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WORKER 

(INC GST) ISSUE 3 2012 

HORROR 

STORY 

THELIBERALS 

IN POWER 

FLAMING HELL 

FIREFIGHTERS UNDER ATTACK 

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CONTENTS 

20 

46 

08 

27 

FEATURES 

08 WE’RE MAKING AUSTRALIA 

From construction, mining and manufacturing 

to cooking and cleaning – and just about 

everything between – AWU members have been 

hard at work making Australia great. 

14 A LIBERAL DOSE OF HORROR 

With rumours that a federal election may be called 

as early as March, there are fears that what’s 

happening under Liberal state governments may 

be repeated nationwide if a Coalition government 

led by Tony Abbott is elected. So what would that 

mean for Australia 

20 IN GOOD HANDS 

Once known as “The Workers’ Paradise” 

Queensland has had more than its share of 

conservative governments attacking all that 

workers fought for. But the AWU has always 

been there, leading the battle for workplace 

justice and members can rest assured that the 

Union’s Queensland Branch is in good hands. 

27 IN THE FIRING LINE 

State budget cuts and changes to workers’ 

compensation are threatening the lives of 

AWU members, as well as residents and 

properties around national parks and forests. 

It’s a red alert for fi refi ghters. 

46 HELMETS TO HARD HATS 

Finding work after leaving the armed forces 

can be diffi cult. But in the US some young military 

veterans, who are staunch unionists, are now 

rebuilding their lives while rebuilding a site of 

tragedy in New York. 

REGULARS 

04 National Opinion 07 Mail Call 32 Frontline News 

44 Meet the Delegates/Offi cials 50 Bindi & Ringer 

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Ltd, 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000. Cover photo: Getty Images 

AWU 

EDITOR 

Paul Howes, 

AWU National Secretary 

AWU EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

Henry Armstrong 

AWU NATIONAL 

COMMUNICATIONS 

COORDINATOR 

Stewart Prins 

AWU NATIONAL 

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 

Davor Schwarz 

Address: Level 10, 

377-383 Sussex Street, 

Sydney NSW 2000 

Email: 

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Published for The Australian 

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ISSN 1324-4094 

www.awu.net.au THE AUSTRALIAN WORKER 3

NATIONAL OPINION 

Bill Ludwig 

National President 

Queensland Branch 

Secretary 

“... just the 

stroke of a pen 

removed job 

protections” 

BILL LUDWIG 

WORKCHOICES 

MEANS NO CHOICES 

The election of the Newman Government 

in Queensland earlier this year has, yet 

again, heralded a renewed push on the 

part of conservative forces to destroy job 

security and employment terms and 

conditions for workers. 

You would be forgiven for thinking that 

we saw the end of these attacks when the 

broader labour movement mounted one 

of the most successful and concerted political 

campaigns to get rid of WorkChoices. 

Sadly, the nightmare of WorkChoices-style 

attacks is now being played out across the 

eastern seaboard of Australia, with very stark 

and savage attacks by the Ballieu, O’Farrell and 

Newman state governments which are 

spearheading the charge. 

In both Queensland and New South Wales, 

the state governments are working hard to 

strip away workers’ compensation protections 

for injured workers. 

Most recently, the Newman Government 

legislated to unilaterally take away job security 

and no contracting-out clauses in all public 

sector awards and enterprise bargaining 

agreements. No consultation. No debate. 

Just the stroke of a pen to remove these 

protections so that the job of gutting 14,000 

public sector jobs is made easier. 

In response to this, the AWU has done two 

things: fi rstly, mounting a Supreme Court 

challenge on the validity of those laws and, 

secondly, successfully petitioning the federal 

Labor government to change the Fair Work 

Act to ensure that transfer of business laws 

apply to public sector workers whose jobs are 

contracted out to the private sector. 

And you can safely bet that if Tony 

Abbott gets half a chance at running this 

country, what we see playing out at a state 

level right now will be played out federally. 

Worryingly, Abbott is already talking about 

the commonwealth public sector being 

20,000 jobs over the mark. 

All of this highlights urgently the importance 

of AWU members right throughout the country 

remaining vigilant, united and strong in the 

face of these attacks, because in spite of what 

they may say publicly, conservative politicians 

repeatedly demonstrate in the most brutal 

way that they will never have the interests of 

workers at heart. 

It is a lamentable fact, but it is entirely true. 

Just ask any of the 14,000 Queensland public 

servants who are currently in Newman’s 

gunsights. 

ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY: Campbell Newman 

met his match when a four-legged friend appeared 

to convey a pretty clear message! 

Photography: Faifax Photos/Getty 

Cesar Melhem 

Victorian 

Branch Secretary 

Russ Collison 

Greater NSW 


Stephen Price 

West Australian 


Wayne Hanson 

South Australian 


4 THE AUSTRALIAN WORKER www.awu.net.au

PAUL HOWES 

A YEAR OF 

CHALLENGE 

This year will undoubtedly go down in history 

as one of the most challenging years our 

Union has faced. 

In 2012 we have seen jobs lost across many 

of the industries we work in. The combination of 

the high Australian dollar and depressed global 

markets have put enormous pressure on 

trade-exposed industries, particularly in the 

manufacturing sector. 

At the same, the political clouds are 

darkening, with conservative state governments 

attacking jobs and services, and the federal 

coalition preparing for another assault on 

workers’ rights. 

But I’m constantly inspired by the resilience 

and determination of AWU members. When 

times get tough, the Australian Workers’ Union 

stands strong. That’s why this year has been 

a watershed for our Union in many ways. 

We led the way in arguing for government 

action to save Australia’s manufacturing sector, 

by playing a key role in the Prime Minister’s 

Taskforce on Manufacturing – which developed 

41 detailed recommendations for saving the 

manufacturing sector and giving it a foundation 

for future growth. 

The Manufacturing Taskforce also delivered 

vital short-term wins in the form of tougher 

anti-dumping measures and improved local 

content regulations for major projects. 

We led the way in securing our aluminium 

refi ning capacity. Our efforts succeeded in 

achieving a Federal Government rescue package 

for the Point Henry refi nery, while a new power 

deal secured the future of Bell Bay. 

We saw a classic example of resilience and 

determination at BlueScope just a few weeks ago, 

where members fi nalised a new enterprise 

agreement after a long, intense period of 

negotiating. AWU members at BlueScope held 

fi rm under enormous pressure, and won a fair 

deal that protected their pay and entitlements. 

The AWU has also led a passionate 

community campaign in Tasmania in support of 

a balance between conservation and mining, so 

that we can protect our environment and protect 

jobs. The Our Tarkine, Our Future campaign 

included a huge public rally in Burnie, and 

culminated with a delegation of mine workers 

going to meet Federal Environment Minister 

Tony Burke in Canberra. Thanks to our efforts, 

new job-generating projects are likely to go 

ahead, and local workers are more likely to 

have a decent future. 

The world is changing around us, and that’s 

why strong unions are more important than 

ever.We must work even harder to build unity 

in our Union, to support and encourage each 

other, and to demand a fair go for all Australian 

workers. On behalf of all the offi cials of our 

Union, I thank you for your support during 

2012, and I wish you and your family all the 

very best for the New Year. 

Paul Howes 

National Secretary 

ALUMINIUM AID: The 

Union’s efforts succeeded 

in achieving a rescue 

package securing the future 

of Point Henry. 

“... we must 

work even 

harder to 

support and 

encourage 

each other 

and to demand 

a fair go for 

all Australian 

workers.” 

POST YOUR LETTERS TO: 

The Editor, 

The Australian Worker, 

Level 10, 377-383 Sussex Street, 

Sydney NSW 2000 

Ian Wakefield 

Tasmanian 


Wayne Phillips 

Port Kembla 


Richard Downie 

Newcastle 


Norman McBride 

Tobacco 


OR EMAIL THEM TO: 



LETTERS 

MAILCALL 

YOUR NEWS 

AND VIEWS 

Gas is a hot 

issue. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION! 

Once upon a time people 

stood on soap-boxes at street 

corners and in parks to argue 

for a better deal for workers. 

Listeners would often stand 

out in the wind and rain to show 

their support – until the police or 

paid thugs came along to break 

it all up. 

These days, the arguments 

are just as passionate, but you 

don’t need a soap-box and 

a booming voice to have your 

say. And you’re less likely to 

get arrested! 

The new world of social 

media is a great way for all of us 

to express our views and opinions 

and to participate in the national 

conversation. 

The AWU is expanding its 

social media activities, and 

developing new ways for 

members to get involved in the 

big issues. 

We’re on Facebook, Twitter 

and YouTube and we’re building 

an exciting new web site. 

Getting on social media is not 

just being heard, it’s also about 

showing your support for other 

AWU members. 

GET CONNECTED 

Are you on Facebook Make sure you ‘like’ the AWU Facebook 

page! https://www.facebook.com/AustralianWorkersUnion 

Are you on Twitter Make sure you follow @AWUnion 

Prefer to use email Email your letters to: 


Still using snail mail Then send in your letters to: 

The Australian Workers’ Union, 

Level 10, 377-383 Sussex Street, 

Sydney NSW 2000. 

By submitting your letter for publication you agree that we may 

edit the letter for legal, space or other reasonable reasons, and may, 

after publication in the magazine, republish it on the internet or in 

other media. 

Views expressed on the ‘Mail Call’ page are not necessarily those of the AWU. 

Here are some of the comments that Australian workers have 

been making on social media through the AWU’s Facebook 

page and on Twitter. 

“I’ve just done the maths. It’s now more expensive to run my 

car on LPG. Strangely enough it’s sucked out of the ground 

& processed less than 50k from where I live. Where does petrol 

come from” 

Stuart Hampton on AWU’s proposal 

for a National Gas Reservation Policy 

“Can the refinery use its current workforce to rebuild They 

could be retrained or use current skills and work in with a 

specialist contractor employed for the oil to gas refit. The refinery 

would benefit greatly, having lower energy costs, and reducing 

the costs and sourcing of workers to fill vacancies for the refit 

and gaining the knowledge for future maintenance. The sticking 

point is a low cost domestic price on gas for Australian 

manufacturers. If there are royalty free licenses for foreign 

owned gas producers, why isn’t there cheap gas available for 

local producers and manufacturing, especially in a flat market” 

Daniel Foster on Pacific Aluminium’s decision 

to review its refinery operations at Gove 

in the Northern Territory 

“Yes, sensible environmental safeguards can be applied, best way 

is to sit down and discuss all the issues such as new opportunities 

for the region and workers.” 

George Naumovski on the AWU’s Our Tarkine, 

Our Future campaign 

“EBA finally done & dusted so glad to have had such great 

support from Sam Wood and the members #relieved.” 

David Walker 

on EBA negotiations 

“Well done on attacking the Govt’s 2 tier workers’ compensation 

system.” 

Will Dargan on the NSW Government’s 

cut to compo 

“Fantastc rally! A huge crowd and a great response. Drove up 

from Hobart and just home now.” 

Glenys Lindner on AWU’s Our Tarkine, Our Future 

campaign rally in Burnie during November 


INDUSTRIAL REPORT 

WE’RE MAKING 

AUSTRALIA 

THE AWU AT WORK 

The Australian Workers’ Union has a broad scope across many industries. 

From construction, mining and manufacturing to cooking and cleaning, and 

just about everything in between, AWU members have been hard at work 

making Australia great. Cate Carrigan looks who is doing what and where. 


BUILDING BRIDGES: The Sydney 

Harbour Bridge was a massive project 

and an engineering marvel of its 

time. The Union played an integral 

part in bringing it to reality. 

The construction of the Sydney 

Harbour Bridge and the Snowy 

Mountains Scheme used cu!ing-edge 

technology to create visionary 

infrastructure that transformed the way 

city residents lived; and diverted water for 

the great food bowl of the Murray-Darling 

Basin. AWU members played an integral 

part in both projects and, despite huge 

pressures on manufacturing, they are still 

working in innovative industries 

producing quality goods that keep 

Australians fed, housed and moving. 

Figures from the Australian Industry 

Group show the manufacturing sector 

contracted for the eighth consecutive 

month in March 2012. However, there 

were bright spots, with transport and 

equipment, construction materials and 

machinery recording signiÞcant growth 

through demand from the mining industry. 

Working towards that success are 

AWU members like Bob Parkinson, a 

delegate at the thriving Arrium factory at 

Waratah in the New South Wales city of 

Newcastle, which is producing quality 

train wheels for rail wagons used in the 

multi-billion-dollar mining sector. 

Tough competition from cheaper 

Chinese imports has taken a major chunk 

out of the business in recent years, but Bob 

says the company’s quality product is 

holding its own and winning back big 

miners such as Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals 

and BHP Billiton. 

“The Chinese and Indian imports were 

a lot cheaper, but they only last a few years. 

We make a quality wheel that lasts and our 

customers are now coming back,” says Bob. 

Then there’s Glen Ward, an AWU 

delegate working on what’s set to become 

one of Sydney’s landmark developments, 

the Barangaroo project at Darling Harbour 

East in Sydney. 

“It will be a magniÞcent development, 

with the rebuilding of an inlet that was 

there when Europeans Þrst arrived, 

extensive parkland and the preservation of 

important Aboriginal heritage,” says Glen. 

“There’s a lot of union history tied up 

in this place. It’s great that we are 

transforming it into parkland rather than 

throwing it to the hands of the developers.” 

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes 

says AWU members are the true heroes of 

the Australian economy, forging our future 

with their hard work and ingenuity. 

“Everywhere you go in Australia, you 

will see or use something that was made 

by AWU hands,” Paul says. “However you 

get to work, wherever you do your 

shopping, wherever you live, the product 

of an AWU member is never far away.” 

Paul points out that AWU members are 

also a driving technological innovation 

across the manufacturing sector. 

“We don’t just make things, we make 

things be!er,” Paul says. “As our jobs 

become more technical and more highly 

skilled, our members are Þnding smarter 

ways of doing things. It’s because our 

members have always taken pride in their 

work and pride in their contribution to 

the community. 

“And it’s why I’m proud to be 

National Secretary of this great union – 

the union that’s been making Australia 

for 126 years.” 

Bob Parkinson at Arrium in Sydney; Glen Ward at the Barangaroo site; AWU National Secretary Paul Howes (centre) talks with members. 



“I feel proud when 

I see these trains out 

on the Victorian tracks. 

They are a great 

quality product…” 

ABOVE: Tasmanian salmon farm industry workers. RIGHT: Victoria’s trains are right on track. 

LANDING A BIG ONE: 

TASMANIAN AQUACULTURE 

Since its beginnings in the mid-1980s at 

Dover in southern Tasmania, the state’s 

salmon farming industry has ßourished. 

From the Þrst annual commercial harvest 

of 53 tonnes, the industry now produces 

almost 40,000 tonnes per annum and 

AWU members are in the thick of it. 

The industry has become a huge part of 

Tasmania’s rural economy, with the sector, 

which directly employs 1100 people, now 

the leading primary production in the 

state, ahead of the iconic dairy industry. 

Production increased by 13 per cent to 

$369.1 million in 2009–10, surpassing rock 

lobster as Australia’s highest earning 

Þsheries product. 

AWU Tasmania Branch Secretary Ian 

WakeÞeld says AWU members have been 

involved since the start, working in all 

parts of the chain, from the hatcheries to 

the farms and processing centres. 

“The industry has seen huge growth 

and is continuing to grow, with a recent 

expansion announced into Macquarie 

Harbour on the west coast near Strahan,” 

Ian says. “I think Tasmania’s leading the 

world in innovation in salmon farming 

and husbandry with continual 

improvements all the way along the chain. 

Be!er breeding and feeding systems and 

environmental control have led to 

improved growth rates and higher yields.” 

Between them, the four key players – 

Tassal, Huon Aquaculture, Petuna and Van 

Diemen Aquaculture – run the hatcheries, 

farms and processing centres, with 

distribution through seafood wholesalers, 

supermarkets and agents for the export 

market. Fish growing and processing 

operations are spread around the state, 

with key harvesting centres at Dover and 

Macquarie Harbour, packaging at 

Huonville, Margate, Devonport and 

Parrama!a Creek, and hatcheries at various 

locations including Judbury and Lonnavale. 

Ian is conÞdent about industry’s future, 

which holds its own despite the tough 

economic environment, with projections 

production will grow to 76,000 tonne in 

2029-30, generating $960 million a year 

in sales and proving direct and indirect 

employment for 11,250 workers. 

ON TRACK: VICTORIA’S RAIL TRIUMPH 

When you think of train spo!ers, you 

probably imagine someone with a camera 

and a notebook, but for Jeff Yates it’s about 

the sense of pride he gets in seeing a 

carriage he and his fellow workers have 

built at their Dandenong factory in Victoria. 

An AWU delegate at Bombardier 

Transportation’s factory in Melbourne’s 

south east, Jeff says things are looking 

really good, with VLocity carriages being 

built, the awarding of a contract to build 

the new generation trams for Melbourne 

and a contract to build trains for Adelaide 

and possibly Queensland. 

The Canadian-headquartered global 

transport company initially won a major 

Victorian contract to maintain, repair and 

manage the entire V/Line classic ßeet of 

trains in 2010 and is continuing to impress 

with its quality product. 

Jeff says the Dandenong factory has 

a great workforce and while there are 

currently 87 workers (mainly AWU 

members) on the shopßoor, that is 

expected to treble in coming years. “It’s a 

great feeling to work for a company that’s 

expanding jobs,” he says. “It’s especially 

good to see a company like Bombardier 

basing itself in a region such as Dandenong 

where manufacturing really needs a boost. 

They use cu!ing edge technology in 

manufacturing these trams and trains, and 

pass these skills on to the men on the shop 

ßoor through good training programs. “ 

“I feel very proud when I see these 

trains out on the Victorian tracks. They 

are a great quality product that is well 

presented, well designed and so good 

mechanically that they last a long time 

before needing any replacement parts.” 

Jeff says Bombardier’s success is 

a lesson for Australian manufacturers: 

be innovative, train up the workforce 

and look to a!ract leading global 

companies that can create jobs and 

revitalise ßagging industries. 

“The workers respect working for 

Bombardier and it looks after its workers. 

That’s one of the hardest things to get 

through to management, to appreciate 

what workers do on the shop ßoor.” 

AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar 


It’s all sweet in Queensland’s sugar industry. 

Melhem says a key to Bombardier’s success 

was a Union campaign to pressure the 

former Labor Government to buy locally 

made trains and trams. “There was a huge 

campaign run by the Union that resulted 

in the former government granting the 

contract to Bombardier,” Cesar says. 

“Part of Bombardier’s plan was to 

build a cluster of local suppliers to make 

parts for new trams and trains. So now 

they’ve got the economies of scale to start 

producing trams (300 in next 10 years) and 

trains and get orders from other states.” 

A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR: 

QUEENSLAND’S SWEET SUCCESS 

In Queensland, where dropping sugar 

prices had canegrowers pulling out their 

crops just a few years ago, the mood has 

turned with increasing optimism and 

more hectares now being planted. 

Sugar reÞnery worker and AWU 

delegate Darren Routh says with 

rebounding prices for sugar, farmers are 

pu!ing in more cane and foreign companies 

are buying up land to plant the crop. 

“A lot of farmers stopped growing 

cane because the price dropped, but 

that’s changing. It’s deÞnitely be!er 

than it was 10 years ago and I’m feeling 

more conÞdent about the future of the 

sugar industry,” he says. 

Darren’s optimism is back up by the 

latest Þgures from Canegrowers Australia, 

which show a $100m growth in the value 

of the Australian sugar industry in four 

years. That’s a 20,000 hectares increase in 

land under cane. 

Darren, who works for Sugar 

Australia’s Racecourse ReÞnery at 

Mackay, which produces up to 420,000 

tonnes per annum, says the plant takes 

raw sugar and turns it into white, brown, 

coffee and extra course white sugar for 

the export and domestic markets. 

Facing stiff competition, BlueScope Steel in Port Kembla is using innovation to find new markets. 

AWU Queensland Branch Assistant 

Secretary Ben Swan, says members like 

Darren work right throughout the sugar 

industry, from cultivation to reÞning, 

milling and exporting, with 1500 AWU 

members working in sugar manufacturing 

throughout the state. 

“Sugar is a very important area of 

membership for the AWU in Queensland,” 

Ben says. “Not only does it span a region 

from Rocky Point on the south coast right 

up to Cairns, but cane cu!ing was one of 

the Þrst three pillars of the AWU along 

with shearing and mining.” 

WHEELS ON FIRE: NSW IS ROLLING 

Quality is proving a winner for a 

Newcastle company that makes train 

wheels, with Arrium’s Waratah factory 

slowly but surely regaining the orders of 

large mining companies that had been 

opting for cheaper Chinese alternatives. 

“We are proof of quality winning out 

over cheap imports,” says Bob Parkinson, an 

AWU delegate at the Waratah factory in 

Newcastle, which employs about 750 people 

and has been making train wheels under 

different company names for 95 years. 

AWU Newcastle Branch Secretary 

Richard Downie says cheaper imports had 

been taking their toll on the Arrium 

(formerly OneSteel) product. “For many 

years, over 90 per cent of train wheels on 

Australian tracks were made at this factory 

but then the Chinese imports started to 

bite into the market,” he says. 

“Fortescue Metals and Rio Tinto were 

importing fully made wagons, but the 

wheels weren’t the standard of the ones 

made in Newcastle, lasting Þve years 

compared to Waratah’s seven plus. Now 

wagons are coming to Australia to be Þ!ed 

with Newcastle-made wheels or they come 

in with the Australian wheels on them.” 

Bob Parkinson says Arrium is working 

back towards the levels of output it reached 

before the global Þnancial crisis (GFC), with 

the company forecasting an output of 80,000 

wheels for this year, and hoping to get 

back to the 110,000 per annum they were 

making just prior to the GFC. 

“We mainly supply the mining sector 

with wheels for railway wagon carts, but we 

also have sales for passenger trains and 

export to South Africa,” Bob says. “The 

company (which has employed 100 more 

workers to meet growing demand) is trying 

to increase the export and passenger train 

market and has made some good inroads 

over last 18 months. At one stage companies 

were bringing in entire trains from China, 

but then we began sending wheels to China 

to be Þ!ed to the carriages. Now the wheels 

are Þ!ed in Australia, which is great.” 

ROOFS OVER OUR HEADS: 

THE BLUESCOPE STORY 

From gu!ering to housing frames, rooÞng, 

fencing, ßooring, garages, walkways and 

rainwater tanks, BlueScope Steel in the 

industrial zone of Port Kembla, south of 

Sydney, produces most things needed for 



“There’s a lot of union 

history tied up in this 

place. It’s great that 

we are transforming 

it into parkland” 

Sydney’s Barangaroo site is an enormous project giving an historic area back to the public. 

industrial and residential construction. 

While it’s facing stiff global competition, the 

Illawarra-based steelmaker is using 

innovation and market savvy to Þnd new 

markets and hold its regular customer base. 

AWU delegate at the Springhill 

Works, Ilija Sukoski, says BlueScope 

makes and distributes ßat steel products, 

steel building products and metalliccoated 

steel products, in addition to 

pre-engineered steel buildings. 

“The company’s key brands are 

Xlerplate steel, Colorbond steel, Lysaghts 

steel, providing a full ranging of 

construction products from insulated 

panels, to walling and cladding,” Ilija says. 

AWU Port Kembla Branch Secretary 

Wayne Phillips, advises BlueScope’s 

current market share in NZ and Australia is 

70 to 80 per cent. While this is high, Wayne 

says it needs be up around 80 per cent 

for the company to be proÞtable. 

“The biggest issue BlueScope has is 

importation of inferior products and the 

dumping of steel from countries not abiding 

by World Trade obligations,” he says. 

BlueScope is looking at ways to 

expand its market share, Wayne says, 

and has entered into a joint venture with 

Japan’s Nippon Steel to sell coated steel 

products to South East Asia and North 

America. “As a result, there’s to be 

a $140 million investment into the 

BlueScope Springhill factory at Port 

Kembla, to enable the manufacture and 

production of new products.” 

For Wayne and Ilija the importance 

of the Australian manufacturing sector 

is a no-brainer. They both agree that 

manufacturing is the engine room and 

nucleus of innovation in Australia and 

the world. 

A HARBOUR VISION: BARANGAROO 

It’s an iconic location. The old docklands 

located on the eastern edge of Sydney’s 

Darling Harbour, nestled in beside the 

Sydney Harbour Bridge and the site of the 

historic Hungry Mile where workers 

lined up – often unsuccessfully – for work 

during the Great Depression of the 1930s. 

Now, with the help of AWU workers, 

22 hectares of disused container wharves 

are being transformed into a spectacular 

waterfront precinct, including a six-hectare 

headland park, waterfront walks, 

commercial office towers and apartments, 

to be serviced by new and extended 

transport systems. 

AWU delegate Glen Ward says the 

20 members employed by Baulderstone on 

the Barangaroo Authority site are currently 

doing foundation working; building the 

site up 18 metres so pedestrians can walk 

off the top of the cliff into the park. 

“We are also recreating an inlet to the 

way it was in the 1880s, when Europeans 

arrived,” he says. “The idea is to dig 

out along the shoreline and incorporate 

it into the foreshore area. We’ve got our 

own quarry where we’ll be mining 

sandstone blocks for the pathways that 

will reach down to the water’s edge all 

along the park. Fully established trees will 

be planted straight into the ground. This 

will be a landmark site for Sydney. The 

sandstone will be going down to the 

water and the step process is absolutely 

magniÞcent. It’s amazing what they are 

going to do here and a project that most of 

Sydney will be watching because it’s 

totally open to the public.” 

AWU Greater NSW Branch Secretary 

Russ Collison says Barangaroo is just one 

example of the important work being 

done by AWU members in building 

infrastructure around NSW, with up to 

2000 workers involved in construction 

projects including road building, tunnels 

and bridge work at any given time. 

Russ says innovation is always a factor 

in the sector, with the machinery and 

equipment used for building tunnels today 

completely different to what was used 

10 or 15 years ago, and a lifetime away 

from the days of the Snowy Mountains 

Scheme and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

“Even by today’s standards, you look 

at the bridge and wonder, how brave were 

those guys. The joining of those two arches 

was phenomenal and the AWU (through 

the old Ironworkers’ Union) was the major 

union involved,” Russ says. “The Snowy 

Mountains Scheme was also a major feat 

and another AWU project. It was built by 

union labour, was very multi-cultural 

(including Italians, Greeks and many 

others) and was a great success. 

“We’ve got a great history, it’s a great 

union and most of the projects we’ve been 

involved in have been unionised.” 

TOP GEAR: 

CAR INDUSTRY HERE TO STAY 

While there’s been a lot of pessimism 

about the Australian car industry, AWU 

South Australian Branch Secretary Wayne 


Rob Phillips, AWU delegate at Kwinana. 

We must have 

a vehicle 

industry; we 

must make 

things.” 

Hanson is not only conÞdent that it has 

a future, but is adamant it’s an essential 

part of Australia’s manufacturing sector. 

With AWU workers based in underpressure 

car components supply chain 

companies, Wayne says the challenge is for 

companies to restyle their thinking and 

ensure strategic planning is in keeping with 

21st century manufacturing techniques. 

“For too long business has been happy 

to stay in the comfort zone of ‘70s and ‘80s 

techniques,” Wayne says. “But if those 

players haven’t got the strategic knowhow 

we ought to get rid of them and put in 

people with the guts to improve the way 

they manufacture. 

“Maybe there could be a moratorium on 

vehicle industry manufacturers to lay off 

with their downward pressure on prices 

until components industries can introduce 

modern manufacturing techniques.” 

Wayne points to the example of the 

Japanese company HeroTec, which has a 

factory based in the Adelaide suburb of 

Elizabeth. “This facility has cu"ing-edge 

techniques and we never hear a whimper 

out of them. They are just humming away, 

satisfying the needs of whatever it takes to 

make things that open and shut on a motor 

vehicle – doors, bonnets, boots for Holden. 

“They are a glowing example of the 

way that manufacturing should be headed. 

We must have a vehicle industry; we must 

make things. Just like Germany, which is 

doing very well in the high quality sector.” 

FUELLING THE FUTURE: 

WA PETROCHEMICALS 

The largest oil reÞnery in Australia and 

the only one in Western Australia, BP’s 

Kwinana ReÞnery south of Perth produces 

137,000 barrels of crude oil every day and 

employs just over 400 workers, including 

162 AWU members. Turning imported 

crude oil into petrol and diesel, the plant 

While there has been pessimism about the car industry, but the Union believes it has a future. 

supplies most of the state’s fuel needs, 

including the huge WA mining industry. 

And that’s the way AWU’s Western 

Australian Branch Secretary Stephen Price 

would like it to stay; an important industry 

supplying valuable fuel and jobs for the 

mining industry and other customers 

across the vast state. 

But Stephen says that despite increasing 

output, there is a danger Australia’s 

reÞneries will close, with companies 

looking at the cheaper option of importing 

the reÞned product. “A lot of crude comes 

out of Singapore and some of the companies 

think they could be more proÞtable if they 

just dealt with imports,” he says. 

AWU delegate at Kwinana Rob Phillips 

who’s been at the reÞnery for 36 years, says 

while eastern seaboard reÞneries are facing 

closure, he’s quietly conÞdent about the 

future of the WA plant. 

“I believe WA is the safest state in terms 

of continued reÞning, because we are the 

only one in this part of the country, a major 

supplier to the mining industry, and are 

close to the Stirling Naval Base (just west of 

Kwinana)” Rob says. “Kwinana is a great 

place to work and the AWU has given us 

a lot of help in obtaining our conditions, 

standards and pay rates.” 

Rob will be pushing his case along with 

other AWU officials and delegates at a 

Federal Parliamentary inquiry into the future 

of oil reÞning in Australia. 

“It’s important to have a reÞning sector 

in Australia for a number of reasons, 

including the country’s security and ability 

to set prices,” he says, adding that 

companies need to think beyond the 

bo"om line and take into account the social 

beneÞts and the importance of maintaining 

skills in Australia. “The technology 

associated with reÞning needs to be 

retained and developed.” 


POLITICAL IMPACT 

With rumours that a Federal election is looming, there are fears that what’s 

happening under Liberal state governments may be repeated nationwide if a 

Coalition government, led by Tony Abbo!, is elected. An assault on the public 

service, massive reductions in infrastructural spending and a return to 

WorkChoices… The AWU believes it is important workers understand that a 

Coalition government is no friend to working people. It brings with it a threat 

to jobs, wages and working conditions. Donna Reeves reports. 

A LIBERAL DOSE OF 

Queensland Branch 

Assistant Secretary 

Ben Swan 

QUEENSLAND 

In March this 

year, Campbell 

Newman and the 

Liberal National 

Party annihilated 

the Anna Blighled 

Labor Party, 

winning 78 of the 

89 available seats. 

Queensland workers have been reeling 

ever since, says AWU Queensland Branch 

Assistant Secretary Ben Swan. 

One of the Þrst things Newman did 

as premier was announce he was slashing 

public service worker jobs, despite having 

said he would do no such thing. 

“Things are nightmarish at the 

moment,” says Ben Swan. Initially 

Newman said 20,000 public service jobs 

would go, “but he massaged that down 

to 14,000 and was cynically sprouting off 

these cheesy lines that he’d listened to the 

concerns of people, and that job losses 

wouldn’t be as dramatic as what was 

originally intended,” Ben says. 

Another signiÞcant blow to the 

workers of Queensland was Newman’s 

decision to broaden the deÞnition of 

workers he could potentially sack. He did 

this by redeÞning the deÞnition of frontline 

worker to include only those who have 

contact with the public more than 

75 per cent of the time as part of their role. 

“There are very critical services 

in the public sector – health, some of 

the emergency services like Þre and 

ambulance – that should be deemed 

frontline, but under that deÞnition would 

not meet that description,” Ben says. 

“The effect is that there is no job 

security for these people.” 

As a consequence of his slash-andburn 

approach, the unemployment rate in 

Queensland has skyrocketed. According 

to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 

September seasonally adjusted Þgures, 

unemployment in Queensland is at 

6.3 per cent, up from 5.2 per cent in April. 

Ben says that as well as causing 

thousands of redundancies in order to 

shrink the public service, Newman plans 

to outsource huge chunks of public sector 

works, such as hospital linen services and 

catering, to the private sector. By doing 


THE MAD MONK: Tony 

Abbott has plans that will 

strip away workers’ rights, 

wages and job security. 

this, the government achieves a few 

objectives: “they remove employee 

numbers from their books by transferring 

them another company, they reward their 

mates with lucrative public sector 

contracts, and they also remove what 

they perceive to be the shackles of public 

service terms and conditions”. 

Workers forced into the private 

sector “freefall down to what are generally 

a lot less accommodating beneÞts and 

terms and conditions in the private 

sector,” says Ben. 

In response to this erosion of 

beneÞts if workers are “transferred” 

from the public sector to the private sector, 

the AWU met with Employment and 

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, 

and has worked with him to get legislation 

introduced into Federal Parliament to 

remedy the situation. 

Victorian Branch 

Secretary Cesar Melhem 

VICTORIA 

AWU Victorian 


Cesar Melhem 

says the past two 

years under the 

Baillieu Liberal 

government have 

been tough for 

the Branch and 

the workers of 

Victoria. He says 

more than 4000 public service jobs have 

been lost throughout the state. 

One of Cesar’s major concerns is 

that construction work on the Victorian 

desalination plant will Þnish at the end 

of this year, leaving about 4000 people 

without jobs and with no real hope of 

re-employment in the immediate future. 

The only public project currently of any 

real signiÞcance is the regional rail project, 

which will provide 90 kilometres of extra 

track, but Cesar says it will only employ 

500 to 700 people. 

“There’s really nothing on the horizon 

for projects over $100 to 200 million, so it’s 

quite depressing in terms of infrastructure 

investment in Victoria,” he says. 

This lack of investment could have 

been avoided if Baillieu had had the 

foresight to apply for Federal government 

infrastructure funding, Cesar says. “We 

desperately need investment in 

infrastructure in Victoria, but the Baillieu 

Government has sat on its hands. 

“When Baillieu came to power, he 

basically put a freeze on all infrastructure 

spending while he did a so-called 

study and analysis of all jobs, so nothing 

happened for 18 months. This was 

despite the fact that he inherited a really 

good public service free of controversies, 

and everything was looking good. 

It’s not like he inherited a basket case. 

It was all going well. 

“By the time he woke up and decided 

he’d be!er start investing, a lot of 

Commonwealth funding set aside for 

infrastructure had been allocated to 

other states. The money’s dried up and 

we’re probably looking at two to three 

years to turn it around. Meanwhile, a lot of 

construction companies are going to start 

shedding workers.” 

To make ma!ers worse, while failing 

to secure funding and jobs for Victoria, 

the government has been grandstanding 

about ge!ing tough with construction 

workers, which has meant introducing 

a state code that duplicates federal 

measures, says Cesar. 

“It would be nice to see them ge!ing 

down to the business of jobs rather than 

churning out spin to look tough.” 

NEW SOUTH WALES 

Only two years 

after Barry 

O’Farrell and the 

Liberal Party took 

office in New 

South Wales, 

Greater NSW 


Russ Collison says 

Greater NSW Branch the Union is 

Secretary Russ Collison facing some very 

signiÞcant issues. 

“We’re Þghting on a number of fronts 

because of the state government, with 

changes to workers’ compensation being 

one our major concerns,” Russ says. “The 

changes are just absolutely outrageous and 

while they will affect all our members they 

will have a hugely detrimental effect on 

National Parks and Forestry members.” 

Changes to the Workers Compensation 

Act include: 



• The removal of virtually any right to 

make a journey claim relating to an 

injury suffered whilst travelling to and 

from work. 

• The removal of the ability to make 

permanent impairment claims 

unless the person has greater than 

10 per cent permanent impairment. 

• The removal of compensation for pain 

and suffering arising from an injury. 

• Weekly payments are reduced after 

only 13 weeks and generally cease two 

and a half years after the injury. There 

is no coverage for medical expenses 

incurred from 12 months after weekly 

payments have ceased. 

• There is no ability for workers to 

recover legal costs from successful 

workers’ compensation claims. This 

means many injured workers will not 

be able to afford to enforce their rights. 

Russ says that in order to get the 

workers’ compensation changes 

through, the O’Farrell Government 

did a “dirty stinking deal” with The 

Shooters and Fishers Party to allow 

shooting in national parks. 

“We don’t agree with the deal, but that 

being said, we have taken a very legitimate 

position and said that if the government 

decides that’s what it’s going to do, then 

there have to be some safeguards put in 

place,” he says. “National parks are very 

passive and recreational areas for everyone 

within the state to use, and just to have 

people thinking they can go in there 

and do any sort of shooting is a fatality 

waiting to happen.” 

Russ says the state government is also 

corporatising Forests NSW, which is a 

precursor to privatisation, and the Roads 

and Maritime Service Department may 

also shed 700 jobs.. 

“We’re concerned about that because 

I have yet to see anything that has been 

privatised that has been totally successful. 

I think what it means is the loss of jobs. 

“Barry O’Farrell said he was going to 

create 5000 jobs and I think at this stage 

he’s created 50,000 redundancies.” 

BE AFRAID! 

So, what can we expect under a Tony Abbottled 

Liberal National government The AWU 

has plenty of experience when it comes to 

fighting for workers’ rights under conservative 

governments, so here’s what some AWU 

officials think will happen... 

PAUL HOWES, 

NATIONAL SECRETARY 

“Tony Abbott and 

his colleagues have 

made a virtue out 

of their aggressive 

approach to cutting 

Federal government 

expenditure. They 

have an ideological 

hatred of government 

services. They believe 

that everything should 

be outsourced to the 

private sector and 

individuals should pay 

for the services they use. 

“This means the quality of public services 

will be eroded, and conditions in the public 

sector will become unworkable. 

“Tony Abbott and [Queensland premier] 

Campbell Newman share an equally cavalier 

and irresponsible approach to policy. If 

Newman and Abbott get to have their way, it 

will be open season on public services right 

across the whole country. 

“When services are run down, all of us 

pay the price. In the union movement, we 

have a responsibility to fight for our services 

and for our community. That’s why it’s so 

important for workers to be a part of their 

union and for unions to develop strong 

alliances with community groups. 

“You only need to think back to the 

Your Rights at Work campaign to see how 

people power can change the course of 

national politics.” 

CESAR MELHEM 

VICTORIAN BRANCH SECRETARY 

“It has become abundantly clear that the 

Liberals think the problem with WorkChoices 

is its name. Tony Abbott clearly sees the issue 

as a marketing problem. Our members lived 

through WorkChoices once and they are of 

one voice in opposing anything approaching 

it in the future. 

“Statements by Mr Abbott that he 

will reinstate the Australian Building 

and Construction Commission (ABCC) 

demonstrate the Coalition’s belief that 

worker bashing is popular with business. 

The ABCC is one of many bad and damaging 

aspects of the Coalition’s industrial 

relations regime; to even threaten to bring 

it back is simply telling workers that they 

would be kept in their place under an Abbott 

Government.” 

WAYNE HANSON, 

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH SECRETARY 

“I can’t ever recall Tony Abbott getting on the 

stump and being supportive of the working 

class for the whole time he’s been in politics. 

Indeed, he was the architect of some of the 

most treacherous workers’ legislation in the 

auspices of WorkChoices. 

“I don’t think that the workers have 

anything to look forward to as far as Tony 

Abbott is concerned and particularly if he 

ever becomes prime minister. 

“People need to understand that when you 

put these morons in it takes a lot of effort and 


Newcastle Branch 

Secretary Richard Downie 

NEWCASTLE 

Newcastle Branch 

Secretary Richard 

Downie agrees 

with his Greater 

NSW Branch 

counterpart, 

saying the 

changes to 

worker’s 

compensation 

will hurt those that can least afford it. 

“This state government is Liberal 

and obviously they never have been and 

never will be a friend of the worker and 

the unions,” Richard says. “They have 

already slashed and burned workers’ 

compensation, so they’ve a!acked the 

injured and the vulnerable. It doesn’t get 

much worse than that.” 

PORT KEMBLA 

After eight months, a bi!er and protracted 

campaign against BlueScope Steel has 

come to an end, says Port Kembla Branch 

Secretary Wayne Phillips. 

a lot of persuasion to draw people back 

to the real world and, if anything, there 

is a huge void in Australia now that was 

caused by 12 years of John Howard. 

“There are people who have really 

been brainwashed by the conservative 

views that’s it’s better to be an 

enterprise employee than a member 

of a trade union.” 

STEPHEN PRICE, 

WEST AUSTRALIAN BRANCH SECRETARY 

“The Fair Work legislation that we 

have at the moment allows us to assist 

members with their work-related issues, 

which ultimately has given workers 

a little bit more confidence knowing 

that they can be supported and 

represented. 

“Under a Coalition government you 

will see all these gains being removed 

and the government will run a very 

strong industrial-relations-changing 

mandate. They made some mistakes 

under WorkChoices, which allowed the 

unions to continue to operate and 

I think should they be elected, they will 

learn from those mistakes.” 

Port Kembla Branch 

Secretary Wayne Phillips 

Both the 

AWU and 

BlueScope have 

Þnally agreed 

on an enterprise 

agreement, but it 

hasn’t been easy. 

“It’s been a 

really hard one 

this time because 

the company 

went on a full a!ack to try to eliminate a 

lot of our members’ conditions and rates,” 

Wayne says. “They were going after sick 

leave provisions and they wanted to 

change our security of employment, which 

is pre!y important for us.” 

Wayne says that because the steel 

industry is currently depressed, a lot of 

contractors are also suffering. 

“Illawarra is in a pre!y depressed state, 

so it’s been really tough. There are some 

good news stories, but generally it’s been 

pre!y hard.” 

On top of the ba!le with BlueScope, 

he says TAFE employees are extremely 

nervous about their jobs. 

“We are doing all we can to assist 

and we’re trying to anticipate what will 

happen, but the government sector 

certainly doesn’t need this crap on top of 

everything else.” 

Sadly, Wayne says, there aren’t a lot 

of new industries moving to the Illawarra 

district, although there is talk of a national 

biodiesel plant being built. 

“That’s a bit of a positive news, and 

there is a bit of roadwork’s going on, 

but it’s very sketchy and haphazard and 

there’s not a great deal of it,” he says. 

“It’s been a tough year, but our 

members are behind us and we’re doing 

what we can to support them. They’re 

still prepared to have a go and a Þght 

when it’s needed.” 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 

South Australia’s manufacturing sector, 

like the rest of the country, is doing it 

tough and the decrease in production 

has had a signiÞcant impact on Union 

membership, says AWU South Australian 

Branch Secretary Wayne Hanson. 

“This downward trend has drawn 

our a!ention to the fact that our traditional 

members, and the comfort zone that was 

associated with them, are rapidly 

South Australia Branch 

Secretary Wayne Hanson 

declining,” Wayne 

says. 

“If this trend 

continues we 

are going to reach 

a stage where 

the Union is 

where the 

workers are not, 

and that is 

something that 

perturbs me a great deal.” 

He says the resources and mining 

industry provides a classic example of 

unions struggling to make headway into 

what are traditional union territories. 

“There is very li!le penetration as far 

as unions are concerned in these growing 

areas and we are confronted with the 

hostile a!itudes of mining companies that 

have been there since the 1920s and the 

day of the big disputes in Broken Hill,” 

Wayne says. 

Another issue that both frustrates 

and concerns him in South Australia is the 

lack of adventure and the lack of initiative 

by investors. For example, he says that the 

emerging Asian middle class – anticipated 

to increase six-fold over the coming decade 

to three billion people – provides ample 

opportunity for companies to supply white 

goods component parts. 

“Manufacturing industries can be a big 

part of the future but unless [investors] 

start being a bit more adventurous the 

chances of tapping into, and being a 

signiÞcant supplier to, the Asian markets 

are slipping us by,” Wayne says. 

Despite this, he is conÞdent that under 

the leadership of Labor Premier Jay 

Weatherill, South Australia can turn its 

declining manufacturing sector around. 

“Jay has got his Þnger on the pulse,” 

Wayne says. 

“I think that his preferred model is 

similar to the model that is currently 

successful in Germany, which has focussed 

on tapping into those niche markets where 

it continues to be a world leader in 

manufacturing. 

“If that’s the case I am conÞdent that in 

South Australia we can turn things around, 

but it’s not going to happen overnight.” 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

Western Australia has long been known 

as the boom state, with its thriving 



Photography: Getty Images 

mining and 

resource sector 

contributing to 

low levels of 

unemployment 

and higher than 

average wages, 

but a recent 

slowing down 

Western Australia Branch of the sector is 

Secretary Stephen Price starting to create 

some difficulties. 

“One of the big issues that’s 

happening here is the issuing of jobs to 

foreign workers, so it’s a lot more difficult 

than it should be for the locals to get 

employment on construction and mining 

projects,” says AWU WA Branch Secretary 

Stephen Price. Stephen says that foreign 

workers were encouraged to come to 

Western Australia to Þll an employment 

shortfall, but the slowdown – in part due 

to the strong Australian dollar and price 

ßuctuation in iron ore – has seen jobs 

become less available. 

“There may be a need for skilled 

migrants and the people that come are an 

additional resource, but they should not 

be a substitute labour resource or used as 

an excuse not to train our kids.” 

However, Stephen says this doesn’t 

mean the AWU is against immigration. 

“The AWU supports immigration 

absolutely,” he says. “There will always 

be a need for immigration and the people 

who come are an additional resource, but 

they should not be a substitute labour 

resource.” 

On top of this, the resources boom 

has created a two-speed economy, and 

the cost of living in Western Australia is 

high. An international study last year 

ranked Perth the 13th most expensive city 

in the world, and Stephen says some 

members are struggling to keep up. 

“We have a lot of people who 

beneÞt from the resources boom, but 

unfortunately we also have a lot of 

people that don’t.” 

TASMANIA 

Tasmania Branch 

Secretary Ian Wakefield 

AWU Tasmanian 


Ian WakeÞeld 

says the Island 

State has suffered 

from major 

cutbacks to 

health, education 

and police over 

recent years. 

“Tasmania 

has suffered from 

the Global Financial Crisis, and it has not 

shared in the beneÞts of the resources 

boom,” Ian says. 

“As a result, the Labor state 

government has pushed through some 

tough and unpopular cost-cu#ing 

measures, with around 1000 jobs lost 

from the public sector in the past year. 

The health sector has been hit very hard, 

while the prospect of school closures 

remains on the agenda.” 

He says police officers have also been 

running a very determined campaign 

against cuts to resources and staff levels. 

At the same time, the Liberal 

opposition has been promising even more 

savage cuts to public service spending 

and jobs. 

“According to its alternative budget, 

the Liberal Party would cut an extra 

$480 million out of the public service, 

which would leave a massive hole in state 

government departments,” Ian says. 

“An international study ranked 

Perth the 13th most expensive city 

in the world, and Stephen says 

more members are struggling…” 

REMEMBER: HOWARD’S 

WORKCHOICES MEANT 

NO CHOICE 

Under WorkChoices, Australian 

workers faced losing numerous 

rights: 

• Protection from being sacked 

unfairly was stripped away from 

more than three million workers. 

• Employers had the power to put 

workers onto AWA individual 

contracts that cut the award pay 

and conditions of employees. 

• The award safety net was effectively 

abolished and there were changes 

to minimum wages to drive down 

the pay of low-income workers. 

• Young workers, women and casuals 

were the most vulnerable to 

WorkChoices and ended up being 

its worst victims. 

• More than a million low-paid 

workers suffered real pay cuts of up 

to $90 a week from changes to 

minimum wages. 

• Thousands of workers were pushed 

onto AWA individual contracts 

and 70 per cent lost shift loadings, 

68 per cent lost annual leave 

loadings, 65 per cent lost penalty 

rates, 49 per cent lost overtime 

loadings and 25 per cent no longer 

had public holidays. 

Source: ACTU 


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POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND 

“I remember well 

the terrible days of 

Joh Bjelke-Petersen 

when we were almost 

a police state.” 


Photography: David Hahn 

IN GOOD 

HANDS 

Queensland was once known as the Workers’ 

Paradise. It is, afterall, the birthplace of the 

Australian Labor Party. However, the bad old days 

of the 1970s Liberal-National government appear 

to be re-emerging with the Newman Government. 

But the AWU is ready to fight to protect workers’ 

rights and you can rest assured, the Union is in 

good hands, as Michael Blayney discovers. 

Twelve storeys high in the AWU 

Queensland Branch head office, 

Branch Secretary and National 

President Bill Ludwig glances out the 

window, momentarily lost in thought. 

“When I was a kid going to school here, 

the own hall clock tower was the tallest 

building in Brisbane, but now you can’t see 

it, we’re all looking down on it,” he says. 

The skyline’s not the only thing changing 

up north. Brisbane is now considered 

a natural antidote to Sydney’s glamour and 

Melbourne’s gloom. In the early 1990s, 

southerners started calling the city BrisVegas, 

a tongue-in-cheek dig at a city perceived as 

a big, sleepy country town. Today, as 

Brisbane continues to develop and mature, 

the BrisVegas tag doesn’t seem so outlandish. 

“After we hosted Expo [world fair] in 

1988, the whole city’s really gone ahead,” 

Bill says. “Before Expo came to town, you 

could’ve shot a cannon up the street on a 

weekend and you wouldn’t have hit anyone.” 

All this growth spells job creation, 

especially in the engineering and infrastructure 

sectors, according to Queensland Branch 

Assistant Secretary Ben Swan. 

“Cranes have been an ever-present 

feature of the city skyline for the past few 

decades,” he says. 

Ben takes us out on the road to see some 



LEFT: Jimmy Whiting 

RIGHT: Legacy Way 

Tunnel. 

of the projects that are re-shaping Brisbane 

from the ground up. In fact, the first stop is 

underground in the Legacy Way Tunnel, part 

of a road construction project. 

Ben says work here commenced in April 

2011 and is expected to continue until the 

end of 2014. 

“When complete, Legacy Way will feature 

two parallel tunnels connecting Toowong to 

the city, approximately 4.3km long and 12.4m 

in diameter, each containing two lanes for 

traffic,” Ben says. 

The site’s senior AWU delegate is the 

Cairns-born, Brisbane-raised Jimmy Whiting. 

His job here is to provide logistics, registering 

workers in and out of the tunnel and 

checking they’re sufficiently equipped to take 

on the job. At the coalface, the work is hot, 

dirty and dusty. Two tunnel boring machines 

(TBMs) blast their way through phyllite, a rock 

similar to black basalt. More than two million 

tonnes of spoil and rock will be removed 

during construction. 

Already ahead of schedule, the project 

has been progressing smoothly, especially 

when compared to the trouble-plagued 

Airport Link, a controversial Brisbane tollroad 

project that suffered lengthy delays, 

safety issues and cost overruns. The possible 

reason Legacy Way places its faith in Fair 

Work Australia legislation while Airport Link 

was a WorkChoices failure. 

“There’s a chain of command locked into 

the EBA that is working well,” says Jimmy, 

emphasising that co-operation has been 

crucial to the tunnel’s success so far. 

“We don’t want to ambush management 

and when we do approach them with a 

problem, they have a real good go at fixing 

it. Productivity is the number one concern for 

them, but they look after us.” 

AT THE DAIRY 

Our next destination is Parmalat Australia, 

a large dairy plant on the banks of the 

Brisbane River, pasteurising, homogenising, 

and ultimately packaging 4.2 million litres 

of milk per week. Craig Koski is one of five 

AWU on-site delegates here. 

Working the 3pm-to-11pm shift making 

custards, creams and yoghurts for the southeast 

Queensland region, Craig is a cook in a 

very big kitchen. In many ways, he’s an industrial 

chef, but prefers to go by the title of mixer. 

The 600 workers at the South Brisbane 

plant, most of them AWU members, 

enjoy a good relationship with Parmalat 

management. Family ties are strong with 

Craig’s father, uncle and cousins all having 

clocked on here in the past. The latest EBA 

was negotiated in good faith, although 

management unsuccessfully tried to strip 

back new-hire leave entitlements. 

Outside of work, Craig enjoys the great 

outdoors. Fraser Island, a three-hour drive 

north of Brisbane, is a particular favourite 

where he enjoys camping with his wife and 

two girls, aged eight and 11. However, he 

does offer a warning for those heading in 

that direction. 

“Last time, we were camping on the 

foreshore and this dingo got into my sister-inlaw’s 

tent while we were asleep. We managed 

to scare it away, but they’re pretty cluey; they 

know how to unzip tents and they can even rip 

their way into a can of soft drink. The rangers 

told us that dingoes will break into your tent 

for something like a tube of toothpaste.” 

BACK AT HQ 

Back at the Brisbane office, we take time to 

talk to Bill Ludwig and Ben Swan about why 

they do what they do and why they feel so 

passionately about the AWU and defending 

workers’ rights. 

Soon after Campbell Newman took 

office in 2012, the new Liberal National Party 

premier summoned five major players from 

the Queensland trade union movement to 

a meeting. The AWU’s National President Bill 

Ludwig and Queensland Branch Assistant 

Secretary Ben Swan were among the chosen 

few. Once seated, Newman leaned across the 

table and addressed Bill Ludwig. 

“He said to me, ‘Bill, what we want to do, 

we want to sort of go back to the future, back 


“We lived and 

breathed politics 

at home. I wouldn’t 

have had it any 

other way.” 

RIGHT: AWU Queensland 

Branch Assistant Secretary 

Ben Swan. 



to where we used to be,’” says Bill. “We were in 

negotiations, so I kept quiet, but I thought to 

myself, ‘Surely not back to a time when some 

involved in government ended up in jail.’” 

If anyone is qualified to put into context 

the first year of the Newman Government, 

it’s Bill. A Queensland man through-andthrough, 

he was born in Longreach and 

schooled in Brisbane, before returning west 

to earn his keep as a shearer. As an AWU 

member, organiser and district secretary, 

he survived almost 20 years of the corrupt 

Bjelke-Petersen regime from 1968 to 1987. 

“It’s their culture. They’re great haters 

and they’re all about privilege,” Bill says of the 

Liberal National Party. “I remember well the 

terrible days of Joh [Bjelke-Petersen] when 

we were almost a police state. They have this 

attitude, and it still runs through them today: 

we’re in charge, we are the government, we 

can do whatever we like.” 

The same fear that underpinned Bjelke- 

Petersen’s regime is beginning to affect the 

psyche of many Queensland workers in the key 

industries of health, education and transport. 

Bill is rightly concerned that the backward 

policies of the dark, dangerous days of 

Queensland state politics are being recycled. 

“This is anecdotal, but I was told that 

up north a group of health workers were 

informed by management that some of 

them were going to have to go. Well, this one 

bloke panicked a bit. He put his house on the 

market and it sold. Then they came back to 

him and told him his job was safe. That’s the 

sort of fear that’s running through the place. 

They won’t tell workers how many are going.” 

No one is spared this uncertainty with 

aged care facilities being closed or relocated 

across the state. As Bill points out, the people 

affected are being unnecessarily stressed 

in the twilight of their lives, often powerless 

against the government’s demands. “These 

people are in their nineties, and they don’t 

know what’s going on,” he says. 

It’s not all bad news. Bill can guarantee 

the AWU will be fighting every inch of the 

way to ensure that members’ entitlements 

are not affected and that outsourcing of jobs 

is limited under the Newman premiership. 

“When we meet with our members, the 

first thing on the list every time is job security. 

Over the years, we’ve traded off a bit to get 

job security as our number one priority and 

that means no outsourcing of jobs,” says Bill. 

“When Goss [Wayne, Labor premier 

1989-1996] got in, we made the case that 

ABOVE LEFT: Legacy Way 

Tunnel ABOVE RIGHT: 

Parmalat RIGHT: Craig 

Koski. 

those jobs were never costed, they were just 

given to Joh’s mates. We ran some business 

cases and we won all the work back. They 

never costed any of the outsourcing, and we 

proved that our permanent staff stacked up 

just as well financially.” 

Despite the Newman Government’s 

“back to the future” declaration, Bill remains 

as parochial as ever, especially when it comes 

to his state-of-origin Maroons. “Brisbane’s 

a great place to live as long as Queensland 

keep winning,” he says, smiling. “We’re pretty 

good at football, you know.” 

UNION TO THE CORE 

For Ben Swan, it started back in 1989 when as 

a 14 year old, he landed a school holiday job 

at a local Brisbane dairy. While his mates were 

playing video games and crashing BMXs, 

the now AWU Queensland Branch Assistant 

Secretary signed up as an AWU member. 

“I guess it was a bit of old-school 

expectation: no ticket, no start,” Ben says, 

a wry smile. “At the time my mother was 

an official with the Union, working with Bill 

[Ludwig], so we lived and breathed politics at 

home. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” 

This early enthusiasm for the cause has 

remained, his strong sense of social justice 

and fair play shaped around the kitchen 

table. Ben says his grandmother also left 

a deep impression on him. 

“She was a single parent raising six kids, 

working as a teacher. After hours, she worked 

a second job as a cleaner. The reality of 

that situation had an impact on all the kids, 

particularly Mum who was the youngest.” 

Ben clearly has a deep affection for his 

mother. A legend of the labour movement, 

Dee Swan was elected as the AWU’s first 

female official in the Union’s history and 

the first female AWU delegate to National 

Conference. She is currently Deputy President 

of the Queensland Industrial Relations 

Commission and Fair Work Australia. 

“She became an AWU member in the 


ABOVE: Bill and Ben LEFT: Parmalat 

BELOW: Ben with his mum Dee – an 

AWU icon RIGHT: Brisbane, old and new. 

late 1970s when she was working as a tote 

operator out at Eagle Farm and Doomben 

race tracks. She was a pretty vocal delegate 

out there and ran a couple of cases in the 

commission which they won,” Ben says. 

MATES AND MENTORS 

Ben himself has had spells as an associate 

in the Queensland and Australian Industrial 

Relations Commissions before returning 

home to the AWU in 1997. His colleague and 

greatest supporter, Bill Ludwig, was pleased 

to see him return to his roots. 

“He started up here with me, then he 

went off to Melbourne and Sydney,” Bill 

explains. “You can’t be having that. I had 

to go down there and put him in a bloody 

headlock to get him back up here. 

“It’s fantastic working with Bill. He’s been 

a good mentor and he’s a good mate,” 

says Ben, returning the favour. “He’s full of 

knowledge, full of good advice and full 

of a hell of a lot of good yarns. It’s a 

pleasure being able to work with him.” 

In his role, Ben’s energy for the contest 

has seen him front-and-centre in the transfer 

of business debate affecting state public 

service workers. Ben and the AWU team are 

currently mounting a constitutional challenge 

to a Newman Government hell-bent on 

scrapping members’ entitlements. 

“It’s an equality issue for our members 

because if whole blocks of the public sector 

get outsourced to the private sector, what 

should follow are those same public sector 

terms and conditions. There could then 

be a freefall between public sector and 

private sector standards, which are clearly 

inferior,” he says. “We’ve already won round 

one against the local government with the 

Etheridge decision, which demonstrated that 

local governments are not constitutional 

corporations. They’re a distinct arm of the 

state government and deliberately so. That 

was important at that time because the 

ramifications of finding the other way would’ve 

found us inevitably get sucked up into the 

WorkChoices system and that would’ve been 

catastrophic for our members.” 

Ben lives and breathes his job and is 

sometimes at a loss when the working day 

is over. In 2004, he used some time off 

productively by piecing together a 1.8 x 1.2 

metre mosaic of the AWU logo, currently 

housed at the Queensland head office. 

“That was a labour of love, that one, and 

it took me about eight weeks, 10 hours a day. 

There’s nothing more cathartic or therapeutic 

than smashing up a few hundred tiles and 

putting them back together again. It was a 

small gesture on my part because the Union’s 

given me a hell of a lot, so I was happy to put 

a little bit back into the Union.” 

Ben takes a call from delegate. He says 

he has to attend the job site as a matter of 

urgency, so it’s time for us to take our leave. 

It’s been a great visit and we have a lasting 

impression that the Queensland Branch of 

the AWU is in very good hands. 


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REPORT 

IN THE 

FIRING 

LINE 

State budget cuts and 

changes to workers’ 

compensation are 

threatening the lives 

of AWU members, as 

well as residents and 

properties around 

national parks and 

forests. Tom Scahill 

investigates. 


REPORT 

stymie the ability of many AWU members, 

tasked with Þghting the ßaming hell of an 

Australian bushÞre this summer. 

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes 

says AWU members on the front line of 

bushÞre protection are facing a long and 

dangerous summer. 

“BushÞres are a constant peril for 

millions of Australians, but it seems that 

some politicians have short memories when 

it comes to bushÞre protection,” Paul says. 

“The Þre brigade 

even aimed a water 

canon at Parliament 

House as part of its 

deÞant stance.” 

It’s shaping up to be a horrendously hot 

summer across Australia, and with 

bushÞres already burning in October 

and November, it is a major concern for 

those living on the perimeter of a leafy 

stretch of crown (publicly owned) land 

such as a national park. 

Some estimates suggest about 

23 per cent of Australia is deemed crown 

land, while the NSW Department of 

Primary Industries says public land 

represents approximately half of all land 

in Australia’s oldest state. 

Residents watch as a large 

bushfire sweeps through 

Ku-ring-gai Chase 

National Park. 

The upshot is that large expanses of 

publicly owned land are at risk this 

summer, yet some state governments 

appear to have forgo!en the cruel lessons 

of the notorious Black Saturday bushÞres, 

which decimated chunks of regional 

Victoria less than three years ago. 

In February 2009, 173 people lost their 

lives to that remorseless inferno, and another 

414 were injured. Yet some state governments 

are taking a casual approach to the lives and 

the homes of their constituents by a!empting 

to slip through compensation cuts that will 

In NSW, for example, the O’Farrell 

Government has stripped away a series of 

public sector compensation beneÞts, yet 

exempted the professional ÞreÞghters 

from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and 

other emergency services personnel such 

as ambulance and police officers from the 

changes. Incredibly, the exemptions were 

not extended to the Þeld officers, 

employed by National Parks and Forests 

NSW, who regularly are the Þrst to 

discover bush Þres and ba!le the 

treacherous blazes. 

Moreover, treacherous ßames are only 

part of the risk, as Þeld offices can be often 

dropped from helicopters into hot spots, 

required to chop down burning trees and 

Þght Þres in extremely hazardous and 

remote locations on crown land. It’s clearly 

an occupation not for the fainthearted or 

those uncertain about their medical cover. 

“The AWU represents the 

overwhelming number of people in 

NSW called Þeld officers employed by 

National Parks and Forests NSW,” says 

Russ Collison, AWU Greater NSW 

Branch Secretary. “Part of the job 

description is to Þght Þres and plenty 

of people don’t realise this. While our 

people do a whole range of mixed tasks, 

in the summer season they could be 

Þghting Þres virtually all the time.” 

Soon after assuming power, the 


O’Farrell Government decided to cut a 

number of beneÞts for people on workers’ 

compensation in NSW. “This included the 

journey provision, which cover accidents 

that occur when travelling to and from 

your place of employment,” says Russ, 

who is driven by the tragedy of the four 

AWU members employed by National 

Parks who were killed ba"ling a bushÞre 

on the NSW Central Coast in 2001. 

“The reason I raised this issue is 

because many of our people are going 

straight to a Þre from their homes. When 

the announcement to make changes to 

workers compensation was made by the 

O’Farrell Government, there was outrage 

from all sectors of the emergency services, 

including ambulance officers, Þremen 

and the police.” 

The Þre brigade even aimed a water 

canon at NSW Parliament House as 

part of its deÞant stance. As a consequence, 

the NSW government exempted the 

police, ambulance offices and FRNSW 

from the WorkCover reforms. “They 

remain under the old system of 

compensation,” Russ says. 

“When we heard about these 

exemptions, we were up in arms as we 

expected that as our members Þght Þres, 

they would be placed in the same category 

as other emergency services workers.” 

A fair assumption. The AWU took 

the anomaly to bureaucrats and the 

government in a civil way. “We have 

a highly justiÞable case and urged the 

government that they needed to address 

the issue.” 

The government claimed it required 

legal advice and the counsel of 

WorkCover, and continued to stonewall 

the AWU’s representations on behalf of 

its members. 

“This situation is unacceptable as our 

members stand shoulder to shoulder with 

other people Þghting Þres on the frontline, 

but they don’t have the same insurance 

coverage,” Russ says. 

“While the old system of workers’ 

compensation in NSW wasn’t the best, it 

was the best in this country. Now it is the 

worst and it is stunning how far it’s 

deteriorated.” 

The changes are extremely complex, 

but Þve of the more dramatic potential 

changes for AWU members are outlined 

in the box, right. 

The AWU imposed bans on high-risk 

ÞreÞghting activities such as working in 

helicopters and felling burning trees, but 

Russ says the bans were discontinued 

when the NSW Industrial Relations 

Commission president, Justice Roger 

Boland, offered to hear the case. 

“We consulted our members, who 

agreed this was the best way forward and 

the case went to the commission on 

November 9, 2012,” says Russ. 

It should not be ignored that the 

ÞreÞghting deeds of AWU members have 

major ramiÞcations for the wider 

community. “Our members aren’t just 

pu"ing out Þres ra"ling up trees, they’re 

Þghting major Þres that can go into areas 

that jeopardise the community living near 

crown land,” Russ says. “Normally Þres 

start on crown land and move into those 

communities and there would not be a 

bushÞre in a national park or forest that 

our people aren’t involved in.” 

Paul Howes agrees, adding that he 

Þnds it hard to believe that people such as 

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell can have 

such a cavalier approach to the safety of 

workers and local communities. 

“Mr O’Farrell’s own electorate of 

Ku-ring-gai is surrounded by forests and 

national parks, yet he is prepared to 

gamble with bushÞre safety just to save 

a few bucks. 

“I’ve got a simple message to the 

politicians and number crunchers who 

want to play bushÞre roule"e: it’s just not 

worth it. The people who are pu"ing their 

lives on the line deserve be"er. They 

deserve respect, they deserve support, and 

they deserve protection.” 

In Victoria, the Ballieu Government is 

yet to focus the full force of its cost-cu"ing 

ßamethrower on forest Þre Þghters, who 

the AWU represents, but the damaging 

cuts have started. “The Victorian 

government announced cuts to whitecollar 

areas such as administrative support 

staff represented by the Community and 

Public Sector Union, but there are early 

signs now that these cuts might Þlter 

across to other departments such as the 

Department of Sustainability and 

Environment (DSE),” says Cesar Melhem, 

AWU Victorian Branch Secretary. 

The biggest challenge now facing the 

AWU in Victoria is trying to convince 

the state government to convert seasonal 

part-time ÞreÞghters into fulltime 

ÞreÞghters within the DSE. 

“The ratio has been steadily leaning 

to seasonal Þre Þghters rather than 

professional Þre Þghters,” says Cesar. 

The AWU represents about 1000 forest 

ÞreÞghters in Victoria, including 600 

seasonal and about 320 permanent Þre 

ighters within the DSE and Parks Victoria. 

Cesar believes the only reason Victoria 

is not suffering from a huge frontline 

problem with regards to resources or 

threats to workers’ compensation 

CHANGES TO NSW WORKERS’ 

COMPENSATION 

Five of the most dramatic changes ◊ Reduction in weekly payments after 

that could apply to National Parks 13 weeks; these payments will generally 

and Forestry members are: 

cease two and a half years after the 

◊ Removing virtually any right to make a injury. No coverage for medical expenses 

journey claim relating to an injury suffered incurred from 12 months after weekly 

while travelling to and from work. 

payments have ceased. 

◊ Removing ability to make permanent ◊ No ability for workers to recover 

impairment claims unless the person legal costs from successful workers’ 

has greater than 10 per cent permanent compensation claims. So many injured 

impairment. 

workers will not be able to afford to 

◊ Removal of compensation for pain and enforce their rights. 

suffering arising from an injury. 

STOP PRESS: See update on page 34 


REPORT 

AWU MEMBERS RECOGNISED 

FOR BLACK SATURDAY 

BRAVERY 

Searing heat and perilous trouble best 

describes the outlook facing DSE 

Field Services officer Brian Earl and 

fellow officers Andrew Collard, Mike Lauder, 

Brian Lawry, Tim Winter, Graham Watt, 

Brad Sexton, Jarrod Smith, Ray Mackey and 

Jarrod Louge from the Toolangi depot, as 

they negotiated their fire units in Toyota 

slip-ons towards Murrindindi in Victoria. 

It was 3pm, Black Saturday was in full 

swing and Brian and his mates had been 

called to arms to push back the Murrindindi 

firestorm, and help people caught in the 

inferno’s potentially deadly clutches. “As 

we came into Murrindindi, there was a 

consistent stream of traffic heading the 

other way,” Brian recalls. “When we arrived 

at our point of contact, we weighed up 

what was happening with the fire, which 

had now circled in behind us.” 

A nightmare for most, but the cool 

headed AWU members despatched some 

of the officers to scout for an escape route. 

FLAMING HEROES: 

The DSE firefighters 

who won bravery 

awards for their 

work during the 

Black Saturday fires. 

Left to right: Jarrod 

Smith, Brad Sexton, 

Graham Watt, Tim 

Winter, Ray Mackey, 

Brian Lawry, Brian 

Earl, (absent were 

Jarrod Logue, 

Andrew Collard, 

Mick Lauder) 

Disconcertingly, the scouts discovered they 

were penned-in by fire and trees that had 

fallen across the road in the heavy winds. 

At this point, a decision was taken to 

seek refuge from the fire closer to the 

Murrindindi River. The officers headed for 

the river with an assortment of campers 

ranging in age from babies to adults in their 

forties. “There was a mix of males, females, 

young and old,” says Brian. 

It’s at this point, the field officer’s 

training proved critical. “We wet the area 

around us with water sucked up by the 

slip-on units and used a chainsaw to create 

a break around us,” says Earl. The team 

ushered the mothers with babies into the 

cabins of the slip-on units to help keep 

them calm. “We then covered the windows 

with blankets so they couldn’t see what 

was going on or hear over the pumps,” says 

Brian. “All they could hear was a rattling 

noise from the pumps inside the cabin, 

while the others were helping out, grabbing 

eskies and tipping water on burning debris.” 

After about three harrowing hours, the 

flames passed and another DSE crew relieved 

the firefighters and the distressed campers. 

At no time during the ordeal did the 

DSE field officers, according to Brian, believe 

they were in a life-threatening jam. “That 

said it’s not an experience I’d like to take on 

tomorrow,” says Brian, who in February 2009 

was a seasonal Project Fire Fighter. “We had 

a good crew with reasonable equipment and 

we were on the ball all the time. The thought 

of not getting out didn’t cross my mind. 

One of the ladies asked whether we’d get 

out. I responded something like, ‘Well I’m 

getting out, so you will be as well!’” 

For their bravery, the DSE team of Collard, 

Lauder, Lawry, Winter, Watt, Sexton, Smith, 

Earl, Mackey and Louge won a group citation 

for bravery from the Royal Humane Society 

of Australasia and individually collected the 

bronze bravery medal, complete with a 

signed letter from the Queen. 

Photography: Wayne Hawkins, Fairfax Syndication 

payments is because Black Saturday is still 

a painful and fresh memory. 

“Make no mistake the cuts will come if 

they can possibly get away with them,” he 

says. “We are keeping a close eye on the 

moves being made by the minister 

responsible for WorkCover, Gordon 

Rich-Phillips.” 

The Victorian Branch is vigilant about 

ÞreÞghter numbers, making sure they 

don’t drop below the threshhold. 

“The current numbers commi!ed to 

for the 2012-13 season look not as bad as 

they might be,” says Cesar, although there 

is a shortfall of about 100 core fulltime 

workers, an issue squarely in the sights of 

the AWU. “Our goal is to ensure the ratio 

of permanent to seasonal ÞreÞghters is 

maintained. But watch this space, if Ted 

Ballieu could possibly slip through 

permanent ÞreÞghter cuts, he would 

do it tomorrow.” 

Across the Nullarbor, AWU Western 

Australian Branch Secretary Stephen Price 

says the Barne! Government is looking to 

cut Þve per cent from the budgets of every 

state government department including 

the Department of Environment and 

Conservation (DEC), which employs about 

280 members of the AWU as forestry 

ÞreÞghters. “However, despite these cuts, 

there was some extra funding given back 

to the departments,” says Stephen. “But 

that gain will be eroded as the budget cuts 

continue over the next couple of years.” 

Stephen is also concerned that budget 

cuts will not only affect the ability of AWU 

members to tackle bush Þres, but they’ll 

also impact the wider community. 

“It’s all about the ability of the DEC to 

meet its ÞreÞghting obligations in 

protecting the community and the 

surrounding infrastructure,” he says. “If 

the department is underfunded then it 

won’t be able to protect those areas at 

risk of larger bushÞres. This may become 

a serious issue in the next few years.” 

With this in mind, the AWU’s West 

Australian Branch has made a submission 

to the WA government’s Community 

Development and Justice Standing 

Commi!ee. The submission makes 

recommendations about the maintenance 

of a fully operational ßeet of ÞreÞghting 

vehicles and heavy machinery, a staff 

succession plan to minimise the loss of core 

Þre management skills, as well as a staffing 

recognition and reward framework. 

Recruitment and retention is another 

challenge for the AWU and DEC. “This is 

where the government needs to get serious 

about how it sources workers,” says 

Stephen. “DEC forestry workers are some 

of the lowest-paid government workers 

in WA because they aren’t actually 

recognised as ÞreÞghters, but rather as 

government conservation workers, even 

though the vast majority of the calls to 

duty are Þre related.” 


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FRONTLINE NEWS ► NATIONAL 

NATIONAL 

LEADERSHIP COURSE GIVES 

DELEGATES AN EDGE OVER 

BOSSES 

A group of senior AWU 

delegates from around the 

country took part in an 

intensive week-long leadership 

course in October. 

Held in Avoca, on the 

NSW Central Coast, the National 

Delegate Leadership Program 

covered a wide range of topics 

– from occupational health and 

safety, to bargaining strategies, 

negotiation skills, and 

interpreting and applying 

agreements. 

The program, which was 

held for the fi rst time in 2011, 

is the highest level of training 

available for AWU delegates, 

and is unlike any other provided 

across the trade union 

movement. It brings together 

senior delegates with expert 

presenters and trainers in their 

relevant fi elds. 

AWU National Secretary 

Paul Howes said the course was 

structured to cover a lot of 

territory in just a few days. 

“The guys were keen to 

discuss the issues they were 

facing in their own workplaces, 

NATIONAL 

and to learn from each other’s 

experiences. 

“In turn, they’ll be able to 

help other delegates to take 

on the bosses, and to organise 

their workplaces,” he said. 

Participants in the course 

are able to apply for the Laurie 

Short Scholarship, which allows 

a delegate to attend a highlevel 

leadership course with 

the International Association 

of Machinists and Aerospace 

Workers. 

The scholarship was set 

up to help achieve the global 

solidarity vision of former 

Federated Ironworkers 

Association leader Laurie 

Short, who built strong 

relationships between 

Australian and American 

unions. 

Paul said the delegates 

also provided feedback on the 

structure and content of the 

program. 

“We have already begun 

preparations for the third course, 

which will be run in October 

2013,” Paul said. 

QUAD BIKE SAFETY SUMMIT 

A national summit on quad bike 

safety was held in October, but 

action must be taken to make crush 

protection devices compulsory on 

new quad bikes to reduce the 

death rate from roll-overs. 

AWU National Secretary Paul 

Howes said 160 people have been 

killed in quad bike accidents since 

2001. 

“The AWU has been arguing for 

improvements to quad bike safety,” 

he said. “The number of deaths and 

injuries from quad bikes has been 

unacceptable. 

“Quad bikes are unstable, and 

often driven over uneven terrain. But 

minor accidents shouldn’t result in 

serious injuries, let alone fatalities. 

Experience has shown that roll-cages 

are an effective solution, reducing the 

risk of people being crushed. They 

are also cost-effective, especially 

when compared to the human and 

fi nancial cost of looking after injured 

workers and bereaved families.” 

Paul said quad bikes were the 

single biggest cause of workplace 

fatalities on Australian farms. 

“There are around 22,000 quad 

bikes in Australia – so this is an issue 

that affects thousands of workers. 

No-one wants to them banned, we 

just want them to be safe.” 

Paul said the introduction of 

roll-cages on tractors led to major 

safety improvements in the 1980s. 

“We know the problems, and we 

know that there’s a solution. It’s time 

to take the next step and mandate 

safety equipment such as roll-cages 

on all new quad bikes.” 

NATIONAL 

TACKLING ILLEGAL DUMPING 

The federal government has 

announced the establishment of 

a new Anti-Dumping Commission 

to crack down on the practice of 

illegal trade dumping. 

AWU National Secretary Paul 

Howes said the AWU had 

campaigned relentlessly for stronger 

measures against dumping. 

“Two years ago the AWU 

launched the Don’t Dump on 

Australia campaign at our National 

Conference to highlight the impact 

illegal trade practices were having on 

Australian jobs,” Paul said. “It’s taken 

a lot of hard work by AWU members 

to get this issue onto the national 

agenda. Free trade must also be fair 

trade, and overseas companies 

selling into the Australian market 

must play by the same set of rules as 

their domestic competitors. 

“The AWU has always 

maintained that a new agency was 

needed to handle complaints, and 

that tougher penalties should be put 

in place to deter and punish 

unscrupulous companies. 

“The federal government has 

delivered measures we’ve been 

calling for, and sent a strong message 

to companies that flout the law.” 

Paul said the federal 

government’s investment of $24.4 

million into a stronger anti-dumping 

regime would bring long-term 

dividends to the Australian economy 

“Sports like professional cycling 

are forever trying to catch up with 

the ingenuity of doping cheats, and 

it’s a similar situation in international 

trade,” he said. “If there’s an 

advantage to be had, someone will 

try to exploit it. 

“We’ve seen this across many of 

Australia’s key manufacturing 

industries – including aluminium, steel, 

glass and cement. Authorities need 

to be vigilant, and armed with the 

resources and investigative powers 

to make sure the cheats get caught.” 

AWU National 

Secretary Paul 

Howes. 

Quad bike safety 

is a priority concern. 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► NATIONAL 

Prime Minister Julia Gillard 

at the Peace Fountain 

memorial at the site of the 

World Trade Centre. 

NATIONAL 

SOMBRE TRIBUTE 

On her last day in New York City in 

September this year, Prime Minister Julia 

Gillard took time to pay tribute to AWU 

Industrial Officer Andrew Knox, who was 

tragically killed in the terroritst attack on the 

World Trade Centre in 2001. 

The PM said that it gave her time to reflect 

on those who perished and suffered and 

the catastrophic damage that was done. Ten 

Australians were killed in the terrorist attack 

and, with the tenth anniversary of the Bali 

bombing two weeks after, where 88 Australians 

died, the PM felt the overwhelming poignancy. 

“It’s been a reminder of the chilling images 

of that dreadful day of what we all felt as the 

news first came though,” the Prime Minister 

told News Limited of her first visit to memorial 

visit as Prime Minister. “The cascading water 

creates an environment in which you can 

contemplate what happened there.” 

The PM was in New York to pursue 

Australia’s UN Security Council bid which 

was successful. 

New scheme 

helps new dads. 

Turkish 

workers. 

NATIONAL 

DAD AND PARTNER PAY 

New dads will be eligible for 

two weeks’ pay from the federal 

government – starting from 

January 1, 2013. 

Dad and Partner Pay is an 

extension of the Government’s Paid 

Parental Leave scheme. The scheme 

helps new dads to spend more time 

with their family in the vital early 

months of a baby’s life. 

Payments are set at the national 

minimum wage, which is currently 

about $606 per week before tax. 

For more information about the 

scheme, go to www.australia.gov. 

au/dadandpartnerpay 

NATIONAL 

AWU OFFERS SUPPORT FOR 

TURKISH DHL WORKERS 

The AWU has sent a message 

of solidarity to the motor 

vehicle workers’ union, 

TUMTIS, in Turkey, after global 

transport giant DHL sacked 

20 union members. 

National Secretary Paul 

Howes said the union-busting 

tactics of DHL were deplorable. 

In his letter to TUMTIS 

President Kenan Ozturk, Paul said 

the basic right to be represented 

by a union at work transcended 

national boundaries. 

“The global union movement 

has an obligation to ensure that 

DHL is held to account for its 

unacceptable behavior,” Paul said. 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► NEW SOUTH WALES 

National Parks and 

Wildlife and Forests 

NSW firefighters face 

compensation risks. 

GREATER NEW SOUTH WALES 

HEAT IS ON 

The AWU has forced the NSW 

government to improve workers’ 

compensation beneifts for 

workers in National Parks and 

Forestry who fight fires. 

The NSW government agencies 

cried foul at the snap “bans” placed 

by the AWU and its members 

during the Commission hearing. 

Paul Noack, AWU lead offi cial 

for the public sector, responded 

with evidence that showed the snap 

bans were fi ve months in the 

making. A series of emails was 

tabled between the agencies 


CARVE IT UP, SELL IT OFF 

NSW Liberal-National 

government Minister Duncan 

Gay has announced that he 

will be introducing roadmaintenance 

contestability 

in the Sydney metropolitan area. 

The government has appointed 

well-known contracting firm 

Evans and Peck to help identify 

if any or all of Roads and 

Maritime Services (RMS) roads 

division can be contracted out. 

AWU Greater NSW Branch 

Secretary Russ Collison said, “The 

Union will be demonstrating every 

step of the way that RMS employees 

can construct and maintain roads at 

a comparable or better quality and 

price than any private business. 

“This is just a conservative 

agenda to sack as many public 

and the AWU in which the NSW 

government agencies were 

promising an answer to a legitimate 

AWU question of workers’ 

compensation coverage. 

“It’s a relatively simple question,” 

Paul said. “Are our members who 

fi ght fi res in forests and national 

parks covered by the old workers’ 

compensation legislation, just like 

other fi re fi ghters The answer is 

either yes or no!” 

The matter was heard by NSW 

Industrial Relations Commission 

President Justice Boland, who found 

servants as possible and give their 

work to the private sector. Safety 

standards, quality and employment 

protections are all lower in the 

private sector. This is a race to the 

bottom and everyone in NSW is a 

loser from this decision.” 

The government agenda is to 

look at every part of road and fl eet 

services in the Sydney metropolitan 

area and decide in the next couple 

of months what can be contracted 

out. No part of the RMS is safe 

from scrutiny, whether it is bridge 

crews, including those on the 

iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, road 

maintenance teams, construction 

crews, emergency response teams, 

or traffi c signals. 

Russ said, “There is not enough 

time to make a valid comparison. 

that “employees should be regarded 

as fi refi ghters while conducting 

fi refi ghting duties”. 


Secretary Russ Collison said the 

Industrial Court delivered an 

important win for workers. 

“The court’s ruling is a positive 

outcome for the Union’s 400 fi eld 

staff members in state forests and 

700 fi eld staff members in national 

parks,” Russ said. 

“But it is a sad refl ection 

on the O’Farrell Government that 

employees had to take this issue 

all the way to the Industrial Court 

for common sense to prevail.” 

Russ said the NSW State 

The Union will fi ght to ensure as 

many jobs as possible are saved 

from the government axe. 

“The government is not taking 

into account the fantastic response 

from RMS employees during the 

recent snap snow conditions in 

Government would now have 

to administer a complicated 

workers’ compensation scheme 

where workers would be covered 

by different schemes depending 

on what sort of work they 

were doing. 

“The Premier has been on an 

ideological crusade to undermine 

the rights of State Government 

workers, but this time workers 

have won out. 

“Workers deserve better 

treatment from the NSW State 

Government particularly given that 

these men and women put their 

lives on the line to protect local 

communities.” 

Maintenance of Sydney’s 

infrastructure could be 

up for grabs if the Liberal 

government has its way. 

the Blue Mountains or the massive 

accident on the M4 that was cleared 

by government workers. 

“Do we really want to expose 

road users to extensive delays due 

to an accident or bad weather 

conditions” 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► NEW SOUTH WALES 


MINING AGREEMENT 

Cadia Valley Operations (CVO), 

owned by Newcrest, is one of 

Australia’s largest gold mining 

operations. CVO consists of 

the original open cut mine, 

Ridgeway Deeps underground 

and the Cadia East Project. The 

mines are located approximately 

25km from the city of Orange 

in central western NSW. CVO 

directly employs approximately 

540 employees covered by the 

enterprise agreement but also 

has thousands of contractors, 

particularly during its recent 

construction phase. 

Cadia East underground mine 

is being constructed at a cost of 

about $1.9 billion. Once the Cadia 

East Project is completed and in 

full operation, Cadia Valley mine 

operations expects to produce 

approximately 800,000 ounces of 

gold and 90,000 tonnes of copper. 

Under the Howard 

Government’s WorkChoices, the 

mine management exploited 

individual agreements with workers. 

The new FairWork Act introduced 

by the federal Labor government 

has allowed the AWU once again 

to be involved in the process of 

negotiating a better agreement 

for workers. 

Despite the pressures being 

placed upon employees and even 

prospective employees about their 

union beliefs, workers have been 

The Cadia Valley mining 

operation in Orange, NSW. 

joining the AWU in ever-increasing 

numbers. 


Organiser at Orange, Alan Haynes, 

believes compared with other 

equivalent mines, Cadia pays up to 

20 per cent lower wages and lags 

behind operators like Barrick Gold, 

which offers incentives such as free 

health insurance for employees and 

their families. 

Alan said, “Some estimates 

show that up to $10 billion in 

revenues has been extracted from 

the dirt at Cadia but only a small 

fraction has been returned to 

workers. If we think about it, that’s 

over $7 million per employee and 

contractor in revenues generated 

for this multi-national company. 

Workers deserve their fair share.” 

When comparing union versus 

non-union workplaces, it is clearly 

demonstrated by independent 

studies that union sites are safer 

and pay higher wages to workers. 


Secretary Russ Collison said, “The 

fi rst step is to gain acceptance 

and trust of the workforce to allow 

us to negotiate on behalf of the 

employees. We have achieved this. 

“We now need to build into 

the workplace that workers are 

valued and important. They have 

the right to stand up for their rights 

and make sure they work in a safe 

environment.” 

FROM LEFT: Wayne Vandine, 

Joel Vakalahi, Tom Moa and 

Amrik Padda. 


AUTO CHALLENGE 

Autocast & Forge, located at 

Seven Hills in the industrial 

heartland of Western Sydney, 

has been in operation through 

various different owners since 

1854. Today, it produces brakes, 

rear axles, steering knuckles 

and drive-line applications to 

Australian car manufacturers 

and first-tier suppliers. In its 

glory days, it employed well 

over 450 employees but the high 

Australian dollar and falling car 

sales have put financial pressure 

on the operation of the company. 

In September, chief executive 

Carlos Broens of Broens Industries, 

which purchased the business a 

few years ago, placed the Seven 

Hills operation into voluntary 

administration. The administrator 

immediately made 29 employees 

redundant, but there was no money 

to pay their redundancies. 

After many years of loyal 

service and with some of them 

carrying workplace injuries, these 

workers were made redundant 

instantly without right of appeal 

or discussion. They did not know 

how they were going to feed their 

families or pay their mortgages. 

The AWU, through delegate 

Wayne Vandine, organiser Salim 

Barbar and Greater NSW Branch 

Assistant Secretary Stephen Bali 

undertook urgent negotiations 

with the potential new purchaser, 

Chassis Brakes International (CBI), 

to develop a rescue package for 

redundant workers. CBI agreed 

Tom Moa (left) and 

Wayne Vandine. 

to provide an ex-gratia payment 

and lend a portion of their 

General Employee Entitlements 

and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) 

entitlements to redundant workers. 

Bill Shorten, Minister for 

Employment and Workplace 

Relations, immediately gave his 

support for the federal department 

to fast-track the payments of the 

redundancies once all the required 

paperwork was found in order. 


Secretary Russ Collison said, “People 

underestimate the value of this federal 

Labor government. Only under Labor 

are workers’ concerns addressed to 

ensure their entitlements are, fi rstly, 

paid out and, secondly, paid quickly. 

On behalf of AWU members, thanks, 

Bill, for lifting some of the burden off 

these workers.” 


FRONTLINE NEWS ►NEWCASTLE/PORT KEMBLA 

NEWCASTLE 

ONE DOOR CLOSES, OTHERS OPEN 

WestTrac employs 

many workers in the 

Newcastle region. 

All bar a dozen people have left 

what was for 42 years a great 

employer for the Newcastle and 

Hunter Valley areas. 

Hydro Aluminium, formerly 

Alcan, Capral and VAW, has given 

thousands of Novocastrians 

employment opportunities over the 

years and the AWU has been proud 

to be associated with its employees 

– the Union’s members. 

The closing of a longestablished 

company is not easy. 

From as far back as November 

2011, workers have been leaving 

the company through retrenchment. 

As with many areas around the 

nation, the Hunter is experiencing 

problems. Unemployment is rising, 

but has not had any great impact 

on AWU membership (ex-Hydro). 

AWU Newcastle Branch 

Secretary Richard Downie said 

there has been tremendous 

growth at WesTrac, the company 

owned by Kerry Stokes, owner 

of television station Channel 7. 

WesTrac assembles Caterpillar 

equipment, mostly for the mining 

and construction industries. 

Over the last three years, 

AWU offi cials have been plugging 

away recruiting and currently have 

over 353 members. As WesTrac’s 

membership grows, some great 

individuals have risen to the position 

of delegate with many being 

introduced to a union for the fi rst 

time and appreciating what the 

AWU can and will do for them. 

Richard also said that the 

Newcastle Branch ran its annual 

two-day Delegates’ Conference in 

October with over 90 delegates 

in attendance. 

“Camraderie and friendship, 

with an agenda of interesting 

speakers was the formula. Delegates 

enjoyed the event and the pressure 

is on the Branch to make it even 

better in 2013,” he said. 

As this is the last issue of The 

Australian Worker for 2012, Richard 

and the staff and offi cials of the 

AWU Newcastle and the mid-North 

Coast Branch wish all AWU 

members and their families all the 

very best for the New Year. 

PORT KEMBLA 

AGREEMENT REACHED AT 

BLUESCOPE 

Workers at BlueScope Steel 

Port Kembla have endorsed 

an agreement over pay and 

conditions, bringing a longrunning 

industrial dispute 

to an end. 

AWU Port Kembla Branch 

Secretary Wayne Phillips said 

members voted to endorse the 

deal after the company backed 

away from its attack on sick leave 

and other entitlements. 

“We’ve always said that our 

dispute was not about pay, it 

was about the maintenance of 

important and hard-won 

conditions,” he said. 

“This agreement maintains 

nearly everything that we have 

in our existing award, through 

what are tough times in the 

steel industry. 

“Under the circumstances, 

we think we’ve done pretty well 

to maintain what we’ve got and 

I want personally to congratulate 

PORT KEMBLA 

MAINTECK 

Illawarra-based engineering firm 

Mainteck is expanding on the 

back of new interstate contracts. 

AWU Port Kembla Branch 

Secretary Wayne Phillips said the 

fi rm currently employed 40-45 staff, 

but was expected to grow to about 

150 in the coming months. 

“Mainteck has formed a 

consortium with three other 

companies to bid for major projects 

around the country,” Wayne said. 

“The consortium has 

successfully attracted work in 

Queensland, which will take 

all members for their efforts 

in this campaign.” 

Key elements of the 

agreement include: 

● Preservation of 

existing personal leave 

entitlements (statutory 

declarations for up to 

10 single shifts per year). 

● Extended and 

discretionary sick leave 

provisions. 

● Security of employment 

including maintenance of 

redundancy provisions. 

● Legal recognition 

of departmental 

agreements allowing for 

FWA determinations; and 

● Maintenance of existing 

crib and rest breaks for 

12-hour shift workers. 

While members have voted 

to support the deal, a continuing 

dispute about the timing of pay 

increases will go to arbitration. 

off in January and February.” 

Wayne said that Mainteck has 

also won a contract to dismantle the 

hot strip mill at BlueScope Western 

Port in Victoria. 

“These projects will see some of 

the Port Kembla workers applying 

their skills interstate, but they will 

also pull work into the workshop – 

securing local jobs,” Wayne said. 

Wayne said that Mainteck used 

to concentrate on work inside the 

steel mill, but now it’s looking to 

fi nd new opportunities outside the 

steel industry. 

“Mainteck is an example of how 

the manufacturing sector in Port 

Kembla is diversifying.” 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► VICTORIA 

AWU 

Victorian 

Branch 

Organiser 

Terry Lee. 

The Union’s long-running 

dispute with Esso 

and McDermott Australia 

has been settled. 

VICTORIA 

HELLO-GOODBYE 

One of the AWU Victorian Branch’s longest-serving 

and most distinguished organisers, Terry Lee, has 

retired from the labour movement. 

Terry started out 24 years ago as the power 

industry convenor for the Gippsland Trades & Labour 

Council, and was the Federated Ironworkers’ senior 

delegate before going on to become an organiser 

in 1990. 

Those who have worked with him over the 

years, and those members for whom he has been an 

organiser will know Terry as a tireless and committed 

warrior for the rights of working people. 

In a career that has had many highlights, the 

32 per cent increase he got in one hit for workers on 

the construction agreement for the rebuilding of the 

Longford gas plant will never be forgotten by any of 

those who benefi ted from it. 

The ground-breaking EA he negotiated with 

ExxonMobil for the KTT Project, with unequal pay and 

conditions, included a “new blood” clause for 25 per 

cent of those hired to not have any offshore experience. 

AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem 

said, “Terry approached everything he did with the 

membership in mind. He fought for principle on behalf 

of the people he represented and delivered time and 

time again,” Cesar said. 

“He is someone who I would describe as fearless, 

and something of a hero to me.” 

In characteristic style, Terry didn’t want a lot of fuss 

when he left the AWU, but a dinner for close union 

friends and associates was organised, just the same. 

VICTORIA 

OFFSHORE DISPUTE SETTLED 

A long-running dispute between the 

AWU Victorian Branch and offshore 

giants Esso and McDermott Australia 

was settled in the Federal Court in 

October. 

The dispute started from alleged 

industrial action on the multibillion-dollar 

Kipper Tuna Turrum project in Bass Strait 

during March, July and September 

2011. The employers chose to take 

Federal Court proceedings, claiming 

more than $10 million from the AWU, 

offi cials and members. 

The matter was settled without 

damages against the union or its 

members, and with a signifi cant amount 

paid to riggers who were made 

redundant. 

AWU Victorian Branch Secretary 

Cesar Melhem said the settlement drew 

a line under a dispute that descended 

into a “lawyer’s picnic”. 

“I am very glad the dispute is over, but 

the lesson must be that these matters should 

have been resolved in Fair Work Australia, 

which is the appropriate tribunal,” Cesar said. 

“The employers’ determination to keep 

the cases in the Federal Court meant 

matters were prolonged, and a lot of lawyers 

made a lot of money.” 

As part of the settlement, all matters by 

the employers against the AWU, and the 

AWU against the employers were dropped. 

“It was a very tense time for our 

members offshore, but to their credit they 

remained staunch in their belief that this was 

a dispute that we had to have,” Cesar said. 

“The high membership density offshore, 

and the strength those members displayed 

were integral to the battle being won.” 

AWU Victorian Branch 

Secretary Cesar Melhem 

presents Terry with 

AWU Life membership. 

VICTORIA 

IN WITH THE NEW 

Jeff Sharp was an AWU offshore delegate 

for many years, and says it “seemed 

natural” that he should step up to take 

Terry Lee’s place when he left. 

He stepped into the role of Offshore 

and Regional Organiser in August and 

reports a smooth transition. 

“We have been very lucky to have had 

Jeff waiting in the wings,” Cesar said. 

“Jeff is already proving himself as an 

able replacement, and comes with all the 

enthusiasm he has shown, and experience 

he has gathered from standing up for his 

fellow workers over the years.” 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► VICTORIA 

VICTORIA 

VICTORIAN PRESIDENT RETIRES 

AWU Victorian Branch President 

Dick Gray has decided to call it 

quits on his working life, but it is 

not without regrets. 

“I’m sorry I won’t be around for 

the next fi ght,” Dick told the AWU 

Victorian Delegates’ and HSRs’ 

Conference last month. “I have 

loved every moment of my work 

and I will always miss it,” he said. 

He comes from a long line of 

union members, and his grandfather 

was killed in a picket line in the UK. 

Dick joined the union on his fi rst day 

at work as an apprentice electrician, 

and within weeks had recruited 13 

fellow apprentices to follow suit. 

“Early on, I was threatened 

with the sack for being part of the 

union, but it only made me more 

determined to fi ght for my rights 

and the rights of others,” he said. 

Dick has worked for the AWU 

Victorian Branch since 1998, and was 

elected unanimously as President in 

2007. His commitment to the wellbeing 

of others has not stopped with 

his union responsibilities. Challenge, 

the charity for children with cancer, 

has been a pet cause during his time 

at the AWU. He has raised $750,000 

over the years, and says he will never 

stop being grateful for his own 

good health, and that of his family. 


Cesar Melhem described Dick as 

“one of a kind”. 

“He’s a big man with a big 

character, and even bigger heart. 

He will be missed, but I am sure 

he will still play a part in the AWU in 

some way into the future,” Cesar said. 

Dick intends to spend his retirement 

enjoying family life with his wife 

Kay and the Geelong Football Club 

which he loves so much. 

AWU Organiser Kahu Tapara (front left) and 

Site Delegate at the desal Tony Feeney. 

VICTORIA 

DESAL DONE 

The last of the AWU members 

to work on Victoria’s 

desalination plant are currently 

carrying out the rehabilitation 

of the building sites, after 

construction was completed 

earlier this year. 

About 50 members are 

removing fences, replanting 

vegetation and clearing rubbish 

in an area between Pakenham 

and Wonthaggi. This is down 

from a peak presence of around 

700 AWU members in July 

last year. 

The project, which started in 

late-2009, employed Victorian 

Branch members on the pipeline, 

the transfer station, tunnel and 

barge, among other areas. 

AWU Victorian Branch 

Organiser Kahu Tapara has been 

involved at the desal from start to 

fi nish. He says his job was made 

easier by the quality and work 

ethic of delegates and HSRs. 

“Our Site Delegate Tony 

Feeney and his assistant Joe 

Alaalatoa did a great job, and 

they had a very good team 

behind them,” Kahu said. “Our 

delegates were on the ball, and 

the HSRs were just fantastic.” 

As work tapered off at the 

desal, many AWU members 

moved on to other Victorian 

projects, while others opted for 

fl y in/fl y out jobs in Western 

Australia and Queensland. 

VICTORIA 

DELEGATE 

AND HSR 

CONFERENCE 

Victorian 

Delegates and 

HSRs met for 

their annual 

converence. 

More than 400 delegates and 

health and safety representatives 

(HSRs) came together for 

their annual Victorian Branch 

conference at the start of October. 

At the end of the month, more 

than 1100 people were at Crown 

Casino for the 14th Annual AWU 

Victorian Branch Ball for Delegates 

and HSRs. Both events are fi rm 

fi xtures on the AWU calendar in 

Victoria and refl ect the very active 

relationship the branch has with its 

elected workplace representatives. 


Cesar Melhem said the lines of 

communication were always open 

with delegates and HSRs. 

“If we didn’t have these people 

we wouldn’t be the union that we 

are. They are the lifeblood of our 

organisation, and carry out their 

personal commitment to fairness 

and safety without any material 

return,” Cesar said. “It is important 

that we come together as a group, 

whether at training, the conference, 

or the ball. Communication, and the 

opportunity to share experiences, 

exchange information and learn are 

pivotal to the effectiveness of our 

workplace reps.” 

The conference at Flemington 

Racecourse presented expert 

speakers, as well as panel 

discussions that gave participants 

the opportunity to ask questions, 

and voice opinions. 

Meanwhile, at the ball, many 

of the opinions were from MC 

Red Symons and comedian 

Dave Hughes. The room was 

peppered with dignitaries, 

including Workplace Relations and 

Employment Minister, Bill Shorten, 

who is a former Victorian and 

National Secretary of the AWU, 

Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel 

Andrews, AWU National Secretary 

Paul Howes, and members of the 

National Executive. 

Cesar said, “The ball is one way 

in which we thank our Delegates 

and HSRs each year for their hard 

work representing our members.” 


FRONTLINE NEWS ►VICTORIA 

VICTORIA 

OFFSHORE TRAGEDY STAYS ON THE RADAR 

There are major safety concerns 

in the off-shore gas industry. 

RIGHT: AWU Victorian Branch 

Safety Officer Jim Ward. 

Shockwaves went through the 

offshore working community 

when two men lost their lives on 

the Stena Clyde gas drilling rig 

off Warrnambool, heightening 

long-standing safety concerns in 

the sector. 

In the weeks since the August 

27 deaths on the ageing rig, the 

AWU in Victoria, Western Australia 

and nationally, has been at the 

heart of moves to see legislation 

tightened for offshore workers to 

have the same rights as their 

onshore counterparts. 

The complex and uncertain 

nature of access to offshore sites 

was as an immediate issue for 

unions wanting to visit members 

on board the Stena Clyde at the 

time of the tragedy. 

The owner of the rig is Stena 

Drilling, the work being undertaken 

was commissioned by Origin 

Energy, and the workers doing it 

were employed by PTMS. It was 

a formula which proved conducive 

to delays in offi cials of the AWU 

and the MUA being permitted on 

to transport to the rig. 

The onshore right of entry for 

a union to visit a workplace over 

a suspected safety breach does 

not exist offshore – it is not part 

of legislation covering offshore 

worksites. 

There is an offshore provision 

for an HSR to invite a “consultant” 

on board to help in safety matters. 

The offshore regulator – 

the National Offshore Petroleum 

Safety and Environmental 

Management Authority – better 

known as NOPSEMA, has told the 

AWU Victorian Branch it does 

not know whether that would 

include a union, but suggested 

the matter could be tested. 

When NOPSEMA executives 

faced a Senate Estimates 

Committee hearing in October, the 

glaring gaps and lack of precision 

in the system were obvious. 

The precarious nature of access 

for union offi cials on safety business 

was spelt out. The only transport to 

offshore worksites is employercontrolled. 

In the case of the Stena 

Clyde deaths, the unions had to make 

an application to Fair Work Australia 

before they were allowed access more 

than a week after the incident. 

AWU Victorian Branch Safety 

Offi cer Jim Ward visited the Stena 

Clyde when access was fi nally 

allowed and came away with the 

belief that the tragedy was 

avoidable. 

“This tragedy should not 

have happened. These lives should 

not have been lost. The incident 

was foreseeable and it was 

preventable – there is no doubt in 

my mind of that,” Jim said. 

“There is serious concern 

among our offshore members 

about the effectiveness or otherwise 

of NOPSEMA. This terrible event has 

intensifi ed that concern.” 

Jim said a lot of the rigs in 

use today were designed and built 

40 years ago, and were only 

ever intended to have a 30-year 

life cycle. 

“Some of the equipment being 

used today wasn’t designed to cope 

with the impurities now found in the 

hydrocarbons being extracted from 

the depleting oil fi elds,” he said. 

“As a result, wear and tear 

on this equipment is accelerating 

and the risk of equipment failure 

increases.” 


Cesar Melhem said offshore workers 

appeared to have fallen victim to 

the “out of sight, out of mind” 

mentality. 

“Offshore exploration is a bigmoney, 

high-risk pursuit where 

every avenue for improving and 

maintaining safety should be 

prioritised,” Cesar said. “It is time for 

serious reform of the safety 

regulator and of the legislation 

governing offshore safety. We 

cannot and will not accept anything 

less for our members.” 

In the weeks since the deaths, 

the AWU, MUA and the ACTU have 

taken their concerns about the 

appropriateness and effectiveness 

of the offshore safety regulator to 

the highest possible levels. 

They have also commissioned 

a report with recommendations 

for improving the regime, with the 

fi nal goal of a Private Member’s 

Bill being introduced to bring 

about reform. 

“It is a shocking thing that two 

people simply going about their 

business, doing their jobs, were 

killed,” Cesar said. 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► SOUTH AUSTRALIA/TASMANIA 


CONTRACTORS TO KEEP HARD-WON PAY RISES 

Contract workers at the 

Southern Middleback Ranges 

mine will get to keep hardwon 

pay rises, following swift 

action by the AWU. 

Workers with former mine 

contractor HWE were initially 

left out in the cold after the fi rm 

was replaced by Perth-based 

BGC. BGC then tried to apply 

a national mining agreement, 

negotiated with a non-unionised 

workforce in Western Australia onto 

the Southern Middleback Ranges 

site, which would have led to a 

signifi cant pay cut compared with 

the existing HWE agreement, and 

would have locked the AWU out 

of the work site. 

AWU Whyalla Organiser Scott 

Martin said the union made an 

application to block BGC’s national 

agreement with Fair Work Australia. 

“It was totally inappropriate for 

the company to impose the national 

agreement on Whyalla workers 

without any form of consultation,” 

he said. “The national agreement 

would have applied pay rates that 

were $3 to $5 an hour less than the 

existing rates. 

“Furthermore, it would have 

overturned future pay rises that 

workers had negotiated with 

the former contractor. After we 

contested the agreement, BGC 

agreed to honour the existing 

agreement between workers 

and HWE.” 

Scott said that the Union is 

a party to this agreement, and 

that it will be able to continue 

representing workers at Southern 

Middleback Ranges. 


WORKERS STOOD DOWN BY AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURER 

Car parts manufacturer Autodom 

stood down around 400 workers 

across the country in November, 

including 160 at the aiAutomotive 

plant in Woodville. 

AWU South Australian Branch 

Secretary Wayne Hanson said the 

company had failed to meets its 

EBA and award obligations by 

announcing the closure without 

consulting workers fi rst. 

“The Union found out about 

the plans on a Wednesday night, 

and workers were told at 6am the 

following morning. 

“This lack of consultation was 

pretty shabby, to say the least,” 

said Wayne. 

“Workers were devastated when 

they turned up to work, expecting 

to continue their normal activities, 

only to discover the company was 

standing them down, without pay, 

for an indefi nite period.” 

Wayne said the closure of the 

plants would have a major impact 

on the automotive industry supply 

chain: “The closure will have a 

serious impact on the automotive 

industry right across the country, but 

particularly here in South Australia.” 

He said the AWU would 

work with the state and federal 

governments to explore options 

securing the future of jobs at 

the plant. 

Macquarie 

Harbour. 

TASMANIA 

TASSIE NETS NEW 

AQUACULTURE 

JOBS 

Federal Environment Minister Tony 

Burke has approved the expansion of 

marine farming in Macquarie Harbour, 

which is expected to create over 100 

new permanent jobs. 

AWU Tasmanian Branch Secretary Ian 

Wakefi eld said Tasmania was an ideal place 

for the aquaculture industry. 

“As an island, we’re surrounded by water 

and have a long history in both fi shing and 

marine science,” Ian said. “We also have a 

mature and professional aquaculture industry. 

It makes sense to build on these competitive 

advantages by expanding the size of marine 

farm lease areas, where appropriate.” 

Ian said the expansion follows a thorough 

assessment process to ensure the new fi sh 

farms do not harm the quality of the marine 

environment in Macquarie Harbour. 

“The decision by Minister Burke shows 

that you can strike a sensible balance 

between jobs and environmental protection,” 

Ian said. “Times have been tough on 

the West Coast, but hopefully this is a 

good sign and we will see more positive 

announcements about job-creating projects 

in the future,” he said. 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► TASMANIA 

Two haul trucks on the road leading 

out of the mine pit at Savage River 

in Tasmania. RIGHT: AWU member 

Mal Jago is featured in the campaign. 

BELOW: AWU National Secretary 

Paul Howes addresses a community 

rally in Burnie, Tasmania. 

TASMANIA 

TASMANIAN MINING 

AD CAMPAIGN 

A television advertising 

campaign has helped raise the 

profile of the AWU’s Our Tarkine, 

Our Future campaign. 

AWU Tasmania Branch 

Secretary Ian Wakefi eld said the 

advertisements ran nationally on 

Sky News and across Tasmania on 

Southern Cross Television. 

“The Our Tarkine, Our Future 

advertisements were made inhouse, 

featuring real mine workers 

from Savage River and Rosebery,” 

Ian said. “The ads tell the story of 

Tasmania’s rich mining history, and 

they bust the myth that the Tarkine 

region is a pristine wilderness. 

“The Tarkine region contains 

areas of spectacular wilderness, 

but it also contains areas that 

are being mined right now and 

have been in the past. Families 

have been living and working 

in this part of Tasmania for 

generations, and these people 

deserve a say in the future of their 

communities.” 

Ian said the advertising 

campaign had been timed to take 

advantage of football-fi nal week 

celebrations. 

“The Tasmanian advertisements 

ran during the Brownlow Medal 

count and on Grand Final day to 

maximimise attention. We also ran 

some print advertisements in local 

papers, and even set up a card 

table at the Burnie Show. 

Ian said over 6500 signed 

the campaign petition, which was 

presented to Federal Environment 

Minister Tony Burke in November. 

You can see the advertisement 

featuring AWU members Mal 

Jogo, Frances Deed, Brad Walsh 

and Justin Grave on the Our Tarkine, 

Our Future campaign web site, at: 

www.ourtarkineourfuture.org.au 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► TASMANIA/WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

TASMANIA 

PASTORAL CAMPAIGN 

The pastoral industry has held 

a special place at the heart of 

the AWU ever since shearers 

united across the country over 

125 years ago. This is why, when 

the National Farmers’ Federation 

(NFF) announced its intention to 

reduce the wages and conditions 

of pastoral workers, the union 

knew it had a fight on its hands. 

Tasmanian pastoral workers 

have been ready to lead the 

charge in this fi ght and over recent 

months word has begun to spread 

across the state about the threat to 

workers’ conditions. 

On Sunday, October 21, 

over 100 pastoral workers met 

in Campbell Town to discuss 

WESTERN 

AUSTRALIA 

AWU WORSLEY 

CAMPAIGN 

HITS NEW 

GEAR 

The 2012-2013, AWU WA 

Branch Organising Plan has 

seen the Branch focus on the 

BHP Worsley Alumina Refinery 

in south-west WA. AWU WA 

Branch Secretary Stephen Price 

said that the BHP Refinery 

was of strategic importance 

to the Australian aluminium 

and alumina industry and was 

putting pressure on the other 

alumina refineries in WA. 

“Around the Worsley Refi nery, 

we have fully unionised alumina 

operations with excellent pay, 

conditions and provisions where 

members can have a say in the 

operations of the refi neries,” 

Stephen said. “Compare this to 

BHP operations, where there 

are signifi cant differences in the 

pay and conditions and BHP 

employees are paid lower for 

doing the same work. They also 

don’t enjoy the same respect and 

say in their employment terms in 

conditions.” 

In order to achieve better 

terms in conditions, the AWU has 

responded to members’ concerns 

about renewing its existing 

these issues and resolved to work 

together to not only resist these 

attacks but to improve the wages 

and conditions of pastoral workers. 

AWU Tasmanian Branch Secretary 

Ian Wakefi eld has commenced 

discussions with Workplace Standards 

Tasmania to ensure some of the key 

safety issues that have been raised 

by members are addressed. 

Over the coming months, 

further campaign activities will 

continue across the state as the 

Union continues to protect and 

improve the wages and conditions 

of pastoral workers. Many thanks 

must go to Don Hayes and National 

Organiser Liam O’Brien for their 

work on this campaign. 

Branch Secretary Stephen Price. 

expired agreement. Strategically, 

to the industry and the workers’ 

at Worsley, it is important that 

the union can improve and 

lock in their pay and conditions 

to protect them from future 

pressures on the industry. 

Additional resources from the 

Branch and the Union’s National 

Offi ce have been redirected to 

focus on the refi nery and support 

the needs of the members. 

Stephen said it was great to 

see delegates and members stand 

up and get behind the campaign. 

If you would like more 

information please email 

awuworsleystrongertogether@ 

awuwa.asn.au or contact local 

Organiser Gary Harrower on 

0419 907 032. 

Say turned for more updates 

in this area in 2013... 

TASMANIA 

JOBS MUST BE PROTECTED IN 

FORESTRY RESTRUCTURE 

The Tasmanian Government has 

announced another restructure 

of its forestry business, Forestry 

Tasmania. 

AWU Tasmanian Branch 

Secretary Ian Wakefi eld said that 

the union would fi ght to protect 

the jobs of Forestry Tasmania fi eld 

workers through the transition to 

the new arrangements. 

“Protecting the jobs of forestry 

workers must be the number one 

priority of the latest restructure 

of Forestry Tasmania,” Ian said. 

“Forestry Tasmania employees 

have been through a very diffi cult 

period with all the uncertainty 

surrounding the Tasmanian Forests 

Intergovernmental Agreement and 

the review of Forestry Tasmania 

operations. 

Ian said that Forestry Tasmania 

workers deserve to know exactly 

what the proposed changes will 

mean for them. 

“Most importantly, they need 

to know that their jobs are secure,” 

he said. 


MEEKATHARRA SHIRE WORKERS 

STRONGER TOGETHER 

When workers at Meekatharra 

Shire had questions about their 

pay, rights and safety in the 

workplace – the AWU was not 

far away to lend a hand. 

After discussions about the 

entitlements under the Local 

Government Award and district 

allowances in WA, it appears to be a 

strong case to assist these workers. 

Now all proud members of the 

AWU, with elected delegates and an 

AWU Flag hanging proudly in the 

Meekatharra Shire Depot workshop, 

will move to start their fi rst EBA in 

the new year, which will help these 

workers achieve not only the pay 

and conditions they deserve, but 

also put in practice better provisions 

Changes ahead 

in Forestry 

Tasmania. 

and clauses to assist with the 

management of health and safety 

issues on the job. 

“Our WA local government 

workers have a real tough job 

out in regional WA,” said AWU 

Western Australian Branch Secretary 

Stephen Price. 

“They are often working in 

extremely harsh conditions doing 

everything that the Shire and Town 

needs for the local residents and 

for the many visitors.” 

Stephen said that he hoped to 

see more regional shire workers 

joining the AWU and working 

Stronger Together to protect their 

rights and ensure that they had 

safe workplaces. 


FRONTLINE NEWS ► WESTERN AUSTRALIA 


AWU CAMPAIGNING AT ALBANY SHOW 

The AWU Western Australian 

Branch was proud to attend and 

campaign at the Albany Regional 

Agricultural Show for another 

year, this time with WA Labor 

and the Member for Albany, 

Peter Watson. 

There were several major 

events that coincided with the 

weekend to make it a great 

weekend for members in the region. 

The Albany Agricultural show 

stretched across the 11th and 12th 

of November which saw nearly 

20,000 locals from the Albany and 

Great Southern Region enjoy two 

days of farm displays, rides and 

entertainment – including the wood 

chopping and local shearing trials. 

While the rain was around 

on day two, it couldn’t keep AWU 

members away and interested locals 

from speaking with the Union about 

their rights and about the benefi ts 

that our industry partner ME Bank 

and Australia Super had on offer. 

The AWU had a number of 

organisers out in force, including 


AWU WHEATSTONE PROJECT WELL UNDERWAY 

Earlier this year, the AWU 

Western Australian Branch 

made what has become the 

project agreement for Chevron’s 

Wheatstone project. 

This greenfi eld agreement 

became one of the highest paying 

projects in the country, and with 

the inclusion of the modern award 

relativities, it includes signifi cant 

increases for mobile plant 

operators, crane operators and 

non-trade civil construction workers. 

Signifi cantly, the Union was able 

to achieve increases which maintain 

AWU Western Australian Branch 

Secretary Stephen Price, handing 

out a number of gifts for kids from 

our partner sponsors at Australian 

Super, ME Bank and CBUS. Later, 

the AWU held a members’ catchup, 

which was well attended. 

Over the course of the weekend 

a number of organisers held site 

visits to CBH Grain Depots and 

the current relativities for the trades 

as well. 

While some unions in WA are 

criticising the Wheatstone project 

agreement, the AWU has been on 

the job near Onslow in north-western 

WA, with several dedicated offi cials 

based in Onslow. 

The AWU is the only union 

on site with dedicated project 

resources, with organising offi cials 

and communication strategies in 

place to represent and organise 

the workers on the $30 billion 

Wheatstone gas plant, which seeks 

terminals to coincide with the 

annual grain harvest. 

Overall a successful weekend 

with many potential opportunities 

identifi ed for the Union to follow 

up in areas such as timber, grain 

harvesting and farm work. 

Stephen thanked the offi cials 

involved who gave up their time 

and attended the event. 

to employ over 5000 workers at 

peak construction. 

The AWU said it was not 

going to repeat the same mistakes 

made previously by failing to 

secure a union-negotiated project 

agreement for the construction of 

Woodside Pluto gas plant, on the 

Burrup Peninsula near Karratha, WA. 

AWU Western Australian Branch 

Secretary Stephen Price said that 

the size of the project made it the 

biggest construction project on 

mainland WA, next to the Gorgon 

LNG construction project on 

Barrow Island. 

“The size and location of the 

project means that it’s vital that we 

have a union greenfi elds agreement 

on site to lock in the best terms and 

conditions achievable for the workers, 

on this project.” Stephen said. 

“By having a union agreement 

on site, we can ensure that safety 

on the job is at the highest 

level possible, the workers are 

remunerated appropriately and 

The entrance to Woodside Petroleum’s 

Pluto development is shown on the 

Burrup Peninsula in the north of 

Western Australia. 

“After the AWU’s great 

successes at May Day and other 

events in places such as the 

Goldfi elds, the Albany regional visit 

gave the wider community greater 

understanding of the work the AWU 

does for its members and how we 

can improve the conditions and 

safety of local workplaces,” Stephen 

said. “It also shows that the 

AWU is alive and well in regional 

Australia and the great southern 

region.” 

AWU made a 

presence at 

Albany. 

the guys have protections under 

the agreement to ensure they are 

treated appropriately on the job. 

“The only way to improve and 

ensure the health and safety of 

AWU members can be protected is 

to be part of the process, be in the 

agreement and continue to improve 

the working conditions on the job.” 

The AWU had received some 

criticism from several Western 

Australian unions about signing 

the agreement which Stephen 

said was unfounded, ignorant and 

factually wrong. 

“We all sat in negotiations 

together for over six months. When 

we achieved the majority of key 

claims and it was quite obvious 

that there was no more to be 

achieved, I made the decision to 

sign the agreement. Prior to signing, 

I notifi ed the others, gave them the 

opportunity to sign it with us, and 

they chose not to. We need to learn 

from past mistakes, not continue 

to make them.” 

We have a dedicated email and 

contact number for this project, so if 

you require any further information 

about the project, please email 

wheatstone@awuwa.asn.au or call 

the Wheatstone Organiser on 

0437 748 746. 


MEET THE OFFICIAL 

Words: Laura Macfarlane Photography: Getty Images 

VICTORIAN BRANCH VICE PRESIDENT 

BEN DAVIS 

Being Vice President of the AWU’s 

Victorian Branch and lead 

organiser for the growth and 

the construction areas keeps me 

pretty busy, but I love it. 

Unionism is defi nitely in my blood, but 

my present position came about in a very 

serendipitous way. 

I was studying arts and commerce 

at Melbourne University and, like most 

students, I also needed to earn some money. 

I got a job at the AWU offi ces doing some 

data entry and updating databases. This was 

before the internet, so all done offl ine. 

I ended up staying for about 18 

months, doing campaign work in a number 

of areas. I realised on about day two that 

I was hooked and wanted to be a union 

organiser. I saw that union offi cials made a 

real difference in members’ lives every day. 

After being offered a job as a recruiter 

in March 1995, I dropped out of university 

to work for the AWU full time. 

I wasn’t a complete novice to unionism 

having been a union member and AWU 

delegate when I worked in the exhibition 

industry – another job I had as a uni 

student. My work as an AWU delegate 

and my previous work for the Union stood 

me in good stead to have a red-hot go 

as a recruiter. 

My mum, who has sadly passed away, 

and my dad, who is retired, were active in 

the unions for their respective professions. 

Mum was a schoolteacher and my father 

was in the Metal Workers Union. Both were 

also members of the Labor Party. 

Outside my work for the AWU, I’m a 

self-confessed election junky. The recent US 

elections brought back a lot of memories 

for me because four years ago I was in the 

US working on the Obama campaign for his 

fi rst presidential election. 

I was based in Illinois for six weeks, 

“Four years ago 

I was in the US 

working on the 

Obama campaign.” 

Ben Davis. 

working as a volunteer on the team 

of a candidate running for the House 

of Reps, Dan Seals. I went door knocking 

and did phonebanking (calling voters). 

Unfortunately Dan didn’t win a seat, but 

Obama won the election, as we all know. 

It was very exciting for me to be part of 

that history-making event: the election 

of the fi rst African-American president of 

the United States. 

The place I was living in at that time 

had the very apt name of Libertyville. It was 

a small place and had every fast-food chain 

known to man, but no bookshops. 

Needless to say it was with eager 

anticipation that I watched the events of 

the 2012 US election unfold toward an 

ultimately fantastic result. 

My other great passion, apart from my 

fi ancée Lisa and my two staffi es, is reading. 

I’m a total bookworm, reading anything 

fi ctional from sci-fantasy by Asimov, Arthur 

C Clarke and Kurt Vonnegut Jr to classic 

stuff like Dickens, Orwell and Steinbeck. 

Ironically, before I met her Lisa worked 

for a company where she got heaps of free 

books. She used to give them away, but 

I missed out on that junket! 

Our dogs, Max and Bella, are refugees 

from the dogs’ home and I got them when 

they were four and fi ve years old. 

Currently, I’m being kept busy at work 

with growing our membership in new and 

existing industries, particularly in quarries 

and manufacturing. Also there is a lot going 

in the construction industry on the regional 

rail project. It is unfortunately the only large 

scale civil construction project going on 

in Victoria at present and is keeping the 

construction team hopping. 

Despite constant pressures from 

aggressive employers, conservative 

governments and occasionally from rival 

unions, the AWU is in better shape now 

than at any time since I fi rst walked in 

the offi ce 21 years ago. There is no reason 

why this won’t continue. 


MEET THE DELEGATE 

Brett loves 

footy and the 

Dragons. 

Words: Laura Macfarlane Photography: Getty Images 

AWU DELEGATE AT PORT KEMBLA STEELWORKS 

BRETT WITHERS 

Iam a senior operator and team leader 

for Veolia Environmental Services. 

My job entails planning and 

overseeing high pressure water 

blasting work, refectories demolition 

and types of industrial services. I am also an 

AWU delegate and have been on the 

Branch’s executive for eight years. 

Being in a union goes without saying 

for me. Ever since I started working I have 

been a union member, starting when 

I was in the building industry. My dad 

was a member and delegate of the BWIU. 

I started my working life in the same 

industry in Darwin and the new parliament 

house in Canberra where I joined the 

Union. I have been a member ever since. 

The moment that infl uenced me to get 

active in the Union and not just be a 

member was when I was a contractor at 

Bluescope Steel, then called BHP. We had 

no amenities so we used to sit in the gutter 

to eat our lunch. At some point the 

management accused us of leaving the 

gutter dirty and the unfairness of that 

galvanised me into becoming more active, 

to do something, to stick up for my own 

and my co-workers’ rights. 

We approached the AWU to get them 

to act for us and things started to improve. 

The biggest issue that I am faced with 

as a delegate at the moment is the 

reduction in the steel industry in Australia. 

We’ve lost 40 people in my area since 

the global fi nancial crisis hit and Bluescope 

is cost cutting. For example, things 

that should be cleaned up are being left 

longer. Jobs we did daily are now being 

done weekly or monthly or not at all. 

We have lost half our work due to 

closures of number 6 blast furnace, 

number 3 furnace at the BOS, coke ovens 

and casting fl oors. 

That said, we have worked for and 

achieved a fair EBA in my area. 

My wife Helen and I live in the Illawarra 

with our daughters Casey and Tristan. We 

love the area because of the beautiful 

beaches, good fi shing and camping and 

going to watch my NRL team the Dragons. 

In my spare time I play golf and I love 

fi shing. I don’t own a boat, but go out with 

Brett’s 

a keen 

fisherman. 

mates who do. I also run the Veolia fi shing 

competition which started after a crib room 

argument over who was the best fi sherman 

in Veolia, we chase fl athead in lakes and 

rivers on the south coast. 

I would love own my own fi shing boat 

but being the good dad that I am, my two 

girls’ ballet lessons and dancing comes fi rst. 

They are both keen dancers and compete 

in competitions throughout the year. 

Both my daughters are studying dance 

and take it seriously. Maybe when the girls 

are grown up I’ll get that boat after all. 

“Being in a union goes without saying for me. Ever since 

I started working I have been a union member, starting 

when I was in the building industry.” 


WORLD AT WORK 

HELMETSTO 

HARDHATS 


Finding work after leaving the armed forces can 

be difficult. While visiting New York, Chris Ryan 

met some young military veterans – and staunch 

unionists – who are now rebuilding their lives 

while rebuilding a site of tragedy. 

At the World Trade Centre site, 

hundreds of visitors queue patiently, 

waiting to visit the National 

September 11 Memorial. Once they pull on 

shoes and shoulder their bags after passing 

through a metal detector, they walk along 

a chain-link fence covered in blue mesh. 

Behind the fence, workers are still busy 

rebuilding the rest of the World Trade 

Centre. While people take a moment to 

reßect at the memorial pools built where 

the twin towers once stood, or run a hand 

over the names inscribed on the bronze 

plates that edge the pools, cranes swing 

beams into place and cement mixers pump 

concrete over steel reinforcing. 

Inside Tower Four sweat pours off 

Jansel Rodruiguez as he scurries through 

the building’s air-conditioning ducts. 

Underground in the transportation hub 

ironworker Lawrence Go"i shifts massive 

steel beams into place. 

They are just two of dozens of workers 

at the World Trade Centre site who have 

joined the construction industry through the 

Helmets to Hardhats program. The program 

was created by the American Federation of 

Labor and Congress of Industrial 

Organizations (AFL-CIO), working 

with construction industry employer 

associations. It helps military veterans 

pursue careers in construction, where the 

discipline and teamwork skills developed 

in the armed services shine through. 

INTO UNIFORM 

Lawrence, formerly of the 82nd Airborne 

Division, is now a member of Ironworkers 

Local 40. He signed-up for the army while 

still in high school, a self-described nerdy 

kid with no direction, career or college-wise. 

“I was secretly hoping for a peacekeeping 

mission,” he told The Australian 

Worker. “You’re pu"ing yourself in danger, 

but at the same time you’re handing out 

food and water, or building a bridge or 

a school.” 

He recalls being on base on September 

11, 2001, when that hope disappeared. “A 

friend came rushing into my room. He 

said, ‘You go"a see this, something’s 

happened in New York City.’ We turned 

on the TV and saw the second plane ßy in 

live. From that moment for the following 

three or four weeks, my room became the 

place where the entire platoon gathered. 

That’s where we sat and watched the 

news, and half-jokingly talked about going 

AWOL to help. If someone had got into a 

car and started driving to New York, 

everybody would have followed.” 

Jansel, who was in the reserves after 

three years serving as a scout with the 

2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 

remembers the moment just as vividly. He 

was at his mother’s home on Staten Island. 

“I was taking a shower and I heard my 

mum screaming, ‘Oh my god, we’ve been 

a"acked’. I ran straight to the TV, and the 

next thing I saw was the second plane hit. 

I didn’t know what to think.” 

Even now, he struggles to describe the 

thoughts and emotions that crowded his 

mind. “I knew it was just a ma"er of time 

until I got a call saying that I was going 

somewhere.” 

As it turned out it wasn’t until 2004, 

after the Iraq invasion, that Jansel was called 

on to serve. He ended up stationed on the 

Kuwaiti-Iraqi border, inspecting convoys. 

“I was lucky that the unit I went with 

was in an area that was very relaxed, so we 

didn’t see a lot of Þre-Þghting,” he says. 

It was a different story for Lawrence. 

From July 2002 to January 2003 his regiment, 

the 505th, was in combat operations 

against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. 

“It’s something I’m very intensely proud 

of,” Lawrence says of his service. “At the 

same point though, it’s a li"le humbling, 

because I feel like I didn’t do as much as 

other people. There was always more to do. 

“I feel thankful I’m alive and unhurt. 

I know guys who were killed in action and 

guys who were maimed. I have a friend 

who lost an arm and I’ve seen guys I’ve 

stayed close with where there are 

psychological effects. They’ll never be the 

same. They’re out there living their life, but 

there’s a price to pay. There’s a sacriÞce 

they made.” 

Jansel Rodruiguez. 

“I knew it was just 

a matter of time 

until I got a call 

saying that I was 

going somewhere.” 


WORLD AT WORK 

ABOVE: 

The World 

Trade Centre 

memorial. 

Lawrence Gotti is proud 

to be part of the program. 

Lawrence was sceptical when 

operations moved to Iraq. “It was the same 

for the soldiers as it was for a lot of the 

public in the world. When we got to Iraq 

we knew it wasn’t exactly what they were 

telling us,” he says. “That being said, we 

built hospitals, we built schools. I saw the 

change from when we got there and people 

were afraid to leave their houses. At night it 

was like the entire country shut down and 

hid. We saw that go to the point where 

they’d be having outdoor festivals. People 

would come up to you and thank you.” 

UNION & PROUD 

After his four years’ service, Lawrence 

didn’t slip back into civilian life easily. He 

says he bounced around, taking comfort 

knowing a return to the military was 

always an option: no one going to close 

them down. 

He did an associate degree at a 

community school. He considered going 

into forensic psychology or pursuing a law 

degree. He was working as a paralegal 

when friends told him about the Helmets 

to Hardhats program. 

From the outset he knew it was for 

him. “It’s that brotherhood, it’s right from 

the bat,” he says. “If you mess up you’re 

going to hear about it, but at the same 

point someone is going to take you aside 

and show you how to do it right. They are 

going to look after you. It’s a lot like the 

service. You have the older guys looking 

out for the younger guys, and before you 

know it, you’re one of the older guys 

helping out.” 

Jansel has also rediscovered the 

camaraderie he enjoyed in the army. He 

had been serving overseas when a fellow 

reservist received a care package from the 

International Association of Heat and Frost 

Insulators and Allied Workers (AWIU). 

Jansel, who studied graphic design, was 

struck by the AWIU logo on a shirt in the 

care package. It showed a salamander 

si!ing on a pipe, above a Þre. 

“I was like, ‘What the hell is that’ He 

told me, ‘That’s my career,’ and explained 

to me what he did.” 

This sparked Jansel’s interest and when 

he heard about the Helmets to Hardhats 

program, he applied to join the AWIU. The 

transition from the military was an easy one. 

“In the military everything is always a 

cohesive unit,” he says. “There should be 

no weak links. If someone has fallen out 

you always lend a hand. When I came into 

the union, during the brieÞngs and the 

orientations, they were promoting the 

same thing. They said we’re all family, we 

are all here to work together: if you see 

someone who needs help, you lend a hand, 

it’s always about the growth of the whole 

union together.” 

BRIGHT FUTURE 

Both men take a particular pride in 

working at the World Trade Centre. 

“When I was learning the business, once 

I heard there was an opportunity to work 

at the towers I actually called one of my 

supervisors and said, that’s deÞnitely 

where I want to go,” says Jansel. 

“It’s pre!y cool. Even though when you 

think about September 11, you think about 

the people who were lost and the incident 

that happened, it also symbolises something 

else. Right after the a!acks people that 

didn’t even know each other were coming 

together, and it was a big thing.” 

Lawrence looks forward to showing 

his son the site. “He’s going to be two in 

December. At this point he has no idea 

what I do, but I deÞnitely look forward to 

telling him, ‘This is what I had a part in.’ 

Even projects like Freedom Tower, where 

I didn’t have a big hand in it, I was a part 

of that project.” 

And the transportation hub, which 

doesn’t sound as spectacular as a soaring 

skyscraper, is particularly special to 

Lawrence. 

“It’s going to be amazing because 

it’s open to the public. One thing we’ll 

always say; with Wall Street companies, 

in the Diamond District or the garment 

area, you build these huge buildings and 

you are there every day, day after day, 

then it’s built and they shut the doors, 

and they say, ‘Why would we let you 

back in here’ 

“To see these giant steel structures go 

up, we’re looking at it now and we’re 

saying, ‘We are actually going to be able to 

walk through here.’ I’ll be able to take my 

son here and say, ‘I worked on that, and 

this is how we lifted this with the crane, 

and this weighs this much.’ That’s one of 

those things that is really amazing.” 


BINDI & RINGER 

COLOUR US IN 

Bindi & Ringer have heard about the wonders of the sea, but they’ve also heard 

about some of the things that shouldn’t be there and are harmful to their 

ocean-dwelling friends. Can you circle seven objects that shouldn’t be in the 

sea When you do, colour in the picture to bring the ocean to life! 

EDITED & ILLUSTRATED: Melissa Martin 

50 THE AUSTRALIAN WORKER www.awu.net.au 

ANSWER: An oil spill; 2 aluminium cans; 1 Plastic bag; 2 plastic chip packets; an anchor with net and rope attached.

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