CFMEU Tasmanian Worker - June 2016

Workers at Hutc Macquarie St H hinson’s standing up for otel job local jobs

JUNE 2016

kers ime wor the t i r a m e n oys o Aussi Sacked d Simon with brf Zach an art Mac 1 Wha Vos Hob

They were grateful for the opportunity to talk to CFMEU Members about what happened to them and ask everyone to put the Liberals last because that’s where they put Australian workers. The MUA is running a strong campaign to protect local jobs and support our shipping industry, find out more here: protectaussiejobs.org.au

Vos caught playing politics While they’re happy to negotiate reasonable wages and conditions for their workers in the South, Vos continue to treat their workers in the North and North West like 2nd class citizens when it comes to wages and safety.

What’s more, they’ve shown their true colours supporting the worst of Liberal Party politicians, known union-hater Andrew Nikolic. He’s famous for wanting to cut workers wages and strip away penalty rates.

Protect your job, pay and conditions

PUT THE LIBERALS

LAST

AS WASHO SEES IT

EBA SEASON IS COMING Noel Washington Senior Vice President share of the profits being made thanks to increased activity, especially around Hobart.

Over the next couple of months we will be holding Member meetings, seeking your views on what should be in the next generation of EBAs.

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our Union is currently negotiating a project agreement at the Hobart Hospital. Still some way to go, but it’s heading in a positive direction.

There’s a couple of unique features - we’re told a third of the workforce will be sourced from interstate. The union maintains our local content wherever possible policy.

The Modscape/Mouldscape disaster has set the project back many months. Some of the modules were riddled with mould. Our Union was able to provide evidence that the contractor knew it existed and attempted to cover it up.

The majority of EBAs expire in February 2017.

It’s high time Tasmanian members got a fair

Shop Stewards The Union now has a good number of Shop Stewards across the industry, their participation is welcomed. All Members are urged to support their delegate. If you have any questions about work, raise it with your delegate for a quick resolution of any matter.

Any Members interested in becoming delegates should contact the Union - full training and support is provided.

Federal Election Put the Liberals Last.

The Liberal Party’s determination to reintroduce the ABCC treats construction workers as people with less rights than criminals. It shows their contempt for workers rights.

If they successfully smashed one of the strongest unions in Australia, they will soon turn their attention to all other unions.

Between them and the destruction of workers rights is us.

The Liberal’s thinly veiled attack on our wages and conditions, claiming they drive up infrastructure costs by 30%, is confirmation that it’s your wages and conditions they want to smash.

All Members are urged to vote for progressive candidates in the upcoming election and put the Liberals last where they belong.

FWBC/ABCC - Liberal Party’s antiworker attack dog The extraordinary compulsory interview powers under the threat of imprisonment if you don’t attend have already been exercised in Hobart recently.

The abuse of these powers is a national disgrace and used to intimidate and bully industry participants to comply with laws designed to destroy our bargaining power.

$2762.60 RAISED!

Members dig deep for Royal Hobart Hospital CFMEU Members put in a huge effort for the Good Friday Appeal to raise money for our hospital.

Hairy

Thanks very much to all the building sites that contributed.

Special mention to retired delegate Brian Hawkes and the boys on the Blundstone Arena job where $900 was raised.

Extra FUNdrasier: As well as contributing to the Good Friday Appeal for the Hospital, the boys at Vos Hobart Mac 1 Wharf held a pizza lunch for the Cancer Council and raised $300. Pizzas were bought with the money made from soft drink sales.

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c 1 Wharf – giv II Vos Hobart Ma hospital r ou generously for

Jim

Darren

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AS WASHO SEES IT

The CFMEU never has and never will submit to such draconian tactics and they didn’t need a Royal Commission to establish that fact.

Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment

The Union recently had to take steps to cease harassment of Members from the local FWBC investigator. Our action was met with a request that the Union assist the FWBC to investigate themselves! We consider this to be a joke. I stand by my record of never cooperating with this Liberal Party attack dog.

The Modscape/Mouldscape disaster has set the project back many months. Some of the modules were riddled with mould.

Our Union was able to provide evidence that the contractor knew it existed and attempted to cover it up.

Along with a series of embarrassments and failed court cases, this just highlights the bullying tactics, standover tactics and partisan nature of the Liberal Party’s FWBC. Almost nothing has ever been handed over by governments and employers, it has been hard fought and won. Now the Liberal Party and their big business mates are doing their best to strip our pay and conditions - we must and will defend them.

Attacks on leadership Charges laid against our Union leadership are ridiculous and intended to divide us. It’s also designed to put pressure on our officials through their families.

Members shouldn’t be sucked in by the hysteria that they read in the Melbourne Herald Sun. I’m only too happy to talk to any members about the allegations and the reasons for these political attacks.

STOP

Turnbull’s Building Code that comes with his anti-worker ABCC laws affect your rights and conditions. Employers/ contractors who don’t comply with the code will be unable to secure Federal Government funded work.

Here’s what is under attack:  Your RDOs and Xmas Shutdown break  Your right to be consulted about major changes to your employment

 Your right to promote the union and wear the CFMEU logo  Your security of employment  Minimum apprentice numbers in EBAs  Protection for local workers ahead of foreign visa holders  Secure work – if the boss wants 100% casuals they could do it  Limits on overtime to prevent fatigue and unsafe work  Skills requirements  Assistance for older workers to stay employed

Crane crew #UnderTheHook Wade ‘Hairy’ Patmore 31 years in the industry

Jim Stuht 20 years in the industry

Hairy’s been with this crew for 3 years.

From Western Australia, 3 years in Tassie.

He was roof plumbing before that and has spent most of his time in Tassie. Industry is on the up: ‘It’s 25 years since we’ve seen so many cranes.’

Work is on and off with highs and lows finding work, but he’s always found domestic work if needed.

Roofing is reliable but no good for your back.

Hairy’s had his dogging/rigging ticket for 27 years, been doing it longer than that.

He likes to get on his Harley or Ducati when he gets a chance off work.

Other than the bike, it’s fishing, down around Bruny mostly, Marion Bay, Northern Peninsula.

Came here for semi-retirement and a tree/sea change. Basically the good life and clean air and water. Jim reckons the industry is changing for the better in Tassie, ahead leaps and bounds in the last 3 years. A bit more competition with the work on has helped. We’ve also had the most cranes up I’ve seen in my time here.

Jim has 100 acres 40km out of town where he keeps pigs, goats, guinea fowl and geese. It’s just a hobby.

In any spare time, Jim likes fishing, photography and bush walking.

Darren Whelan An MUA Seaman for 18 years doing oil and gas work, Darren came into construction just 8 weeks ago.

Maritime jobs are drying up, getting replaced by exploited foreign labour.

When you’re on the ships you’re lifting say a subsea manifold that could be up to 100 tonne. Midwinter arches and gravity bases up to 800 tonne.

Not so often, once a year maybe for the really big loads. There’s 3000 tonne cranes and headache balls that could be 150 tonne alone.

The lighter the weight, the harder it is, totally different to shipping.

Sling hoists were needed just to lift the ‘jewelry’ (lifting gear) onto the hook.

Darren has found there’s some really good guys in construction: ‘people are only too happy to help you out and point you in the right direction.’

NEW HI VIS Be seen, be safe, be CFMEU

Jumper: $50 Shirt: $35 Available at the CFMEU Office or through your organiser Richie.

CFMEU sponsored Oakley takes out State Titles Apprentice Carpenter Rob Oakley might only be in his 3rd year on the job, but he’s been riding bikes since he was three years old.

R

ob started racing when he was 10 and his dad bought him a JR50 Suzuki. His dad used to race, but had given it up by the time Rob was born.

It seems his dad’s sacrifice is paying off, with Rob winning sponsorships and now the Tasmanian State Title.

Getting his Apprenticeship job with Fairbrothers and Tasbuild gave Rob the opportunity to buy his first bike after relying on his dad’s support for bikes and gear.

He got a RM125 Suzuki.

Rob’s dad had put to him: ‘do you want to work or take a shot at nationals?’

Rob’s first year in senior division was a bit up and down with training and he ended up third overall.

This year, Rob bought a 2016 KX450, again with good support from Bike Works who provided discounted gear.

The CFMEU was pleased to sponsor Rob too and he says ‘the money helped out a lot’.

The sponsorship helps pay for maintenance, top end rebuilds like pistons and rings and riding gear. His on his own now so he really appreciates the support.

With the new bike Rob got 2nd overall in his first two races.

His next race was on home turf at Cambridge Moto Park.

He won that one and followed up with a 1st at Oatlands in the Midlands.

his ankle. With just a few weeks to go, he got the cast off early, did a full week of physiotherapy and came first in the final round.

His extraordinary final round performance gave him an overall points victory in the state titles and a $200 cash prize and trophy.

Rob hasn’t lost his career focus and he hopes to stay on with Fairbrothers when he completes his apprenticeship.

Whatever happens, he is sure to keep riding.

In practice for the final round at his mates house, Rob came up short and snapped

At the time, Rob was waiting for a job and when it came through he chose that.

For a year, Rob stopped riding, sold his bikes and focused on work. He soon wondered what he was doing as he missed riding too much. So, a new bike was the go and with sponsorship from Bike Works, Rob got a good deal on a Suzuki RMZ250 and he was back on the track.

CFMEU Tasmania

33A New Town Road New Town TAS 7008 Ph 03 6228 9595 Email tasoffice@cfmeu.org

cfmeu.asn.au/branch/tas CFMEU TAS 51224