky is going to spend much of his time at his shack at White Beach.

There will be plenty of family time – he’s really close to his two boys and three teenage grandchildren – and fishing, lots of fishing.

One of Dicky’s sons is a glazier and the other is a plumber.

They’re both Union, so the family tradition will continue.

Enough super?

Ironically, because super came in late for him, Dicky won’t necessarily have enough for himself, even though he’s been topping it up. We’re being told to work longer, but it’s not easy in this industry. During Dicky’s time he’s had four operations - cartilage and hernias - from heavy lifting.

For Dicky and the CFMEU, non-compliance, ABNs and sham contracting in the industry are a real worry.

But all that now passes to the next generation to tackle, Dicky’s earned his retirement and we wish him and his family all the best.

SUMMER 2015

am Bones has been a delegate for over a year and is also the OHS Rep with Veolia. He’s certainly kept busy with commercial, mining and domestic sites, including a full time crew at Nyrstar and a Cadbury’s contract.

this was bumped up further with new allowances and increments. Incolink has now been introduced for everyone covered by the EBA and there are clauses to deal with extreme weather and working in heat and well as other improvements to conditions.

As well as his main work in scaffolding, there’s transport issues to deal with and Sam is involved in safety, logistics and yard work.

Sam attended the CFMEU delegates training course and learnt about recruiting members as well as issues to look out for on the job.

As the delegate, Sam was heavily involved in EBA negotiations that took more than 6 months. He says it was a hard slog but a good learning experience. “I was happy to have the union there the whole way, it would have been a lonely room without them,” he says.

Membership is up at Veolia, Sam’s doing a great job.

They’ve gone from a core of just a handful of Members to good coverage - working our way to 100% Union!

The new EBA includes a pay rise of almost 3% a year but

The Veolia EBA establishes a good standard for other scaffold companies, so all the hard work is likely to pay off across the industry.

VOS JOINERy dElEgATES gOINg STRONg

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drian Kniaz and Adam Smith have been fulfilling the roles of delegate and deputy delegate respectively for a while, but now, thanks to the CFMEU, they’re official.

They both attended the recent delegates training and found learning about the whole structure of the CFMEU and how things work to be very informative.

Most of the delegate role is about sorting out issues, resolving problems and ensuring Members are paid their fair rates and the workplace is safe. An interesting one recently was chasing mainland pay rates for some workers who went over for some work temporarily.

Compliance is good at the Vos Joinery and the CFMEU has been strongly supporting Adrian and Adam in getting everyone what they’re entitled to.

Adam is a carpenter who has been at Vos Joinery for 16 years while Wood Machiner Adrian has been there 21 years. Thanks guys, great team!

9 Delegate: Adrian Kniaz (left), Deputy delegate: Adam Smith (right)

CFMEU WORKER

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FREE HEAlTH cHEckS

Fast and Free Health Checks Get Thumbs Up Supporting the health and wellbeing of workers and their families in Tasmania is a key activity of Incolink. This is on top of its core purpose of supplying members with the essential safety net of funds when they are between jobs.

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ncolink knows that a stable and healthy workforce equals a safe and productive workplace. For the past 25 years Incolink has been there when times are tough supporting members with issues like:  drug and alcohol use;  relationship and personal stress;  financial issues;  employment support and;  Free Incolink Health Checks program on site.

site in Hobart – the Myer re-development – to great success. Thanks to Hutchinson for welcoming Incolink and helping us deliver over 60 free Health Checks to construction workers over three days.

Incolink started the program in Victoria in July and since then

Recently we rolled out the checks in a key construction

What do you get out of a Health Check? ns stAGE 1 - incolink - your Questio

Answered

with Incolink and Member Benefits – what you get questions answered

all your

l Health Checks

ntia STAGE 2 - Quick, free and confide

nic disease. The on site Help you to know your risk of chro th professionals and are heal checks are conducted by trained construction industry the in ders supported by all key stakehol

What will happen in your Health

Check?

 A short questionnaire d pressure, blood glucose  Your waist circumference, bloo d by a health professional and cholesterol will be measure ce  Immediate information and advi

In 2015 the Incolink Health Checks program kicked off in Hobart in October.

The program does more than just check the essentials of good health – Over 3 short visits to sites we deliver essential information about Incolink and your health and wellbeing. (See box for more) The program is organised through the union reps and management on sites and are delivered by qualified Incolink counsellors and health staff.

9 Workers at the Myer site are ck happy with their free Health Che

stAGE 3 - your Education toolbox

9 Health Checks are fast and free

over 1400 health checks have taken place. The results show that we have to keep striving to help workers improve their health.

Call (03) 9668 3061 to organise Health Checks at your site.

link members on each site As part of our Health Check, Inco th education toolboxes are asked to choose two of four heal the following topics: ring delivered by our counsellors, cove  Drugs and Alcohol lth Hea tal  Suicide Awareness  Men  Health Tips

soon after the Health Checks.

The toolbox session is delivered back to talk one-on-one if The Incolink counsellor will stay required.

lth Checks or any For information about incolink Hea incolink.org.au or call other service to members, go to us on 03 9668 3061.

1ST DELEGATES TRAINING Our growing team of Tassie delegates had a training session with Anne Duggan from the CFMEU Training Unit in Melbourne. The lessons they’ve learned will go a long way to assisting Members they represent on their jobs. Delegates play a crucial role in representing workers, resolving issues, EBA negotiations and recruiting new Members.

CFMEU WORKER

SUMMER 2015

CFMEU NEwS

Job security Win in North What does it take to win job security at TasWater?

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FMEU delegate David Button was stood down over the weekend of 1 November and escorted from the job. His apparent ‘crime’? Promoting a no vote on a ballot for an EBA that TasWater was attempting to push through.

The company EBA was not supported by the Union as it would have stripped workers of their job security as the existing agreement does not allow forced redundancies.

David was sacked simply for standing up for a fair go for workers and attempting to ensure they were properly informed. He was even told he couldn’t talk about the reasons for his dismissal.

This was just a blatant attempt to force through a substandard company agreement to remove job security. The CFMEU will continue to support David and fight for a fair deal for workers.

Of course the CFMEU stood by David and the TasWater workers and he was reinstated after a Fair Work hearing.

Having already failed in their attempt to merge three separate EBAs into one substandard agreement, TasWater tried to push through their three EBAs, all of which stripped job security. Only in David’s region in the North was the company agreement voted down.

E T A d UP

Vos continue to treat workers in the North and North-West as 2nd class citizens. They are paying only award conditions in those regions, while in the South workers enjoy EBA wages and conditions.

fair go for the North Vos!

Six casting workers were accused of bullying a team leader at Nyrstar, but the whole saga turned out to be a failed attempt at union busting.

Sacked Nyrstar workers returned

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n investigator was called in to check on the bullying claims and three of the six were terminated while the other three were transferred to other areas of the plant.

Since it was clear the complaints weren’t really about bullying, the CFMEU engaged Slater + Gordon who got a barrister out of Sydney.

One worker decided to settle outside of court, the other two fought on. They wanted their jobs back, declined to settle and the matter proceeded to a hearing. This saw the two workers reinstated back to the plant in a different area without any loss of conditions.

Nyrstar organiser Marshall Reeves says: ‘I’m proud to be associated with such a strong union that won’t give up on our members. Your jobs and livelihoods are worth every expense.’

SUMMER 2015

CFMEU WORKER

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ONSITE

CFMEU Vic-Tas 11,000 strong on Face book: facebook

.com/cfmeu vic

9 Gilbert Steenhuis (labourer) hard at work.

Fairbrothers

9 Simon Hughes (crane crew) chats with Richie Hassett.

9 OHS Rep Stu Hancock on the $70 million Fairbrothers job, the largest they have taken on.

University accommodation with funding from the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

Vos Joinery Macquarie Builders Sorell Service Station Mo Bro gerrard lynd 9 CFMEU Member Gerrard Lynd has been growing a mean moustache in November to raise money for men’s health. You can donate to this great cause through Gerrard’s Movember page here:

9 Some of the boys on the floor at Vos

mobro.co/gerrardlynd

Steve little 9 Steel Fixers working on Hutchinsons Macquarie St Hotel site in Hobart.

CFMEU TAS 50364

CFMEU Tasmania

33A New Town Road New Town TAS 7008 Ph 03 6228 9595 Fax 03 6228 9594 Email office@tas.cfmeu.asn.au

cfmeu.asn.au/branch/tas