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FRONTLINE NEWS ► SOUTH AUSTRALIA/TASMANIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA 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. SOUTH AUSTRALIA 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. 40 THE AUSTRALIAN WORKER www.awu.net.au
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 www.awu.net.au THE AUSTRALIAN WORKER 41
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Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS 20 46 08 27 FEATURES 08 WE
Page 5: PAUL HOWES A YEAR OF CHALLENGE This
Page 8 and 9: INDUSTRIAL REPORT WE’RE MAKING AU
Page 10 and 11: INDUSTRIAL REPORT “I feel proud w
Page 12 and 13: INDUSTRIAL REPORT “There’s a lo
Page 14 and 15: POLITICAL IMPACT With rumours that
Page 16 and 17: POLITICAL IMPACT • The removal of
Page 18 and 19: POLITICAL IMPACT Photography: Getty
Page 20 and 21: POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND “I remem
Page 22 and 23: POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND LEFT: Jimm
Page 24 and 25: POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND to where w
Page 26 and 27: Australia’s Fund of the year 2012
Page 28 and 29: REPORT stymie the ability of many A
Page 30 and 31: REPORT AWU MEMBERS RECOGNISED FOR B
Page 32 and 33: FRONTLINE NEWS ► NATIONAL NATIONA
Page 34 and 35: FRONTLINE NEWS ► NEW SOUTH WALES
Page 36 and 37: FRONTLINE NEWS ►NEWCASTLE/PORT KE
Page 38 and 39: FRONTLINE NEWS ► VICTORIA VICTORI
Page 42 and 43: FRONTLINE NEWS ► TASMANIA/WESTERN
Page 44 and 45: MEET THE OFFICIAL Words: Laura Macf
Page 46 and 47: WORLD AT WORK HELMETSTO HARDHATS 46
Page 48: WORLD AT WORK ABOVE: The World Trad
Page 51 and 52: Prime Super Proud to have won Roy M

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