Winter Issue 2009 - cfmeu

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D E L E G AT E T R A I N I N G with Matt Waters and Mick Buchan NEW Delegates on way for WA! Proud and strong: New Delegate trainees for the CFMEU We have begun a program to recruit and develop the next generation of union delegates and activists to help build the strength of the union into the future. The program is focused on developing young activists by giving them training and mentoring on and off the job and building their experience now, while we still have a team of strong and very experienced delegates there to support them. With the assistance of Dave Garland from the ACTU organising centre, Mick Buchan and Matt Waters are putting together a solid training and development program that has already included some coaching and mentoring training for senior delegates. “It was a great day out the training centre. These guys (senior CFMEU delegates) are great rank and file leaders of the CFMEU. They really want to leave a legacy on the job when they retire in five or ten years and I admire that.” Dave Garland said. “Any young activist who puts their hand up to be part of this program will be privileged to have the likes of Cam, Ian, Les, or any of these guys, mentoring them” Mick Buchan said. Between the 12 guys that attended the training session we calculated that there was over 300 years CFMEU delegate experience in the room. “What amazed me was that when we did the maths, we realized that nearly 200 years of that experience will be leaving through retirement in the next five years. I was shocked, we were all taken back a bit” said Matt Waters. Fortunately this is something CFMEU WA Secretary Kevin Reynolds has considered and the work is well underway to make sure the union stays strong into the future. Kevin Reynolds says: “This work must begin now. You can’t replace a Job Delegate with 25 years experience with a new guy and expect the union to be as strong as a result. Sometimes it has to happen, but if we plan for it now, it won’t be an issue.” The program itself is run in groups of ten and has two off the job training courses and two on the job organising projects. Regular, planned contact with an organiser and ongoing mentoring from senior delegates will ensure that new activists can build their confidence, knowing that support and encouragement is there when needed. To become part of this program, contact Mick Buchan on 0419 812 861 or Matt Waters on 0419 812 875 Construction Worker – Winter 2009 Page 25 CFMEU
O F F C U T S with Joe McDonald Keeping you informed with recent construction news from around the nation BOSS UNDERCUTS AUSSIE WORKERS ADELAIDE: THE WORKPLACE Ombudsman will investigate exploitation of migrant workers on Adelaide construction sites. It was revealed some Chinese construction workers were being paid HALF the standard hourly rate and having food and accommodation costs taken from their pay. The Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union raised the alarm, claiming the quality of workmanship on Adelaide building sites was suffering. NOTE: If this is happening on your site in WA call your area CFMEU Organiser or the union office on 9221 1055. $5.5 MILLION RECOVERED IN LOST PAY! NSW: There has been a battle raging among some workers who claim they haven't been paid by a subcontractor for the job. The CFMEU in NSW was looking into the allegations and non-payment was an increasing problem in the building and construction industry. "Since July last year the union has recovered $5.5 million in unpaid money in NSW. During the same period the year before, we recovered $2.8 million," he said. "This is due to a number of factors, including the global financial crisis and pyramid subcontracting arrangements." NOTE: If you’re not getting paid let us know now. Call the union office on 9221 1055 KIDS EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS KILLER! QUEENSLAND: A school's second major health scare in less than two months has sparked calls for a review of the use of private contractors in state schools. The first incident occurred during school hours on April 7 at Undurba State School at Murrumba Downs, on Brisbane's northern outskirts, when wall sheeting containing asbestos was cut by private contractors to install an air-conditioning unit, creating a dust cloud in the classroom. NOTE: There are strict procedures in removing asbestos – The CSTC runs a special course. If in doubt, or you are aware of shonky removal processes call the union office. BROKEN LEG COSTS CONTRACTOR $65,000 TOWNSVILLE: ABIGROUP Contractors Pty Ltd has been fined $65,000 after a labour hire worker was injured on a Townsville construction site in October 2007. The court heard that a 20 tonne excavator a worker was using to shift sand next to a pile of steel pylons clipped the end of the pylons causing the stack to collapse. A labour hire worker standing in front of the stack of pylons was knocked to the ground and sustained a broken right leg. The worker operating the excavator did not hold a Certificate of Competency and the site supervisor was aware of this. Although the worker had a log book pertaining to the operation of such plant at the time of the incident, he was not employed for that purpose. The worker was not being supervised by any person with appropriate certification. An exclusion zone was not maintained around the areas where the excavator was operating, and site-specific induction and instructions to workers had not been recorded. OUR FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS! QUEENSLAND: 16-year-old Kirwan High School student Leo Pozzebon's love for tools and problem solving has paid off after being named Construction Skills Queensland's Student of the Year receiving $2000 for his efforts. ``Ever since I was young I have loved working with tools and problem solving practical projects,'' he said. ``I am passionate and committed to my career in the construction industry. “The benefits I have gained from training in the construction industry are that I have gained more confidence in myself and it has helped me improve my communication and problem solving skills.” Construction Worker – Winter 2009 Page 27 CFMEU
Page 1 and 2: INSIDE: May Day souvenir lift-out p
Page 3 and 4: S E C R E TA R Y ’ S A D D R E S
Page 5 and 6: D AY O F M O U R N I N G R A L LY B
Page 7 and 8: U N I O N N E W S with Kevin Reynol
Page 9 and 10: A C T U C O N G R E S S with Kevin
Page 11 and 12: continued from previous page OHS pr
Page 13 and 14: C I T Y R O U N D U P with Mick Buc
Page 15: L E G A L M AT T E R S with Matthew
Page 19 and 20: Pyramid Constructions. “Even the
Page 21 and 22: MayDay’09
Page 23 and 24: TA K I N G A C T I O N with Joe McD
Page 25 and 26: T H E S O U T H W E S T R E P O R T
Page 27 and 28: W O R K E R S R I G H T S with Jack
Page 29 and 30: U N I O N B E N E F I T S YOUR REDU
Page 31 and 32: W H E R E A R E T H E Y N O W ? wit
Page 33 and 34: M E M B E R ’ S M E E T I N G S w
Page 35 and 36: U N I O N B E N E F I T S with Rod
Page 37 and 38: I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S wi

Winter Issue 2009 - cfmeu

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