Summer Issue 2010 - cfmeu

UNDER COVER
POLICE
SPY ON
PLUTO MEETING
SPIES
MONITOR
WORKERS IN
VICTORIA
CFMEU
VICTIMISED:
UNDER
ATTACK!
HOW NEW
‘PARENTAL
LEAVE’
AFFECTS YOU
NEW
BENEFITS
FOR OUR
MEMBERS

CFMEU DIRECTORY
President
Secretary
Assistant Secretaries
Cam McCullough
Kevin Reynolds
Joe McDonald, Graham Pallot
CONTENTS
Secretary’s Address 3
Thiess Spy Ring Busted! 5
UNION OFFICERS
Mick Buchan OH&S Officer 0419 812 861
Jack Nicholas
Industrial Advocate
Kevin Sneddon Industrial Advocate
Shannon Walker Industrial Advocate
Jill Hawkins
IR/Legal Assistant
Kelly Hawkins
IR/Legal Assistant
Rod Reynolds
Wage Claims
Peta Arnold
Office Manager
Linda Pallot
Accounts Officer
Rob Mitchell
Media and Communications
Tammy Hall
Reception
ORGANISERS
Brad Upton
0488 770 857 (North West)
Phil Kennedy
0427 244 141 (North West)
Troy Smart
0419 812 871 (South West)
Graham Pallot 0419 812 865
Mark Hudston 0419 812 864
Vinnie Molina 0419 812 872
Matt Waters 0419 812 875
Aaron Mackrell 0403 432 221
Peter Joshua 0433 410 596
Pat Heathcote 0459 135 033
ABCC Update 7
Editorial Comment 8
ABCC Update 11
New Member Benefits 13
Skills Shortages 15
CFMEU gets back over $5.75 million for members 15
Skills Training 17
Upcoming Projects 18
Worker’s Rights – Paid Parental Leave 21
Beware of dodgy agreements 23
On the SIte 23
Armistice Day 24
Where have all the worker’s gone? 27
Workers can now get paid if employers go bust 29
What is Sham Contracting? 29
Member Benefits 31
2011 RDO Calendar 32
Off Cuts 35
Remembering West Gate 37
Reclaim your lost Super now! 39
Have you got your latest CFMEU EBA wage rise? 43
North West Report 45
North West News 47
The Union Office is located at
82 Royal Street East Perth WA 6004
Open 7:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday
PO Box 6681 East Perth WA 6892
Telephone: (08) 9221 1055
Facsimile: (08) 9221 1506
E-Mail: cfmeuwa@cfmeuwa.com
Website: www.cfmeuwa.com
All rights reserved: The Construction Worker Journal is complied & published
by the CFMEU publications department. All copyright belongs to the CFMEU.
No part of the publication may be reproduced or copied in any means without
the written permission of the publisher.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this publication is for general
construction workers only. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy of
information, we accept no responsibility for any action taken as a
consequence of the information contained in this publication.
ISS 1833 0282
City Round Up 49
Eastern Suburbs Report 51
Minister contacted over Crane Rego Crisis! 53
Discount Car Savings 53
Goldfields & Midwest Report 55
South West Report 57
NEW CSTC Webcard 59
Jacob’s courageous journey 59
Counseling Services 61
International News 63
Pete’s Page 64
GOT A STORY, PHOTO OR COMMENT?
Email : editor@cfmeuwa.com
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 1
CFMEU

SECRETARY’S ADDRESS
with Kevin Reynold
s
Recently I was shocked when the news came through that an undercover police operative had
infiltrated a union meeting up on Pluto and passed information onto the ABCC. We have also union
busters and scabs allegedly spying on our Victorian brothers at the Desal plant in Wonthaggi
Victoria. Is it just a coincidence that the spy operation in Victoria was called ‘Pluto’? What is the
world coming to?
These secret operations, along with the coercive powers
of the ABCC, show that the CFMEU
is being targeted and victimised.
(See articles this issue)
ANOTHER YEAR HAS ALMOST PASSED AND IT
HASN’T BEEN WITHOUT ITS UPS AND DOWN.
At the time of publication, our brother Ark Tribe is going to
court for the 12th time!
Whatever happens, no one should have been dragged
through the court system as much as Ark. It is a disgrace
and is indicative of the draconian society that the likes of
Howard, Rudd and now Gillard have created with their
support of the ABCC and its coercive powers. We will
have an in depth wrap on Ark’s fate in the next journal.
Stay strong Ark!
Looking ahead to next year, there promises to be quite a
lot a new projects starting up in the CBD, the North West,
South West and Mid West. It augers well for our members
in terms of employment and we look forward to starting a
new round of EBA negotiations in an upbeat environment
in 2011. Make sure you are paid up and proud!
On the subject of agreements, watch out for dodgy ones.
You need to have more than a Diploma in negotiation
skills to get a good and fair agreement. Talk to us about
an agreement on your site or yard.
Chinese companies have a unique way of doing business
and it allegedly entails not paying their bills to contractors,
especially in the North West. This is an absolute disgrace
and once again it is the poor bloody workers who cop the
pointy end when they are forced off a project. It is time
that the Barnett WA Government acted and made it clear
to these companies that they need to adhere to Australian
Business practice.
NEW BENEFITS
In this issue I am pleased to announce two new benefits
for our members.
DISCOUNT NEW CARS is a service that can save
members thousands on locally manufactured and
imported makes and models.
EXCLUSIVE: We have also negotiated an agreement with
Parchem (formerly Atkins-Carlyle) whereby financial
CFMEU members will get 20% below TRADE price on all
their construction and building supplies. This is available
strictly to CFMEU members only, and no other union. (See
stories this issue).
Finally I would like to thank all our members, organisers,
delegates and staff both here and at the CSTC for all their
efforts during this past year. I wish everyone and their
families a happy Christmas and a safe, prosperous New
Year.
We look forward to tackling all the issues throughout 2011
in the pursuit of better wages and conditions.
Best wishes,
Kevin Reynolds
State Secretary
CFMEU C&G WA
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 3
CFMEU

COMMENT
with Kevin Reynold
s
Thiess Spy Ring Busted!
Convicted criminal,
Graham Townsend of
Australian Security
Intelligence.
The recent situations involving
operatives being employed to spy
on workers in Victoria and
undercover police reporting to the
ABCC from a union meeting at Pluto
in the North West is great cause for
concern. It goes straight to the heart
of matters concerning freedom of
association and the democratic
right to function in Australian society
without fear of persecution and
retribution.
At the Wonthaggi Desal plant in
Victoria, Executive Management of
Thiess, a company which is part of
the Leighton’s empire, hired a union
busting scab hirer called Bruce
Townsend who operates an outfit
known as Australian Security
Intelligence. Townsend became
infamous during the waterfront
dispute with his hiring by Patrick
Chief Executive Chris Corrigan.
Townsend was also convicted in
2004 and jailed for 33 months for
receiving stolen cars. It is alleged
that Townsend and his mob were
involved in the collection and
distribution of detailed files of
information about the work habits,
communications, past and potential
militancy and personal lives of union
delegates and workers between
March and June of this year.
Opposition Workplace Relations
Spokesman, Liberal and union
basher Eric Abetz said the
company's alleged activity
highlighted the need for the
retention of the ABCC. We beg to
differ. This is just a classic piece of
political spin from the inaugural
architects of the ABCC, the Liberals,
to try and snatch a victory from the
jaws of a massive defeat from the
likes of the ABCC.
In fact, it is now becoming evident
the pendulum has swung too far
back the other way in favour of
Employers. Companies have now
become a law unto themselves
hiding behind the cloak of a
coercive and biased ABCC.
It’s become a form of signal
management at the top of town, “If
they can do it, we can”! One now
has to wonder if this approach has
become endemic on other work
sites and at union meetings across
Australia. Ironically, this covert plan
was called Operation ‘Pluto’ in
Victoria. And it was at Pluto in The
North West of WA that we recently
had undercover police infiltrate a
union meeting and pass on
information from that genuine, legal
meeting to the ABCC. Coincidence?
Worse still, going back to the
Victorian scenario, why is it that
some union officials are deemed to
be unfit by companies to associate
with construction projects and their
sites, yet a convicted criminal such
as Townsend has no problems at all
in the eyes of Thiess?
Thiess and others are now making
all sorts of claims after the horse
has bolted. Sackings have been
made and scapegoats found.
People are diving into holes in the
ground everywhere to escape the
microscope.
The ABCC are now investigating
‘Operation Pluto’. It remains to be
seen whether or not anyone is
charged and whether or not anyone
will face court 12 times as Ark Tribe
has, for refusing to divulge what
took place at a safety meeting at a
notoriously unsafe site in Adelaide.
One thing is for sure, the ABCC and
the support it has from the top
echelons of Government, both
Labor and Liberal has signaled that
it is acceptable to have a secretive
coercive strain operating within
Australian workplaces and industry.
It is something that decent minded
citizens find unacceptable and it
should signal the final demise of the
ABCC and those who think they can
adhere to their same practices.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 5
CFMEU

ABCC UPDATE
Police spy on Union: Give info to ABCC
Anti union forces have sunk to a
new low and it provides further
proof that the CFMEU is being
singled out and victimised.
It was back to the bad old days of
‘Special Branch’ and using police
forces to spy on Australia’s citizens
going about their everyday
business.
No it’s not Nazi Germany or Russia
in the cold war years. It happened
right here in our own backyard, in
the Pilbara to be precise.
At a bona-fide union meeting, which
the relevant authorities were
advised of prior to it taking place, an
undercover police officer, disguised
as a construction worker attended
along with hundreds of construction
workers and then provided a
statement to the ABCC on what
occurred.
West Australian police admit that
the officer at the meeting erred in
reporting it to the ABCC.
“There are protocols the WA Police
has in regards to giving statements,
and no doubt this hasn’t been
followed,” Regional WA Police
Commander Fred Gere said.
I personally blasted the police
officer’s involvement at the meeting,
which I explained was a legitimate
union meeting held off Woodside
property.
“Now we've got coppers snooping
into union business like the special
branch used to do with the
communists years ago, this is what
used to go on under the old
McCarthyism.”
Despite police saying the officer
was there to ensure public order,
with Kevin Reynold
s
Where’s ‘Wally the Walloper’– can you spot the spy?
the infiltration by undercover police
was an erosion of a democratic
society.
“To think that Gestapo style tactics
would be used by WA Police has left
us dumbfounded. Questions need
to be asked as to why a Federal
Government body such as the
ABCC, with its own investigative
budget, needs to use the stretched
resources of the WA Police force,
whom we are told operate on a
limited budget. Remember the 3%
cuts they had to find? Who
instructed the police to attend a
union meeting as an under cover
operative? Did the instruction come
from the ABCC? The WA Police
Commissioner? The WA Minister for
Police? or indeed, were they
operating on behalf of Woodside?
Why did the police need to use an
undercover operative when plenty
of uniformed police were on hand at
the time?”
As a result of that meeting, action is
now being taken against Joe
McDonald and the CFMEU. No
other union, no other speaker from
the other unions at the meeting, just
the CFMEU and Joe McDonald.
Why? (See story this issue about
CFMEU being victimised)
This goes right to the heart of
freedom of association in a
democratic society, a meeting of
unionists to discuss workers rights
should not be infiltrated by
undercover police. It is ironic after
what happened at the Desal plant
in Victoria with spies and union
busters that they called it
‘Operation Pluto’ – was it just a
mere coincidence??
CFMEU Construction and General
Division National Secretary Dave
Noonan said, “Why the officer would
disguise himself and make notes
about the discussions at the meeting
needs to be investigated, as does
the means by which the ABCC came
to obtain the statement.”
Noonan has written to new
Workplace Relations Minister Chris
Evans calling for an independent
inquiry into the incident.
It’s just another reason why this
farce force called the ABCC needs
to be disbanded.
Millions of people who voted Greens
at the last federal election think so.
Are you listening, Julia Gillard? Will
you take leadership on this issue or
be governed by the Opposition?
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 7
CFMEU

EDITORIAL COMMENT
WHY? CFMEU victimised
The CFMEU speaks at meetings, so do
other unions, the CFMEU goes on site to do
their job, so do other unions, the CFMEU
responds to meetings called by members
and the motions they put forward, so do
other unions, the CFMEU is legally bound to
put motions to a vote, as do other unions.
But the CFMEU is the only union which is
singled out time and time again and
charged by the ABCC!
History shows that construction unions
have never been flavour of the month with
both employers and governments.
Especially the BLF, which is a part of the
CFMEU family tree. It was deregistered by
governments, hated by employers, plotted
against by right wing think tanks and even
Bob Hawke quoted that the (BLF)
“Bastards needed to be smashed”, partly
because the BLF didn’t adhere to the
‘Accord’, which was all about dissolving
union power and inadvertently placed too
much power in the hands of the Bosses.
Years later we see the children that
particular policy has given birth too. We
have corporate executives on disgustingly
high wages, earning massive bonuses,
shareholdings and termination payouts
even if the company fails miserably under
their tenure. Shareholders rule the land at
the expense of the honest everyday
worker. As such wages share of national
income has fallen to a 46 year low. Latest
national account figures show that wages
share in trend terms have dropped to
52.7%, the lowest level since 1964.
However profit share grew to 28.6%. GDP
per hour worked, a measure of
productivity, grew strongly by 1.2%
annually. In short the bosses are making
bigger profits with workers working more
hours for less money!
Not all unions however have been off-side
with various governments, especially
when it comes to smooching up with the
ALP. There are those unions and officials
who kow-tow to their political masters and
decisions are questionably made with one
eye on future political careers rather than
Page 8 Construction Worker – Summer 2010

for being an effective union.
in the sole interest their members.
Unfortunately, there are far too
many unionists, politicians and
those on the left who are just happy
to wallow in a sea of mediocrity.
This union, your union, the CFMEU
WA doesn’t make decisions to
placate political parties or do
sweetheart deals with employers.
There has always been only one
group we act for and answer to, and
that is our membership.
Perhaps because of all we are up
against, this union has always
walked a path of militancy to get
things done and to get
achievements made. Our militant
approach has certainly seen a
tremendous rise in the living
standards of the average
construction worker over the years.
We have had to go against the grain
for our members to get a fair cut of
the wood. But our militant attitude is
unique in today’s landscape.
Not all unions are the same – some
tread a more ingratiating path.
That’s the road they have chosen...
to co-exist with a new corporate
world that they are too frightened to
take on, or can’t because their
authority has been too diminished,
or they choose to put their own
ambition ahead of their members.
Now bosses like to read articles like
this. They see it as unions fighting
and arguing amongst themselves,
and while unions do that, their
efforts aren’t directed towards them.
Better still, they like unions to
devour and weaken each other, so,
they play both ends off against the
middle constantly. The thing is, our
union can spot this tactic a mile off,
while others seem oblivious to it, or
worse, they recognize it but choose
to ignore it.
All this leads to the way that the
CFMEU, its officials and members
are being targeted in a discriminated
manner by the likes of the Australian
Building and Construction
Commission and their political
masters.
The CFMEU speaks at meetings, so
do other unions, the CFMEU goes
on site to do their job, so do other
unions. The CFMEU responds to
meetings called by members and
the motions they put forward, so do
other unions. The CFMEU is legally
bound to put motions to a vote, as
do other unions. But the CFMEU is
the only union which is singled out
time and time again and charged by
the ABCC!
WHY IS THAT?
Are we so effective in the job! We
believe so. It is certainly reflected in
our membership growth, and the
fact that many workers who are
outside our own demarcation lines
constantly want to join our union. At
the end of the day they see how we
fight for our members, their rights
and conditions and that we don’t
live to appease the political
apparatchiks in Canberra.
Even so, we need to be aware of the
so called enemy within. Those who
stand by and do nothing while
letting the CFMEU take the lead in
the hope we will be crucified for it
and as such be rolled over, while
they wait to scab up the pickings. It
seems this is the sole strategy some
other unions have to build their own
strength. They need to be reminded
that unity IS strength!
The CFMEU makes no apology for
the way it goes about its business of
working for its members. After all,
it’s better to die on your feet than
live on your knees.
We are traversing into a future where
traditional alliances are coming
more and more into question, where
shades of grey replace black and
white, where it’s harder to pick
friend from foe.
Let it be said that this union is not
into such dalliances. Our members
will always know exactly where we
stand and that’s with them and for
them, through thick and thin, no
matter what.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 9
CFMEU

ABCC UPDATE
with Joe McDonald
Apparently, the ABCC has saved Australia!
The good old Master Builders of
Australia, that independent and
credible force who love unions to
bits, has released the fourth annual
edition of the KPMG Econtech
report that purports to show the
productivity contribution of the
Australian Building & Construction
Commission.
According to the report, productivity
reforms in the building and
construction industry through the
ABCC and related industrial
relations initiatives have added
9.4 per cent to labour productivity in
the construction industry. Go figure!
The report says the gain to the
community equates to $59 billion
over 10 years or $5.9bn annually.
We must be all feeling rich then, eh?
It says the effects of the ABCC have
contributed to a permanent
reduction in inflation of about 0.7
per cent and a 0.6 per cent boost to
gross domestic product. Still the
RBA puts up interest rates, such is
the good job that the ABCC is
doing!
The ABCC was also responsible for
the discovery of an actual pot of
gold at the end of the rainbow… is
there anything these prized pack of
putrid plods can’t do we ask?
The Construction Forestry Mining
and Energy Union attacks the
modeling used in the Econtech
report, which was commissioned by
the MBA.
Dave Noonan, the National
Secretary of the union's
construction division, said the report
relied on assumptions that had
previously been discredited by
reliable economic commentators.
“The ABCC has indeed
contributed to an
increase in Australia’s
funeral industry. ”
"In any event, the idea that
productivity in any industry is
enhanced by workers being
threatened with fines and
imprisonment is abhorrent,” he said.
Of course there was no mention of
productivity gains due to union
negotiated Enterprise Bargaining
Agreements.
Since the ABCC and Building
and Construction Industry laws
came in during 2005, there has
been a massive increase in
deaths and serious injuries in
our industry.
One of the criticisms of the Cole
Royal Commission was that the
CFMEU officials used safety
concerns as a pretext for entering
building sites and threatening
industrial action. Howard
Government Minister, Kevin
Andrews’ Act and Code addressed
that by severely limiting the
circumstances in which union
officials could act on safety issues,
or in which construction workers
could take industrial action over
safety issues.
The only problem was that safety
was not merely a pretext for union
activity. Construction is up with road
transport and mining as one of the
most dangerous occupations in the
country. And following the
imposition of Andrews’ legislation
and the extension of the building
industry code, deaths in the
constructions industry increased
massively, from 3.14 deaths per
100,000 workers in 2004 to 3.86 in
2005, 5.6 in 2006,
4.48 in 2007 and
4.27 in 2008.
As a result of these figures, the
ABCC has indeed contributed to an
increase...in Australia’s funeral
industry! They must be so proud of
their contribution to a better
society?
The construction laws and ABCC
have taken us back to the terrible
situation of, on average, one
construction being killed on the job
every week.
It is an undisputable fact that limits
on right of entry for union organisers
have made safety worse.
We await the ABCC’s next triumph.
Perhaps they’ll make a contribution
to reducing global warming, be
responsible for curing cancer or
increase in-flows to the Murray
River basin?
Is that a pig I see
flying overhead?
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 11
CFMEU

NEW MEMBER BENEFITS
with Kevin Reynold
s
20 % OFF
below trade prices for
members only
THE CFMEU HAS ARRANGED A FANTASTIC
NEW BENEFIT AND IT’S EXCLUSIVE FOR
CURRENT CFMEU MEMBERS ONLY.
Parchem Construction Supplies (The Old Atkins-Carlyle) has a HUGE
range of products for workers, subbies, and contractors and all you
have to do to get 20% off below trade price is to present your current
financial CFMEU membership ticket at point of purchase.
HERE’S JUST SOME OF WHAT PARCHEM CAN OFFER YOU.
CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS
Parchem’s range of construction
products include concrete repair,
grouts and anchoring systems,
engineering and architectural
coatings, concrete curing
compounds, flooring and surface
treatments, jointing systems,
sealants, waterproofing materials
and water stops. With trusted
brands such as Emer-Clad,
Durafloor, Fosroc, Vandex, Corkjoint
and Index, Parchem has a solution
for all civil engineering, commercial
and industrial projects.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
& TOOLS
Parchem offers the most complete
range of concrete finishing, surface
preparation, concrete vibrators,
flexshaft pumps and compaction
equipment in the market.
Specialising in light construction
equipment, the innovative design
and technical expertise make the
brands in the range the leading
choice for the professional
contractor. With industry leading
brands such as Flextool, Mikasa,
Blastrac, Allen and ProFinish, the
quality engineered products are
performance driven and backed by
an experienced team of personnel
committed to service.
DECORATIVE CONCRETE
SOLUTIONS
Their decorative concrete solutions
are ideal when you are renovating or
building your dream home.
The comprehensive range of
decorative concrete products
includes stamped impression
concrete, stencil concrete, concrete
colours and resurfacing products
and internal flooring solutions which
will complement any style or design,
allowing you to create the look you
want. With industry leading brands
such as DT, Cobblestone, Colour
Thru and Mastershield, there is a
range of colours and products to
suit any internal or external
decorative concrete solution.
WHERE TO FIND PARCHEM
Check out their website now and
see their catalogues of the
products on offer.
Just go to www.parchem.com.au
or better still, pop out to their giant
warehouse and have a good look
around. You’ll find them at:
47 Belmont Avenue Belmont
Phone: 08 6279 9799
Open Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 5.00pm.
Don’t forget to take your paid up
and current CFMEU ticket with you
to get 20% off trade price.
It pays to be a paid up member of
the CFMEU.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 13
CFMEU

SKILLS SHORTAGES
with Mick Buchan
Use of 457’s workers on the increase
Australians face the renewed
prospect of soaring prices and
tradesmen shortages, with a string
of fresh reports warning of a
looming skills crisis.
With Reserve Bank Governor Glenn
Stevens predicting the current
boom will be the biggest in over a
century, Access Economics used its
latest economic update to predict
the single largest threat to WA is the
Federal bipartisan approach to
shutting migrants out of the country.
Businesses have already started
reporting trouble finding the workers
they need to fill jobs as the economy
grows on the back of major works
such as the $43 billion Gorgon and
$12.3 billion Pluto projects. More
than a third of WA firms had
increased their use of Section 457
visa skilled workers over the past
year, with the State recording the
biggest increase in the nation.
A recent report found that 70
percent of WA businesses said they
planned to increase employment
under the system next year. It also
found that WA firms were so
dependent on overseas workers
that they risked breaking
Department of Immigration laws if
they employed any more.
At end of the last boom the CFMEU
warned that businesses needed to
start employing more apprentices
and that government needed to
attract skilled migrants to Australia
instead of relying on short term 457
visa workers who contribute nothing
to the long term local economy. And
they are used by unscrupulous
employers to drive down the cost of
Australian labor and wages.
The WA State Government should
help to subsidise relocation costs
for Australian workers in other
states to move to WA and demand
companies lock in a generous quota
of apprentices as part of any tender
for State Government projects.
BLACK BANS
Black bans which we believe are in
place against workers who
challenge the lack of safety
procedures, poor safety, challenge a
supervisor or those who have been
union delegates should be lifted.
The days of companies subscribing
to information leading to unfair
black bans are coming to end as it
did in the UK earlier this year.
If you have any information or
further evidence about black
bans please contact our office on
9221 1055.
UNION NEWS
with Jill Hawkins
CFMEU gets back over
$5.75 million for members
Since we started collecting statistics in 2002 our industrial department has
helped members collect nearly $5.75M in unpaid entitlements. This figure
includes payments for, amongst other things, unfair and unlawful dismissal,
unpaid wages and allowances, Income Protection and Top-Up Insurance,
unpaid superannuation and back-pay.
And we’re pleased to be able to advise that in 2010 we’ve cracked the $1M
dollar mark for the third year running with just over $1.25M recouped so far this
year on behalf of about 300 of our members.
So if you think you might have been
short changed by your employer
and you are a paid up member, give
us a call on 9221 1055 and we’ll be
happy to help you recover what
you’re owed.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 15
CFMEU

SKILLS TRAINING
with Kevin Reynold
s
The CSTC: Train for your future now!
Another boom and skills
shortage is coming!
Whether you’re an
individual, contractor or
company, now is the
time to upskill and get
your tickets for the big
upcoming projects...and
the CSTC is THE best
place to go.
Western Australia is a driving force
of Australia’s economy. There is
much talk these days about a skills
shortage as new construction
projects come on board to underpin
the growth of both the Australian
and Western Australian economy.
Our goal at the Construction Skills
Training Centre is to play a
professional role in building a highly
skilled workforce for the
Construction Industry.
Achieving this goal means that
we must continually improve our
performance, while also delivering
training at a price that is affordable
to both individual workers and
businesses, so they can access the
full range of our training. We must
continue to ensure that we provide
the very best equipment and other
relevant resources to our trainees.
Since 2000, the number of courses
we conduct each year has grown to
well over 900. The number of
workers accessing our courses has
grown to over 6,300 and this
continues to increase each year.
The cost of our courses remains
competitive – and many trainees
pay heavily discounted fees or no
fees at all, thanks to industry
rebates from the CTF, Construction
Training Fund, formerly the BCTIF.
Importantly, we have maintained the
quality of our training. We
underwent an audit in line with the
Australian Quality Training
Framework and following this, our
official accreditation was renewed
to 2013.
A REPUTATION BUILT ON
EXCELLENCE
The techniques and skills of the
construction industry worker has
changed considerably over the last
30 to 40 years. The CSTC began
with a vision to keep pace by
ensuring workers had the chance to
learn new skills and up-skill existing
ones to reflect changing needs,
Don’t miss out on jobs
or tenders ...up-skill at
the CSTC Now!
technologies and demands in the
marketplace.
The CSTC now provides more than
45 industry related courses and over
5,000 people on average have
received nationally recognised
training each year since the centre
opened.
That’s over 90,000 graduates.
And more than 6,000 businesses
regularly use our training programs.
Without doubt it is the preferred
training centre venue for WA’s top
companies and contractors.
The CSTC is providing the right
skills to build Australia.
FIND OUT MORE
For more information please browse
the CSTC website now.
www.cstc.com.au
You’ll find detailed information on
over 45 courses and more.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 17
CFMEU

UPCOMING PROJECTS
with Kevin Reynold
s
Multi-billion dollar
Plenty of work coming up for CFMEU
Three major developers have been
shortlisted for a $2.7 billion
redevelopment in East Perth that
will transform the city's eastern
gateway.
Mirvac, Lend Lease Development,
and a Brookfield Multiplex-Frasers
Property Australia consortium are in
the running to develop the Riverside
project.
A decision is likely to be made by
the middle of next year.
The WA State Government called
for expressions of interest to
develop its flagship 4ha riverfront
section. The massive Riverside
project would transform the eastern
gateway to Perth.
The proposed precinct next to the
Causeway, near the WACA Ground
and Trinity College, will feature a
vibrant area with shops, cafes,
public spaces, jetties and a
waterway to connect new buildings
with the river.
Planning Minister John Day said this
was the first inner city riverside
development since the East Perth
Redevelopment Authority's
Claisebrook Village in the 1990s.
He said the 4ha site would be the
flagship precinct in the project.
Mr Day said developers could
interpret the public domain, though
they would be bound by specific
design guidelines on land use,
buildings and design quality.
The precinct will have 400 homes
for up to 700 residents and
11,000sqm of retail and commercial
space for up to 560 workers. It is
expected to draw 500,000 tourists a
year.
The Redevelopment Authority's
Chief Executive, Tony Morgan, said
he hoped construction would begin
in 2012. It could take 10 years,
depending on demand, which he
believed was strong.
The whole 40ha Riverside project,
which includes privately owned
sites such as Gloucester Park,
Trinity College and the WACA
Ground, is flagged to attract more
than $900 million in private
investment and $113 million from
the Government.
Overall, it includes plans for 3400
homes for about 6000 people, four
30-storey towers and 81,000sqm of
commercial and retail floor space for
about 1700 workers.
The CFMEU hopes it attracts a
quality builder with a good safety
record and a productive relationship
with its workforce.
Perth's Old Treasury Building will be
redeveloped as a six-star boutique
hotel in a joint-venture project to
create a city heritage precinct.
The 136-year-old building has stood
stripped and vacant for 14 years as
State Government and the city
council tried to work out what to do
with it.
Page 18 Construction Worker – Summer 2010

projects on the way
members...BE PAID UP AND PROUD!
A $584 million project to redevelop
the building has now been
announced involving the State
Government, the City of Perth,
developers Mirvac and Cbus and
Perth's Anglican diocese.
The project includes construction of
a 35-storey office tower and new
City Library, the demolition of the
Law Chambers building and the
creation of a heritage precinct
centred on the adjacent St George's
Cathedral.
A 46-room six-star boutique hotel
will be created within the Old
Treasury Building with the ground
floor open to the public.
Work is expected to start by the end
of 2011 with completion by the end
of 2014.
Along with the Northbridge Link
Development to sink the railway line
beginning next year, upgrading of
Perth (NIB) Oval and work to
hopefully start on the City end of the
“a vibrant area with
shops, cafes, public
spaces, jetties and a
waterway to connect new
buildings with the river”
foreshore, things are looking up in
the CBD for construction workers in
the not to distant future. There’s also
talk of Bishop See being completed.
We can only hope that soon Perth
will also get a decent AFL stadium
which would provide much need
employment.
Construction of the Collie based
urea plant is expected to start in the
first half of next year, with scheduled
production in 2014.
It will be Australia's first coal
gasification plant, turning Collie coal
into urea.
The project is estimated to generate
between 1200 and 1500
construction jobs and 200
operational jobs once the plant
begins production.
A multi-million dollar water
treatment plant is being built at
Wesfarmers Premier Coal at Collie,
as soon as next February, to prepare
for mining the company’s new pits.
In the North West billions of dollars
in new mining investment should
start to flow through next year and
that will undoubtedly see more job
opportunities.
It is to be hoped that companies
don’t use the excuse of a skills
shortage to employ 457 workers
when there are many workers who
are insidiously black banned for no
good reason.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 19
CFMEU

WORKER’S RIGHTS
with Shannon Walker
Introduction of paid parental leave
UNIONS WIN LONG BATTLE. STARTS 1 JAN 2011
Australia has finally introduced a paid
parental leave scheme, effective from
1 January 2011.
ACTU President Ged Kearney commented that the
scheme is long overdue.
“It has been a source of much international
embarrassment that in a country as wealthy as Australia,
two-thirds of women who have a baby currently get no
paid parental leave.
Parents have been forced to make a choice between have
a child and paying the bills.
It is thanks to a 30 year campaign by unions and
community groups that the Labor Government’s 18 week
scheme is now just around the corner”.
Even the Australian Industry Group has lauded the
introduction of the scheme: “The final passage through
the Parliament today of the Federal Government's paid
parental leave legislation marks the achievement of a hard
won and important reform which will work well for families
and work well for business” stated Ai Group Chief
Executive Heather Ridout.
The introduction of the scheme is expected, among other
things, to increase women’s workforce participation,
improve child development outcomes and relieve new
parents from the financial stress of a new child.
The scheme begins on 1 January 2011, and allows eligible
parents to receive up to 18 weeks “Parental Leave Pay” at
the National Minimum Wage, currently $570.00 per week.
To receive the benefit you must you must:
1 Be the primary carer of a newborn child or adopted
child who is born or adopted after
1 January 2011 (Either partner can be considered the
“primary care giver”);
2 Be an Australian resident;
3 Pass “Paid Parental Leave scheme work test” before
the birth or adoption of the child. To pass the test you
must have:
i) worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the
birth or adoption of your child, and
ii)worked for at least 330 hours in that 10 month period
(just over one day a week), with no more than an
eight week gap between two consecutive working
days.
4 Not work from the time you become the child’s primary
carer; and
5 Receive an income of $150,000 or less in the previous
financial year.
Applications for the paid parental leave scheme opened
on 1 October, so if you’re expecting a new addition after
1 January 2011 you may be able to register now. You can
register online with the Family Assistance Office to receive
any payment you may be entitled to. Once you have
registered with Family Assistance and provided the
required information, the Family Assistance Office will
contact your employer who will need to provide additional
information. This is because the payments are funded by
the government but in most circumstances paid through
the employer.
If you require further information on the Paid Parental
Leave Scheme contact the union office for more
information.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 21
CFMEU

AGREEMENTS
with Mark Hud
ston
BEWARE of dodgy agreements
Recently I have been helping out
down at the AMC, where there is a
poor agreement in place with pay
rates all over the place and below
industry standards. I guess that’s
what happens when union official’s
(not ours) who want to get into
parliament, negotiate agreements
on their own and shut out unions
like the CFMEU from the
negotiations. But they will not stop
us from trying to fix the problems.
The problem is that the AMC was
set up to do fabrication work and
that’s not what it is being used for. It
is for construction, and you will not
change the minds of the workers
down there on that, because the
workers all know the difference
between workshop work and
construction. No income protection,
low rates, no travel allowances and
low site allowances are just some of
the problems. I bet the bosses
haven’t got lower wages or
conditions down at the AMC
because someone says it’s
fabrication? The next time a union
official tells a worker down at AMC
that the agreement was put in place
to keep jobs in Australia, let him
know that means jack if you haven’t
got adequate wages to support your
family.
Recently, we have been able to get
the rates increased for the Cimeco
workers who were behind. Freo’s
lads tell us that the company is only
paying their agreement and not the
AMC agreement, CIVMEC are nearly
finished their caisson and Leighton’s
are starting theirs but the rates of
pay aren’t the same. Leighton’s
workers keep asking about other
work and the subbies on site agree
the rates are low. If the companies
want to stop high turnovers of labor
they should look at upping the rates.
The workers at the recent pre-work
meeting were glad to have the
organisers cook them a bacon and
egg roll. They said that’s what is
needed down at AMC, a canteen
like any major site. They also let us
know they wont be joining any Weak
Unions and will be sticking with the
CFMEU – and the bosses need to
understand that.
For more information on union
issues at AMC give Mark Hudston
a call on 0419 812 864
ON THE SITE
with Kelly Hawkins
Over one and half million hits!
Do you know that our website at www.cfmeuwa.com has
received over One Million and Six Hundred Thousand hits
so far this year? That’s a lot of our members now going
online to get important information they need. For
example on our website you will find:
• A copy of the Gorgon Agreement
• EBA rate of Rates of Pay
• Site Allowances
• Membership forms
• A links section with all sorts of top info.
• Current Safety Alerts
• A who’s who of contacts in the union
• Campaign information
• RDO calendars
• Course Information at the Construction Skills Training
Centre
• The Construction Worker journal as a download
• Industries and categories we cover for workers
• Photo gallery of unsafe worksites
• Super, Long Service and Redundancy information
• Benefits for members only
• TV ads and you tube clips
See www.cfmeuwa.com now. It’s one of the best sites
you’ll ever be on!
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 23
CFMEU

ARMISTICE DAY
with Mick Buchan
LEST WE FORGET. We
IT IS SOMEWHAT FITTING THAT ON ARMISTICE DAY THIS YEAR OVER 700 WORKERS AND
CFMEU MEMBERS FROM THE FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL LAID DOWN THEIR TOOLS TO
HONOUR THOSE WHO WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED DURING THE GREAT WAR.
Hospitals both in the field and back on the home front played a vital role during the First World War. More than 330,000
Australians served overseas in World War I. Of these, nearly 60,000 died. What is often overlooked is how many were
injured and seriously maimed for life. 152,000 were wounded and these soldiers often needed life long care as result of
their injuries. Over 4000 were also taken prisoner, of whom 395 died in captivity
To give you an idea of the scale of horror resulting from the Great War of 1914-1918. The total number of casualties both
military and civilian, were about 37 million – 16 million dead and 21 million wounded. The total number of deaths includes
9.7 million military personnel and about 6.8 million civilians. The Entente Powers (also known as the Allies) lost about 5.7
million soldiers while the Central Powers lost about 4 million.
Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day) is on November 11 each year and commemorates the armistice (peace)
signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the
Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning. The ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh
month’ of 1918. While this official date to mark the end of the war reflects the cease fire on the Western Front, hostilities
continued in other regions, especially across the former Russian Empire and in parts of the old Ottoman Empire.
In many parts of the world people take a two-minute moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. as a sign of respect for the roughly
20 million people who died in the war, as suggested by Edward George Honey in a letter to a British newspaper.
It’s important that we never forget the sacrifices that were made for our freedom.
NOTE see the movie: Everyone can see film of the ceremony on the CFMEU ‘YOU TUBE’ Channel, just
Google a search for CFMEUNION and you’ll find it at the top of the listings. While you are on our You Tube
site have a look at other clips we have on the channel too – make a comment!
Page 24 Construction Worker – Summer 2010

will remember them
Workers at Claremont
Quarter also paid their
respects on the day.
These heroes
are dead
Workers at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
What’s more, it was the diggers who came back from World War 1 who took
up the vanguard to fight for a better way life, of which better wages and
conditions played a fundamental part. It is no accident that Union membership
and activism soared during that period.
It’s the same reason why that fight continues to this day. If it wasn’t for our
forefathers, we would not have all the things they fought for.
A special thanks to site Delegate Ian Hawkins and to Multiplex for helping to
organise the day and to Aussie war veterans Kevin McLean, Keith Cousins and
Paul Thiessen for honouring all of us by their attendance and to the workers
who gave them a spontaneous round of thunderous applause upon their
introduction. The workers at Fiona Stanley also chipped in and generously
donated $1700 to the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Benevolent fund.
Lest we forget. We will remember them.
They died for liberty – they
died for us. They are at rest.
They sleep in the land they
made free, under the flag they
rendered stainless, under the
solemn pines, the sad
hemlocks, the tearful willows,
and the embracing vines.
They sleep beneath the
shadows of the clouds,
careless alike of sunshine or of
storm, each in the windowless
Place of Rest. Earth may run
red with other wars – they are
at peace. In the midst of battle,
in the roar of conflict, they
found the serenity of death.
I have one sentiment for
soldiers living and dead:
cheers for the living; tears for
the dead.
Robert G. Ingersoll
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 25
CFMEU

GENERAL NEWS
with Joe McDonald
Where have all the worker’s gone?
Wouldn’t it be great to have an
ex-scaffy, crane driver, ceiling
fixer, labourer, rigger, dogman,
carpenter and so on in
parliament? Fat chance these
days as recent research shows.
Australia’s first Parliament had a
tinsmith, a carpenter, a cabinet
maker, a butcher, a market gardener,
and no less than two hatmakers
sitting on its benches.
Between them they could have built
parliament, furnished it, tended its
lawns and clad its inhabitants in the
latest fashions.
Fast forward 110 years and 97 per
cent of today's federal
parliamentarians come straight from
careers as managers, administrators
or professionals. There is not a
single tradesperson among them!!
A recent analysis comparing
politicians’ past careers against the
occupations of the wider workforce
reveals a yawning gap between
today's politicians and the people
they represent.
Although nearly all of today’s federal
politicians come straight from a
managerial, administrative or
professional job, just 48 per cent of
the wider Australian workforce hold
such positions, according to the
Bureau of Statistic's 2006 census.
The remaining half of the workforce
includes tradespeople and
technicians (14.4 per cent), labourers
(10.5), salespeople (9.8), community
workers (8.8) and machinery
operators and drivers (6.6).
Not one of the 226 members in the
Australia’s first parliament
previous federal parliament came
directly from one of these
occupations.
Nearly a quarter of members came
from a position in business – as
executives, managers or self
employed. The second most
common path after that was through
a union or party position (19 per cent
of members). Barristers, solicitors
and other types of lawyers made up
a further 12 per cent of Parliament,
despite representing just 0.8 per
cent of the wider workforce.
Today about 43 per cent of
parliamentarians come directly from
political jobs – including political
consultants, advisers and lobbyists,
members of state legislatures, party
or union employees and electorate
staff.
Two-thirds of ALP members come
via that route, and this probably
understates the numbers who held
such positions previously.
There has been a rise of the career
politician, where people are involved
in politics at university and then they
go to work in a politician's office and
then into parliament – with no
experience of the real world or
affinity with the everyday trials of
working class battlers.
The rise of career politicians was a
global phenomenon, but more
pronounced in Australia because of
the power of political parties to pick
their candidates.
No wonder working people feel
alienated by government with a lack
of representation of the working
classes. At least unions provide an
avenue for working class people to
express their views, be heard, be
defended and to initiate positive
change.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 27
CFMEU

WORKER’S RIGHTS
with Rod Reynold
s
Workers can now get paid if employers goes bust.
Unions, including the CFMEU, have
fought a long hard battle for workers
to get their entitlements if their
employer goes belly up. We are
happy to announce that the Federal
Government is now brining new laws
to protect workers from being ripped
off.
CFMEU WA Secretary Kevin
Reynolds welcomes the move by the
ALP to protect workers entitlements.
He says “Far too often companies go
broke and the worker loses
everything, this new law while not
perfect goes a long way to address
the injustices of the past.”
Long-time workers made redundant
will receive higher payouts under the
new reforms.
The Government will overhaul the
General Employee Entitlements and
Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) by
removing the cap on payouts from
1 January next year.
Rather than employees receiving a
set figure, payouts will now be based
on how long they have worked for
the business.
Workplace Relations Parliamentary
Secretary Jacinta Collins says
redundancy pay is currently capped
at 16 weeks if a company becomes
insolvent and cannot fund
entitlements.
From next year, workers will receive a
payout up to a maximum of 4 weeks
for every year of service calculated
on annual wages of up to $108,000.
“This is about fairness and ensuring
Australian workers are paid what
they deserve, based on how long
they have served,” Collins says.
“If one worker has been at a
company for five years, and another
worker for 35 years, why should they
get the same redundancy payout?
That’s not fair and that was the
unfair system under WorkChoices,
where thousands of workers
suffered huge financial losses.”
GEERS is designed to help workers
recover entitlements if their
employer goes bust, but does not
cover unpaid superannuation.
Collins says the global financial
crisis increased the need for
redundancy payments. She says the
Government will consult those
affected before legislating the
changes.
WORKER’S RIGHTS
with Kevin Sneddon
What is Sham Contracting?
• With a sham contract the employer tries to disguise the employment
relationship to avoid having to give you proper entitlements such as decent
pay, holidays and sick leave.
• Sham contracts are unlawful and can lead to the employer being fined as
well as compensation for the worker.
• If you are being forced to work on an ABN this may be a sham arrangement
and may be unlawful. You may be able to get your proper entitlements paid
to you and the employer punished.
DO ANY OF THESE SITUATIONS APPLY TO YOU?
• Your employer has told you that you must have an ABN, that they’ll pay you
a flat rate and if you don’t accept then there’s no work.
• Your employer has dismissed you, or threatened to dismiss you, but told you
that you’ll be taken back, doing the same work as a contractor.
• Your employer has told you that these kinds of arrangements are lawful, that
everyone is doing it and you have no choice.
WHAT TO DO...
If any of these sounds familiar then
contact your CFMEU organiser or
phone the union office on
9221 1055.
If we work together then we can
stop workers from being exploited
and make sure they receive a fair
wage for a fair day’s work.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 29
CFMEU

MEMBER BENEFITS
with Kevin Reynold
s
Members take up benefits
and SAVE thousands!
One of the great things about being
a member of the CFMEU WA is the
fantastic benefits we offer to
there every day, turning up to
provide our members with help and
assistance on a vast range of
more members we have, the more
benefits and services we can
provide.
members. No doubt they are the issues.
NEW! This month we have
best benefits offered by any union in
Australia, if not the world!
Best of all, unlike some other unions
we don’t charge our members an
arm and a leg, it’s all part of the
service we provide. Speaking of
service, on top of our great member
benefits, our organisers are out
Members also have the back up of
our Legal Department which is
second to none within any union in
Western Australia. So, continue to
be paid up and proud and reap the
benefits.
Also encourage your non-member
workmates to join the union. The
introduced 2 more great benefits
(see stories this issue). One will save
you heaps on the cost of a new car
and the other will save you big
bucks on construction supplies and
equipment from Parchem. And it’s
exclusive to all financial CFMEU
members.
In the last calendar year our members have…
Been referred for 746
free legal consultations
at Slater and Gordon
Made 236 claims
for ambulance cover
Taken up 3,500
travel insurance
policies
Do you know someone who wants to join the CFMEU?
Call our office on 08 9221 1055 or download a membership form from our website.
Just go to home page of our website – www.cfmeuwa.com – it’s right there to download.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 31
CFMEU

CFMEU2011
GENERAL
Page 32 Construction Worker – Summer 2010

Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 33
CFMEU

OFF CUTS
with Joe McDonald
Keeping member’s up to date with news
from around the country...
CYCLONE GEORGE DECISION
PERTH: A construction company
has been fined 90 thousand dollars
for safety breaches during a cyclone
in WA's Pilbara region.
Laing O'Rourke was one of six
companies charged after two
people died and dozens more were
injured when Cyclone George hit a
Pilbara rail camp in 2007.
In October last year the company
was acquitted of two counts of
failing to provide and maintain a
safe working environment by the
Perth Magistrates Court.
But, that decision was overturned
by Supreme Court Judge Michael
Murray, who ruled the company
should be found guilty.
The company faced a maximum
penalty of $600,000 but Justice
Murray said a lower fine was more
appropriate as they were the
company’s first offences.
Believe it or not, Laing O'Rourke is
appealing the decision. If we had
our way employers would be jailed
for safety negligence.
JOB BOOM NOT FOR ALL
BOOMERS
NSW: Employers will need to target
older workers in the next decade if
they want to survive. New State
Government research shows 45 to
54-year-olds are the fastest growing
employee pool, and by 2016 there
will be more people in NSW over 65
than under 15.
Next year will be the first time baby
boomers – born between 1946 and
1964 – qualify for the age pension.
From 2017, the qualifying
pension age will increase
every two years so that by
2023 it will be 67. The
Construction, Forestry, Mining
and Engineering Union says its
industries will be most affected by an
older population, because labourers
have physically demanding jobs that
shorten their working lives. “By the
time they are 60, they are literally
falling to bits,” CFMEU representative
Dick Whitehead said. “We have got
no problem if a worker wants to
continue and they are in good nick .
But you cannot force them. Raising
the pension age means they will have
to work, but they are worn out. For
every 50 people, there is only one
who will get a light duties.”
GREENS ATTEMPT TO
ABOLISH ABCC
CANBERRA: The Australian Greens
have introduced legislation to
parliament that would abolish the
controversial Australian Building and
Construction Commission (ABCC).
The Federal Government has said it
will replace the ABCC's function as a
stand-alone building industry
watchdog with an inspectorate
within Fair Work Australia, but is yet
to do so. Greens senator Rachel
Siewert took matters into her own
hands on Wednesday, bringing
forward a bill that repeals the
workplace laws behind the ABCC's
existence. “These laws are some
of the most pernicious ever to
have passed through this place,”
she said. “They strip away
internationally recognised rights of
workers in the building and
construction industries.” Senator
Siewert said the ABCC's coercive
powers could intimidate whistle
blowing workers. “In an industry that
has such a high rate of workplace
injuries and death, any laws or
regulations that provide a
disincentive to speak out about
safety issues are unacceptable.”
Debate on the Building and
Construction Industry (Restoring
Workplace Rights) Bill 2010 was
adjourned.
$80,000 FOR APPRENTICE
FALL
NSW: Sebastian Builders and
Developers has been fined $80,000
plus court costs in the NSW
Industrial Court after a carpentry
apprentice fell 3.5m while working
on a construction site in Kiama in
2007. The man suffered skull
fractures and a brain contusion
among other injuries, when he fell
through a staircase void in part of a
two-storey duplex on April 30, 2007.
According to WorkCover, he was
hospitalised for four weeks and took
months to rehabilitate. It was almost
two and a half years before he
returned to full work.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 35
CFMEU

REMEMBERING WEST GATE
with Mick Buchan
40 years on, West Gate pain lingers
“The workers were
used to retrieve the
injured and dead
bodies; as soon as the
last body was removed
all the workers were
sent packing.’’
Tom Watson, current CFMEU C&G
National President, was a 22-yearold
rigger working on the West Gate
Bridge when it collapsed in 1970.
A few weeks before the fateful day,
he had been working on the 112-
metre span that fell, killing 35 of his
workmates, but was transferred to
the Port Melbourne side of the Yarra
River. His job there was to load steel
girders and equipment on to barges
and send them across the river. “I
was working on the river's edge, it
was 11.50am on the Thursday and
we had just done the last load and
were about to head to the lunch
sheds when I heard this big crack,”
Tom remembers. “I looked up and
saw it coming down.”
The members of the gang he had
been working with all died. “Things
that happen in life make you what
you are. This was like being in a war
zone. Wars change people and this
changed me.” As a result, Tom
dedicated his life to making
workplaces safer by becoming a
union official dealing in
Occupational Health and Safety.
At 11.50 am on 15 October 2010 at
the same time bridge collapsed,
survivors, friends and family
gathered at the site to mark the
40th anniversary of the disaster
and remember those lost.
It took six days to remove the last
body, that of boilermaker Barney
Butters. Within a week the riggers,
the carpenters, the boilermakers,
the engineers – all the workmen –
were given their final wages and
literally sent packing. They were left
to deal with the disaster, the loss of
their friends and workmates, on
their own. “We all went to funerals
the following week – there was no
counselling for us, the workers, or
for the widows,” Tom Watson says.
“I turned to drink, there was
something wrong if you didn't. You
would go to a cemetery where you
knew there would be five or six
funerals on that day. So you just sat
in the car with a car fridge waiting in
between funerals.”
For anyone like Tom, who lives in
Melbourne's west, the West Gate
Bridge is a vital, if congested, entry
point to the city. So it looms large in
people's lives.
“I drive over or under it every day –
and the memories are always there,
you can't get away from it,” he said.
Tom found another job on a
construction site within a few
months, but it was hard to focus.
“Nobody was helping you, there
was no support, no one to take the
pressure off,” he said. “But that's
how it was in those days – we've
come a long way in 40 years.”
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 37
CFMEU

SUPERANNUATION
with Graham Pallot
Reclaim your lost Super now!
Have you got any lost
super treasure?
Did you know that as many as half the working population
in Australia has lost superannuation?
That’s a lot of money sitting in accounts that Australians
have lost contact with.
It also means many Australians are paying more fees on
their superannuation than they should.
Getting all your superannuation into one account is an
important way of ensuring you are paying lower fees and
can plan for your retirement.
You are considered to have lost superannuation if:
• your fund has not received any contributions or
rollover amounts for you in the last five years;
• your fund has not been able to contact you or verify
your membership; or
• you have a balance of less than $200 in your account.
Many people don’t tell their super fund when they move
house or change their name. These are the main reasons
super accounts become lost. If you’ve changed jobs, your
address or even had a name change, you could have lost
super.
FIND IT HERE…
DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY LOST SUPER?
IT’S EASY TO CHECK.
Simply visit www.unclaimedsuper.com.au and follow
the simple instructions or contact them on 1300 361 798
and they will do a search for you.
You will need to provide your family and given names and
your date of birth.
IT'S A FREE SERVICE.
If you find any lost super you can transfer it into your
current Cbus account. That way you could pay less in
fees and know exactly where your retirement savings are.
REMEMBER:
Most people lose touch with their super because they
change their address or name and forget to tell their fund
– if you have moved or changed your name since joining
Cbus – give us a call and let us know: 1300 361 784.
Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262. Read the Cbus Product Disclosure
Statement to decide whether Cbus is right for you. Contact us on 1300 361 784 or visit cbussuper.com.au for a copy.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 39
CFMEU

ORGANISER NEWS
with
Local
assistance
when you
need it
Re – Class at Last
At Cbus, we want our members to have someone they can speak to face
to face, to answer any questions and explain the ins and outs of super.
Allan Hughes is based in our Perth office and is here to answer any
questions you may have about your Cbus membership.
Contact Allan:
Call 9463 3942 or
0419 939 071
You can also arrange for Allan to
come and visit you on site.
Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623
AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262.
Read the Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide whether Cbus is right for you.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 41
CFMEU

WAGES AND CONDITIONS
with Rod Reynold s
Have you got your latest CFMEU EBA wage rise?
IT PAYS TO BE IN THE CFMEU
Well it’s that time of the year again comrades and not a
minute too soon. What with Christmas just around the
corner and greedy banks scavenging all our hard earned
mortgage dollars so that they can claim multi billion dollar
profits for their shareholders and pay their bosses multi
million dollar salaries. It’s certainly the lucky country, for
some…
On the 1st November 2010 workers covered by most
Union Agreements and working on EBA sites are entitled
to the next round of increases to their wages and
allowances.
This latest increase is a 5% addition to your current rates
and allowances and was payable on the first pay date
after 1st November 2010. And you’re entitled to be back
paid to 1st November 2010 as well if you haven’t received
your increase yet. If you’re not sure what you’re entitled to
here’s a quick rundown on some of the new rates and
allowances: –
Carpenter $32.58 / hr Plasterer $32.35 / hr Gp 1 Labourer $31.46 / hr
Bricklayer $32.29 / hr W &F Tiler $32.35 / hr Gp 2 Labourer $30.06 / hr
Painter $31.62 / hr Ceiling Fixer $32.35 / hr Gp 3 Labourer $29.27 / hr
Glazier $31.62 / hr Tower Crane $37.75 / hr Conc. Pumper $30.06 / hr
Superannuation $145.00 / wk Redundancy $79.00 / wk Fares & Travel $30.38 / day
Structural $1.40 / hr Productivity $1.40 / hr Meal $16.55 / day
Keep the bosses honest and make sure if you haven’t received your increase yet that
you let them know it’s due. Remember, it’s your money and you earned it building this
city...so speak up if you haven’t received your pay increase.
Further information:
If you’re not sure what you’re entitled to contact me, Rod Reynolds, at the Union Office on 9221 1055 and I can tell you.
Want an EBA?
If you want your union to bargain and negotiate an EBA for your workplace contact Graham Pallot on 9221 1055 - Beware
of shonky agreements.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 43
CFMEU

NORTH WEST REPORT
with Brad Upton and Phil Kennedy
New agreement breakthrough in the North West
Boom and Mammoet crane yards in
the North West have signed their
agreement. They are the first two
companies to have the Living Away
from Home Allowance paid at
$830.00 per week. This has never
been seen in the North West before
and it’s testament to the way the
CFMEU is working very hard to get
you the best agreements that they
can. There are still problems with
some agreements but we are slowly
but surely getting through them.
IF YOU WANT SOMEWHERE
SAFE TO LIVE, IT WOULD
HAVE TO BE THE PILBARA.
Let me explain, the police of
Karratha need to come to CFMEU
meetings to allegedly spy for the
ABCC, So, the streets of Karratha
must be very safe.
It’s even better in South Hedland!
Phil and I went to a job where the
Construction Manager didn’t even
know about the laws and the rights
of the CFMEU to enter, so he called
the cops. We thought one cop car
would turn up. How wrong we were!
Four cop cars came around the
corner. Then one Sergeant, two plain
clothes and a constable hopped out
of the car. And we can’t even get
Worksafe onto these sites.
Why can’t these cops tell these
dumb ass builders over the
telephone that it has nothing to do
with the police?
We would like to take this
opportunity to thank all the
delegates for the hard work and help
they have given us during the year.
Karratha township
People don’t realise how hard they
work. So again, thank you and
thanks to all the thousands of rank
and file members in the North West
for standing strong with the
delegates.
I would like to thank Jade Ingham
from the CFMEU Queensland for
giving us a hand for a week. The
Queensland Branch have a lot of
work coming up in the oil, gas and
coal industries.
The members would also like to
thank Dave Noonan, National
Secretary of the CFMEU C&G for
coming to Karratha and Port
Hedland to address the monthly
meetings. It makes them feel that
they are not forgotten about back in
the big smoke.
This has been a very busy year in the
North West! The rank and file
feedback has been very positive
about having two organisers full time
in the region.
We believe, and so do the members,
that no other union has such a
strong on-the-ground presence as
the CFMEU. That’s why we ARE the
union that gets things done and the
one that turns up. Perhaps that’s
why we’ve had so many new
members join up! More workers up
here see the CFMEU as their choice
and their voice!
In saying all of that we need the rank
and file to push to get all the nonunion
people to join the CFMEU in
2011.
Remember strength in numbers!
Last but not least, we would like to
wish everyone a good and safe
Christmas and we are looking to
working with you, and for you,
throughout 2011.
For further information call the
North West union team:
Brad Upton on 0488 770 857 or Phil
Kennedy on 0427 244 141 or Email:
BUpton@cfmeuwa.com
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 45
CFMEU

NORTH WEST NEWS
with Brad Upton and Phil Kennedy
More Sino Iron project woes
There are disturbing stories about
Sino Steel up on Cape Preston.
Caught in the middle of all this, is
of course, the workers, who have
found themselves stood down
several times over payment
disputes with the contractors.
This is an absolute disgrace and the
Barnett WA State Government
needs to act and find out what is
going on up there? Nearly all of
Cape Preston has been sold to
overseas interests, but this doesn’t
give them the right to run it like a
country of its own and not adhere to
standard Australian business and
financial principles.
An aggrieved earthworks contractor
at the $US5.2 billion ($5.2 billion)
Sino Iron project in the Pilbara has
labelled one of the troubled
development’s Chinese owners as
“spiteful and petty” amid threats of
court action to recoup about $6
million in outstanding monies.
Northrock owner Kurt Mauritz has
also threatened to involve politicians
“in order that the greatest amount of
political pressure is brought to bear
on (20 per cent Sino Iron project
owner) MCC and so that the
situation we are in does not befall
others”.
In a highly emotive letter sent to
senior executives at CITIC Pacific,
which owns 80 per cent of Sino Iron,
Mr Mauritz said he regretted his
actions “but we are left with little
option.
Chinese accused
of not paying –
Barnett needs
to act!
I need to recover the outstanding
sums of money owed to Northrock
and we are no longer in a position to
tread lightly. Northrock will be
issuing legal proceedings against
MCC.”
“This will be the first time in 10 years
that I have actually issued
proceedings against a client and it
saddens me that it has come to
this.”
Mr Mauritz confirmed that MCC had
paid him about $1 million, two days
after the letter was sent, but still
owed $6.2 million.
He said he was in the process of
issuing a statutory demand which
would give MCC 21 days to pay.
Another Sino Iron contractor, VDM
Group, went through a similar
process before last week launching
a wind-up application against MCC
in the Supreme Court in Perth.
Leighton Holdings’ subsidiary
Thiess has also taken MCC to court
to recoup outstanding monies.
MCC, which is formally known
as China Metallurgical Group
Corporation and one of the
biggest
Chinese
Government-owned entities,
is refusing to discuss claims of
non-payment on site.
CITIC has also
tried to avoid
commenting
on the troubles
engulfing its
project. Last night
only reiterating that
its “policy and practice (was) to
ensure contractors are paid for the
work they do and CITIC expects all
other companies involved in the
project to do the same”.
Billed as WA’s first magnetite mine
and heralded as a new chapter in
China-Australia relations, Sino Iron’s
development has been plagued by
cost and timetable overruns and
hostile relations between the
project’s owners and contractors.
Several key contractors, including
those who had been building the
25km magnetite slurry pipeline,
the 450-megawatt combined-cycle
gas-fired power plant and the
desalination plant, have either been
terminated or walked off the job.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 47
CFMEU

CITY ROUND UP
with Peter Joshua
Raine Square: Up and running again
Well it’s been a year of mixed fortunes
in the CBD. However things are
starting to pick up with some projects
due to come on line next year (new
projects story this issue). Raine
Square is finally back up and running
after ProBuild stepped in to take it
over from Salta. It’s great to see most
of the workers back on the job just in
time for Christmas. Most of the same
subbies are on the site with a few
small changes to the form work and
steel fixers. Good to see you back
boys!
C2 or the BHP HQ as some call it is
powering ahead with FORM 700
getting ready to complete stripping
the jumps. Tower Crane One has
been jacked up to its final height of
249m with ‘legend’ and proud
CFMEU ‘craney’ Frankie Gangemi at
the controls. Frank said his work on
the tower will be a fitting end to a
career that began on the 32-storey
Allendale Square building, the tallest
CBD skyscraper at the time.
“I’ve been doing this for 37
years and I never get sick of
the view.”
CFMEU ‘craney’
Frankie Gangemi
at the controls at C2
At Inner City the main structure is
almost up to height. Diploma’s Zenith
Apartments have reached there final
height with 1178 and Queens River
also well and truly under way. The
John Holland Performing Arts
Complex has finally reached
completion, not bad considering they
started about the same time as the
CBUS job. Ha! Ha! Ha!
BGC: Wet
behind
the ears
when it
comes to
safety!
The same however can’t be said
about BGC’s Perth Arena. By the time
it opens half the acts it would’ve
attracted will probably be dead!
Thank heavens for the boys at Perth
Rigging, otherwise our tax payer
dollars would hurting even more on
this job.
On the subject of BGC, they have
started at the new Police Station in
Northbridge and are off to a ‘good’
start as you can see from this photo.
First day on the job. In the rain, site
was flooded, making it dangerous to
operate a boom lift, because you
can’t see what your wheels are
driving over.
SHAM CONTRACTING:
If you are working under sham
contracting arrangements, you don’t
have to put up with it. Take action and
do something about it now. Get what
you and your family are entitled too!
See our story this issue on what you
can do about it.
RDO’S
I know members love getting their
pocket RDO calendars – there’s one
in this journal for you, but you can
also download and print a copy for
your fridge or bar from our website at
www.cfmeuwa.com. Just look in the
calendars section for the 2011
calendar.
NO FREELOADERS!
Encourage any non-union workmates
to join the union for great benefits,
wages and conditions in 2011.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
I would also like to thank all the
workers who came out in the city
to support Armistice Day with
2 minutes silence on November 11.
WELL DONE – our Diggers would
be proud that you keep their
heroics alive.
Finally, I would like to thank all the
workers and our delegates in the
CBD for all their help and support
this past year. I look forward to
further servicing our members in
2011 and most of all I ask everyone
to drink, drive and work safe over
the festive season. We want to see
you all back next year! Stay strong!
If I can be of assistance to any
member or you have safety
concerns about your site please
call on me 0433410596 or email
pjoshua@cfmeuwa.com
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 49
CFMEU

EASTERN SUBURBS REPORT
with Vinnie Molina
Eastern Suburbs area looking better next year
Things have gone quiet in the
Eastern suburbs. CIP has just
finished the Toll IPEC site at
Hazelmere and now has began
construction of the GE site in
Jandakot. In fact all the action at the
moment is happening in the
Jandakot Airport area, with a
number of small sites and the new
yard for Viridian Glass being
constructed at PS Structures. This
same builder has three smaller jobs
at the Burswood Casino.
Pact Constructions began building
on a new site, Great Eastern Highway
Redcliffe, while PCB finishes the
Wesley College in South Perth.
Cooper and Oxley are also in the
final stages of the Aquinas and All
Saints Colleges. Despite many
criticisms about the stimulus
package, the building, extension
and refurbishment of the state
schools managed to keep many of
our members employed.
Arccon Constructions is finishing off
several jobs on a number of schools
in the Eastern suburbs. Buckingham
Building is extending a small area of
a local school in Victoria Park.
At the International Airport,
Southern Cross is building a car
park for Patrick’s on Horrie Miller
Drive. Activity is also happening at
Curtin University, with builders such
as Doric, De Francesch, and
National Interiors building or
extending the campus. Doric
Constructions has finished the first
stage of the Waterford Plaza on
Manning Road and Kent Street.
SOME YARDS:
We continue organising some of the
yards in the area, including Walsh’s
Glass, Perth Precast, The Precast
Company, Paragon, Prestige, Perth
and Booms Cranes and the GCS
and CASC yards.
PERSPECTIVES:
The future however looks promising.
We are expecting the Water
Treatment Plant in the hills at
Mundaring Weir to begin.
We hope that the banks start giving
some credits so construction of
other projects go ahead.
As usual, stay in touch and
remember we are looking for 1000
volunteers to continue the
campaign of building the union in
the workplace where bosses under
the protection of the ABCC try to
Nationalwide Roofing guys working at the Doric
Karawara Shopping Centre site. The team is led
by Allan Carlsen. Left to right: Clint, Mat, Bernie,
Adam, Mark and Allan Carlsen.
keep the union officials away from
workers.
The good news is that it’s not
working for them! We are still able to
visit and be in contact with builders
even those who would love not to
receive any visits from union
organisers such as Broad and BCG
Constructions.
A warning goes out to those
building companies with
supervisors suffering infantile
disorders who have been known to
even refuse the use of site toilets to
union organisers in a feeble attempt
to discourage unions from visiting
their dodgy sites. So boys and girls
remember a visit is just a phone call
or SMS away.
Contact Vinnie Molina on
0419 812 872 or email:
vmolina@cfmeuwa.com
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 51
CFMEU

CRANE NEWS
With Mark Hud
ston
Minister contacted over Crane Rego Crisis!
After trying to get a meeting
arranged with the Transport Minister
on the issue of cranes registered in
the other states, with no success, I
decided to write a letter to the
Minister and got the usual response
from one of his minders, “the
minister is considering your letter”.
In other words sitting on his hands
and doing nothing.
While this has been going on myself
and the other organisers have been
compiling a list, thanks to all the
crane operators who have phoned
in with their rego numbers. We now
have a list with about 120 crane
rego’s on it, if the Transport Minister
will not look at this issue and give us
some answers maybe the
opposition spokesman will.
Recently a crane operator had the
misfortune of having one of his front
wheels fall off while driving his crane
back to the depot. It’s always a
good idea to check the wheel nuts
as part of your prestart and not put
your faith in the mechanic who
changed the tyre last.
Remember that the companies will
always look to blame the crane
operator because that’s the easy
option for them rather than accepting
their own mistakes. Check that you
have the right tyres on your crane
and that the tyres haven’t been on
the crane for more than 4 years (tyres
don’t wear out when cranes are
floated but make sure the slew
brakes is on when floating).
There will be four numbers on the
wall of your tyres. The first two digits
give you the week of manufacture
and the last the year, i.e. 4002, which
would be the 40th week of 2002.
There was a collision with a tower
crane and a mobile down at
Pindan’s Leighton Beach site. The
tower crane slewed into a Kwik
Cranes stationary boom, luckily no
one was hurt and both cranes were
undamaged. I wasn’t sure Pindan
got around to notifying Work Safe so
I thought I would also help out and
give Work Safe a call myself. There
are a number of reasons I could see
why the collision occurred but the
most important one would be
“watch where you’re slewing”.
Got anything to discuss give
Mark Hudston a call on
0419 812 864.
MEMBER BENEFITS
with Joe McDonald
Discount car savings for all CFMEU members
More than ever it pays to be a financial member of the
CFMEU.
Discount New Cars is a unique online car buying service,
offering discounted prices on most popular makes and
models through a selected group of authorised new car
dealers Australia wide including here in WA. All CFMEU
Members can enjoy exclusive savings on a selected range
of new cars, over and beyond those that are available
through the general public domain. Simply visit the Union
Specials page...www.discountnewcars.com.au/unions
Our members can also speak with a friendly Customer
Service Representative by calling toll free on 1800 146
666 to find out more information.
KEY BENEFITS FOR ALL CFMEU MEMBERS:
• Save thousands on locally manufactured and imported
makes and models.
• FREE no obligation enquiry
• Discount New Cars list over 1200 popular New Car
models from 36 different manufactures.
• View technical specifications, features and options, as
well as up-front drive away pricing.
• Exclusive CFMEU Savings and Specials – beyond what
is on offer to the general public.
FOR MORE MEMBER BENEFITS:
Go to www.cfmeuwa.com or talk your organiser.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 53
CFMEU

GOLDFIELDS & MIDWEST REPORT
with Mark Hud ston
Well-being of employees falls on employers
GOLDFIELDS
Mammoet’s Leonora have now
finished their EBA negotiations and
have voted up the EBA along with
the other depots. It took 12 months
to get it through, however back pay
will ease the pain.
I will be discussing the differences
between their new EBA and what the
other crane companies are paying
during my visits to the goldfields in
November, as well as the issue of
proper accommodation when in
contractor camps. A recent court
decision basically says the well being
of employees falls on the employer
shoulders and the accommodation
provided is part of their working
environment.
Thanks to all the members who
called to let us know about the crap
camps they were in. Most calls were
about 2 blocks in a camp at Mt Keith
L & P. I will be taking this up on my
next visit to that site.
On the resent shut down at Murrin
Murrin, the disadvantaged workers
who had to put up with rooms
without ensuites were reimbursed for
their discomfort to the tune of $80 a
night, as agreed before the shut
started. I don’t believe that other shut
downs pay as much. Some of these
mining companies need to think
about who actually keeps their sites
running and look after those workers
with better conditions.
There has been some work started at
Lynase’s Weld site with the
contractor being Cimeco. We will be
paying that site a visit real soon.
MID WEST
I don’t know what has happened to Oakajee but everyone I talked to on my last
visit to Geraldton with Vinnie were so down on the project. It looks like the
project could be on the back burners for a while. Lange O’Rourke has started
the port works for Karrara and will be manning up to about 40. It was good to
see the lads when we arrived on site. Mt Gibson’s Iron site looked a lot safer
than my last visit. Wearside have nearly finished.
The local subbies tell me that work
is drying up a bit in Geraldton now
that the stimulus work is coming to
an end. There was a bad accident
on a Crothier’s site while we were in
town, a sparky came off a ladder
hurting himself badly.
Vinnie and I were having a good
look around to improve the safety
on a lot of the sites. Worksafe
should do the same instead of just
visiting the boss’s offices.
Karrara site now is starting to gear
up with Killarnee now on site, and
the lads have had their problems.
We have started to get their issues
resolved. The issue that they have is
with the agreement that’s been put
place by the CCI, and I have to say
that it’s crap.
Bush camp facilities need to improve and fast!
The CCI are up to the same old
tricks – trying to have a deficient
agreement picked up by companies
with no union agreements in place,
and if they haven’t, get them to vote
up an agreement. When will the CCI
ever learn that the employees have
the right to bargain in good faith and
not put up with agreements that are
forced on them with dubious voting
practices by blokes voting up those
agreements, who are subbies or
bosses.
I wouldn’t rush to get on this site
anytime soon, the money or the
conditions in the current
agreements are not even close to
other projects.
If you need any assistance call
Mark Hudston 0419 812 864
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 55
CFMEU

SOUTH WEST REPORT
with Troy Smart
Worsley, where the lifestyle is!
Well, let’s start by wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas, a time to enjoy
with family and friends.
Over to Worsley, the lifestyle job. Just remember with a
push on to finish the job, what they told you about the job
‘Lifestyle’!!! Enjoy your 9 day fortnight by having your
RDOs.
Betchel… ‘Where the bloody hell are you’? Never there to
meet with unions about issues and safety, must be hiding
something or hiding behind CCI. Have some nuts come
out and talk. SDR, J.H, Mono’s are all looking for more
workers in the new year to complete jobs by August 10
maybe August 11?
Over to the Power Station at Worsley. AEE maybe they
learnt their lesson last Christmas by stating they are
shutting down for the break instead of ordering workers to
work. They are also trying to restore their relationship with
the workforce, instead of being a pack of assholes, off to
court with interpretation of accruals of RDOs, annual
leave and public holidays.
At Boddington and Desal, I encourage all workers to
attend meetings at the allocated areas they give us. If
more numbers come maybe they will change back to the
sheds. LOR and Downers are looking for more workers in
the new year.
At the Desal maybe Downers should talk to their
workforce about moving RDOs from Friday to Monday.
S.S.W.A. should start walking the job more, looking for
safety and other problems. For example, tilt up panels,
soft slings, open penetrations, etc, before someone gets
hurt. They have been lucky to date, with a lot of near
misses. Remember: Safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Kemerton Silicon Plant moving slowly with Cimeco there.
Urea plant due to start early in 2011. Still no word on
Bluewater 3+4, more next year.
Wouldn’t you rather enjoy your RDO?
Just remember bosses didn’t give you your pay increases,
good amenities, clothes, site money, leave loading, public
holiday pay. These conditions have been fought and won
by unions and members over a long time. I encourage all
members to advocate non-members about the benefits of
being a member so the fight can go on for more and
better benefits.
On a finishing note, I am looking forward to next year. Be
safe. Workers united will never be defeated. Workers stick
together win together.
Further Information call Troy Smart
on 0419 812 871.
IF YOU DON’T FIGHT, YOU LOSE!
The History of the CFMEU WA...Out Soon
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 57
CFMEU

CSTC WEBCARD
with Les Wellington
NEW CSTC Webcard –
put it your wallet now!
Inside this issue of the Construction
Worker you would have received a
card promoting the CSTC website.
We call it a Webcard. It’s a handy
device to keep in your wallet at all
times. It’s there to use as a ready
reminder of the CSTC’s fantastic
new website and the mountain of
information you will find in relation
to over 45 construction skills
courses and more. There may be
courses that one day you choose to
do, or you may meet somebody
who wants to do a course to upskill
or as an entry into the industry.
If the latter is the case you can pass
on the Webcard and tell them to use
it to look at www.ctsc.com.au on
the internet for everything they will
need to know. So, don’t chuck it,
keep it handy. In the meantime we
recommend that all workers,
companies and contractors go and
have a look at the website. You’ll
see there’s more to the CSTC than
you thought.
NOTE: If you’d like more CSTC
Webcards to keep handy or pass
around, ask your CFMEU
organiser. They are also readily
available at the CFMEU office and
from the CSTC at 107 Radium
Street, Welshpool.
UNION NEWS
with Joe McDonald
Jacob’s courageous journey
Jacob Matthews has dared to struggle and he won.
Little Jacob was surprisingly diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 2
years of age.
His journey of courage started on a warm summer’s day while he was skinny
dipping under the family sprinklers and his parents Christine and Steve noticed a
swollen testicle. Within days Jacob was having surgery to remove the tumour and
then underwent 24 weeks of chemotherapy at PMH. Jacob is now in remission and
this year he was appointed as the Ambassador for the John Hughes Big Walk which
raises money for the PMH foundation.
The CFMEU got behind Jacob and the Big Walk and helped raise a total of
$7,500.
Jacob Matthews
Special thanks to the CSTC, Probuild Raine Square, City Square C2 Multiplex,
Claremont Quarter Multiplex, Fiona Stanley Hospital and McDonnell Dowel for helping out.
Having said that, it would not have been the success it was without the support of Tony Kelly, Steve Evans, Mick Buchan,
Rambo, Mike Rutty and Big Deano.
The Big Walk will be on again next year and will be supported by the union and its members.
Most of all, we would like to wish Jacob a Happy Christmas and thank all the staff and Doctors at Princess Margaret
Hospital. I think Jacob might get something extra special from Santa this year.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 59
CFMEU

COUNSELING SERVICES
with Sergio Del Borrello
Don’t let anger wreck your life
In this article W.A.C.I.R.F.’s
free psychological service,
provided to W.A.C.I.R.F. and
C.F.M.E.U. members and
their immediate families,
explains anger.
What it is, how to recognise
it and provides ways to help
you keep your cool.
WHAT IS ANGER?
Anger, is a natural, normal and
healthy emotion just like happiness
or sadness.
The problem occurs when anger
gets out of control, or is expressed
through violence.
WHY ANGER MANAGEMENT?
We feel anger when we believe that
some injustice has been done to us.
Some of us have not learnt to feel
the uncomfortable nature of anger
without acting out of aggression. We
have learnt that injustice needs
aggression. Anger management
changes this false belief.
Anger management helps us take
responsibility for our own angry
feelings and learn different ways of
expression that are not hurtful.
HOW IS ANGER EXPRESSED?
Physical violence – hitting, slapping,
shoving, kicking, scratching or
punching.
Violence is also expressed sexually,
by destroying property, harming
pets, by name calling or threats to
harm others.
Assertiveness means expressing
your point of view in a way that is
clear and direct, while still
respecting others.
What’s the difference between being aggressive or assertive?
ASSERTIVE
• Win/Win
• Express your needs clearly but
respectfully to get point across.
• Others are treated with respect.
• Often compromise.
• Builds relationships.
• Considers the needs of others
as well as yours.
• Builds self-esteem.
Assertiveness is halfway between
passive and aggressive – balanced.
This helps minimise conflict,
manage anger, meets your needs,
and creates positive relationships
with others.
TRIGGERS
Identify what situations trigger your
anger. Make a list of the things
which set you off, for example:
• Being cut off in traffic
• Running late for work
• Being held up in situations
• Not getting your way
You may be able to avoid some of
these situations – planning ahead to
avoid running late. Other situations
are out of your control, like being
cut off in traffic, but you can control
your reaction.
WARNING SIGNS
Make a list of what usually happens
in your body when you get angry,
such as:
• Tightness in chest
• Grinding teeth
• Tense muscles, clenched fists
• Pounding or racing heart
• Biting your nails
Being aware of your body’s alarm
AGGRESSIVE
• Win/Lose
• Force your needs or opinions
onto others.
• Often involves bullying
• No compromise.
• Damages relationships.
• May lead to shouting or
physical aggression.
• Damages self-esteem
bells helps you to spot anger earlier,
giving you a chance to deal with it
better.
WHAT CAN I DO?
When you notice you are getting
angry, stop and ask yourself “what
is making me angry?”
• Take time to cool down
• Don’t engage in behaviour that
hurts others
• Recognise feelings are not
problems, accept and channel
them in more healthy ways
• Challenge the reaction to
retaliate when feeling cornered,
vulnerable or volatile
• Practice relaxation or deep
breathing techniques
• Express anger effectively using a
thoughtful approach
Take control and seek private and
confidential help.
Call Sergio Del Borrello or
Dave Fillmore from Converge
International on 1800 337 068.
The information provided is
not a substitute for proper
diagnosis or treatment by a
health professional. Excepts from “Anger
Coping Strategies” and “Assertive
Communication” are courtesy of The
Centre for Clinical Interventions.
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 61
CFMEU

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
with Vinnie Molina
Linking our struggles
In this modernised and more and
more globalised world, workers
around the world are finding ways to
link their struggles.
In 2010 our magazines not only reported some of the
struggles faced by workers in Australia for better wages
and conditions, the social wage and new opportunities
but we also reported about several of the struggles
overseas.
In every issue of the Construction Worker magazine we
report on the fate of workers from places like the
Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, India, Iran, the US, Greece,
Palestine and Latin America. In particular we have dealt
with the issue of political prisoners in Colombia.
The struggle for democracy and the fight for workers
rights, the very basic right to collective bargaining and the
right to join a UNION are rights that we often take for
granted.
In countries like Colombia and Guatemala, workers pay a
high price when they stand up for their rights. Often
workers in those countries are killed or are forced to flee
for the lives.
In Australia people fought to achieve the very basic
conditions we enjoy today. In the course of that struggle
for democratic rights, many workers and union officials
went to jail. What they achieved in the past is at risk today.
Governments have enacted legislation that erodes our
wages and conditions. Particularly scary is the legal
framework that allows political police like the ABCC to
charge and imprison workers.
An example is Ark Tribe and others like him who stand for
their right to remain silent and belong to a collective to be
represented.
People in the community and other workers in less
organised industries should be put on notice that the
2010, International Action Day in Chile
current attacks on construction workers can undermine
their working conditions as well.
Imagine what would happen in this country if strong
unions like the CFMEU were undermined? Well you are
right – bosses would have a free hand and it would be
goodbye to all your hard won conditions.
Time to stick together and link our
struggles.
Our union is the only union in Australia who belongs to the
World Federation of Trade Unions, WFTU. Why is this
important and how do our members benefit from this
affiliation?
The WFTU is a class organization in which the most
progressive of the organised working class affiliate.
It is an organisation that aims to eliminate the exploitation
of labor and fights in a united way for the rights of workers
worldwide. “We believe that it is our right and the right of
our workers to be proud of all activities, acts of solidarity,
attitudes and achievements”.
This will be the theme of the XVI congress of the WFTU to
be held in Athens, Greece on April 6-10 2011.
For more information on the congress: http://www.wftucentral.org/?p=3107&language=en
Construction Worker – Summer 2010 Page 63
CFMEU

PETE’S PAGE
with Peta Arnold
NEW UNION
CLOTHING
We’ll have new Summer shirts
in stock in the new year.
Pop into the office and check it out –
while sizes and stock last –
DON’T MISS OUT.
Farewell Matt Swinbourne
CFMEU Industrial Advocate is
leaving us after 3 years to head
up the Industrial Advocate team
at the HSU – Health Services
Union. We would like to thank
Matthew for his efforts in the past
and wish him and his family every
success in the future. We don’t
Matt Swinbourne
know whether Matt put the fact
that he is an Eagles supporter on his resume, but Derby
Day here won’t be the same as all his comrades are
Docker supporters. Good luck Matt.
Union History book out soon
Our Union history book entitled “IF YOU DON’T
FIGHT, YOU LOSE”, will be out in early 2011. It is a
history into the making of the CFMEU in WA. Look
out for your copy.
SAFETY MESSAGE TO SANTA
WELCOME
New Organiser
Pat Heathcote
“Don’t
forget to
do a
safety
check on
your rig.”
Christmas
Party
in the
ABCC
Office?
Pat Heathcote is joining the office as a new organiser.
Pat is 39 and champing at the bit to get out there and
improves wages, safety and conditions for all our
members.
He’s a cabinet maker by trade and has worked as a rigger
for FMG, Ti-West and on Pluto and at Boddington. Pat is
married with 2 children and supports the West Sydney
Tigers in the NRL. Welcome aboard Pat!
Wishing all our members, their family and friends, a Merry Christmas and safe New Year.
HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSING TIMES
The union office will close lunch time 12 noon 22nd December and re-open 7am Tuesday 4th January 2011.
Page 64 Construction Worker – Summer 2010