Winter Issue 2010- 'Special History Edition' - cfmeu

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Hey Dad, look what boss gave me! Marching for 4 weeks annual leave and leave loading in 1974 Old hands out there on jobs hear it all the time. Young workers in the industry who think; “WOW, what a great boss or company to give me these top wages and benefits!” If they really believe that, then they must still leave carrots and a glass of milk next to the chimney on Christmas Eve for Santa and his reindeer. There has been nearly 175 years of sacrifice to achieve what workers have today. Unionists and members have marched, rallied, died and gone to jail fighting for the rights of workers. All young workers need to know today the value of the union and the role it has played in enabling them to have far better wages and conditions than their forefathers. The struggle and fight to win the wages and conditions workers have today and the need to fight for them in the future should never be taken for granted. As an exercise all young construction workers should look at their next pay packet. Now, take out any money you earned from working overtime, take out any penalty rates, site or travel allowances, clothing allowances, tool allowances, living away from home allowances, etc. Chuck out any payments for superannuation, long service or redundancy. How much did you earn? Now imagine you never got any wage rises the union has won over the years through arbitration or negotiating EBA’s. Have you ever had time off work through injury? If so, imagine you didn’t get any income during your recovery period or a lump sum payout as a result of your accident. Ever been sick? Who do you think fought for the right for workers to get paid sick leave? Planning a 4 week holiday? Think about only getting one week a year – and forget about any annual leave loading. Your union fought from 1941 to 1973 to get 4 weeks annual leave and won the fight for leave loading too! Got the picture yet? Without unions most workers would have NOTHING that they have today. Everything workers have today was fought for and won by unions and their members. Have you ever seen a picture of employers cracking open bottles of champagne after awarding their workers a pay rise? Governments also hardly give anything – if they do, it’s only to give with one hand and take it back with the other. Membership in your union and the courage to stand up to fight for your rights and the rights of your mates, whenever they’re under attack is as important today as it ever was. In the words of John Cummins, deceased CFMEU legend: ‘If you don’t fight, you lose. Be union proud.’ Construction Worker – Winter 2010 Page 25 CFMEU
HOW THE WEST WAS The 70’s 80’s and 90’s were tumultuous years for the union movement. The BLF and associated building unions making up today’s CFMEU WA fought numerous battles nationally to improve wages and conditions for workers. Here is a timeline of just a few of the events and disputes during that period in Western Australia. Kevin Reynolds, in the centre, on the march early 70’s 1977: Big fight brews over a $39.20 a week wage rise – WA building workers are the lowest paid in Australia – WA Government seeks to deregister union. 1977: Workers walk off Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre over Inclement Weather clause as temperature soars to 40 degrees Celsius. Employers want workers to sit in the shade – no pay if they leave the site. 1974: Strike in support of federal award 1974: 4 weeks annual leave awarded to all building workers – the Employers Federation said the cost would put the price of houses out of reach of the average worker. 1974: 30,000 BLF members go on a national strike for a $6 a week pay rise 1974: Development of the Grove shopping centre site closed. Liberal Minister for Labour, Mr. Bill Grayden declares it’s the most unsafe site ever seen. 1974: CBH site – a strike over a $12 a week pay rise above the award. Company hires scabs who are turned away by picket line. BLF deregistered in Victoria. WA stays strong in support. 6 week long strike and picket at the Perth Medical Centre 1977 1978: SGIO Insurance sees a big rise in the number of claims by workers involved in asbestos industries – the time bomb is starting to go off. 1978: 5,000 march in protest over WA State Government moves to reduce Workers Compensation payouts. There were cheers from the crowd when someone hoisted a Eureka flag up the flag pole at Parliament House. 1979: State Government committee rejects idea of portable Long Service Leave in the building industry – a battle finally won by your union. 1977: BLF deregistered over a series of industrial disputes – companies in Sydney employ armed guards to protect building sites and told to shoot on site. 1977: Builders’ Labourers walk off during concrete pour at the New Cannington Greyhounds site in support of a $26 a week wage increase as part of bringing WA into line with a National Building Award. 1977: 80 workers strike at Garden Island Naval Base to increase daily travel allowance by $2 to $9. 1977: Union members go on a 6 week long strike and picket at the Perth Medical Centre after a delegate was sacked for raising problems with safety on the site. WA leads the charge as the battle for portable Long Service Leave goes Australia wide. Workers here lead the way in Queensland. Wages and conditions of building workers start to improve Page 26 Construction Worker – Winter 2010
Page 1 and 2: Special History Edition ARK TRIBE:
Page 3 and 4: S E C R E TA R Y ’ S A D D R E S
Page 5 and 6: How the CFMEU WA became one BIG uni
Page 7 and 8: SAVING OUR PAST Long before saving
Page 9 and 10: Building a social conscience. This
Page 11 and 12: NOT ALWAYS A LABOR OF LOVE Often th
Page 13 and 14: ‘WORKERS EMBASSY’ After the pro
Page 15: 'If pickets were put on the job I w
Page 19 and 20: The skills training centre revoluti
Page 21 and 22: MayDay’10
Page 23 and 24: E D I T O R I A L C O M M E N T ARK
Page 25 and 26: S A F E T Y N E W S with Mick Bucha
Page 27 and 28: WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY with Mick Buch
Page 29 and 30: I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S wi
Page 31 and 32: S O U T H W E S T R E P O R T with
Page 33 and 34: THE NORTH WEST REPORT with Brad Upt
Page 35 and 36: THE SOUTH METRO REPORT with Paul Fe
Page 37 and 38: N O R T H W E S T F O C U S with Da

Winter Issue 2010- 'Special History Edition' - cfmeu

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