Winter Issue 2009 - cfmeu

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in Cuba’s May Day parade Kevin Reynolds presents a cheque for 12,600 Euro’s to Salvador Valdes-Meza, General Secretary of the Cuban Federation of Workers. 3 hurricanes destroying a lot of their major infrastructure. I was therefore pleased to be able to present a cheque on behalf of all the CFMEU delegates for 12,600 EURO’s which will help to rebuild local housing. APHEDA (Union Aid Abroad) donated a further $220,000 towards rebuilding the Cuban Children’s Hospital and to help buy much needed medical equipment. One thing that stands out when you go to Cuba is they don’t have much after years of being blockaded by the US Government, but what they do have they share and they get on with leading a productive life. It was interesting to catch up with other union leaders from around the world including the USA and Canada and delegates from UCAT (Union of Construction Allied Trades & Technicians) from the U.K. – they all face similar struggles as we do here in Australia, and it was refreshing to have an exchange of views and swap ideas and tactics about how best to achieve victory in these struggles. Safety is an important issue all around the world, which leads me thank all those workers who supported the ‘International Day of Mourning’ rally and march at Solidarity Park on April 28th. Joe McDonald addresses the Huge CFMEU crowd at the Day of Mourning Rally It’s heartening to see that so many members drew a line in the sand to say they won’t put up with shoddy safety procedures and unsafe workplaces. It sent a clear message to Worksafe WA that they are not out on sites doing their job effectively. Worksafe needs to focus more on preventing workplace accidents leading to death and injury rather investigating horrific events after the horse has well and truly bolted. I would like to give a message of support to our comrades in the West Gate Bridge dispute. Let’s make one thing clear, when you have employers’ who reneged on agreements and then bring in Scabs to take good jobs from our members, you are asking for trouble! BETRAYED! Before the last election Labor politicians were saying the ABCC had to go. Here’s what Penny Wong said on 7 September 2005, “Why is it that building workers in this country ought to be treated differently to other workers? We do not think it is appropriate to put one set of workers under far harsher and more stringent regulation than another set.” Now that Rudd has been elected that tune has changed as we saw from Julia Gillard at the ACTU national congress. It is a disgrace how they blatantly say one thing and mean another – they are in effect, liars! At least with Howard we knew where we stood. We now have another union member, Ark Tribe, facing 6 months jail for refusing to be interviewed by the ABCC. Like Noel Washington before him, Ark will get all our support in our fight to achieve one fair law for all. Finally, I would like to thank all those members who exercised their democratic rights and voted in the State CFMEU WA elections. Sincerely, Kevin Reynolds State Secretary CFMEU WA Construction Worker – Winter 2009 Page 3 CFMEU
D AY O F M O U R N I N G R A L LY Big CFMEU turn up for Workers proudly carry our banner: Bury Worksafe not Workers! WORKSAFE TARGETED AS INEFFECTIVE It was the largest turn out ever, spurred on by the spate of deaths WA has seen this year in the North West. The International Day of Mourning is an annual event held on April 28th. It was proclaimed by the United Nations to honour the lives of those who have died or were injured carrying out their work. It was a proud day to see around 3000 CFMEU members march up St Georges Terrace to Solidarity Park where national CFMEU Assistant Secretary, Martin Kingham and Joe McDonald gave a rousing speech to members after the official ceremonies had taken place. Along the way members carried 100 black flags and 5 black coffins to commemorate and honour fallen comrades. In the march up the Terrace a minute was taken to give the ABCC a verbal spray, no doubt they were all looking on, sitting safely in their ivory tower in the QV1 Building. It also sent a strong message that workers are not going to take their crap anymore – and that their pursuit of unions under Rudd’s anti construction worker laws by making it hard for union officials to get on site The Murrie family sadly reflect on the Life of a son and and check safety procedures is wrong, immoral and a disgrace brother, Luke Murrie – His death will not be in vain. to freedom and democracy. Page 4 Construction Worker – Winter 2009
Page 1 and 2: INSIDE: May Day souvenir lift-out p
Page 3: S E C R E TA R Y ’ S A D D R E S
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 and 16: L E G A L M AT T E R S with Matthew
Page 17 and 18: O F F C U T S with Joe McDonald Kee
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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