election 2010 - cfmeu

NITY 

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CONSTRUCTION FORESTRY MINING & ENERGY UNION (CONSTRUCTION & GENERAL DIVISION) NSW BRANCH AUGUST 2010 

ELECTION ISSUE 2010 

FIRST-TIME VOTER 

JUSTIN REVEALS 

WHY I 

DON’T 

TRUST 

ABBOTT 

Registered 

by Australia 

Post Publication 

Print Post No: 

243184/00011

UNITY 2 

TEXT TAYLOR & SCOTT 

TAYLOR &SCOTT LAWYERS 

FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF CFMEU MEMBERS FOR 60 YEARS 

REPORTING 

WORKPLACE 

INJURIES 

PROTECT 

YOUR 

RIGHTS 

A NUMBER OF WORKERS INJURED in the 

workplace are not receiving the compensation 

they deserve due to a failure to report their injury. 

Under the current workers’ compensation 

legislation, a claim for compensation cannot be 

made by an injured worker unless he or she has 

first reported their injury. 

If you sustain an injury in the workplace you 

should record the injury in the site accident register 

and your employer’s own accident book, even 

if it does not initially seem serious. Every site 

should have a site accident register. 

If medical attention is required, you should 

attend your doctor, explain how you were injured 

and obtain a Workcover Medical Certificate. 

Regardless of whether time off work is required, 

you should let your doctor know that it is a workplace 

injury. 

Once your employer has been notified of your 

injury they are required to inform their insurer 

within 48 hours. Your employer is also obligat- 

Our team of experienced lawyers 

is readily available to provide legal 

advice at discounted rates to all 

CFMEU members and their 

families. Whether you need advice 

on compensation, conveyancing, 

family law, wills/estates or criminal 

matters, we are always here to help 

you. Our offices are conveniently 

located in the City and at Lidcombe, 

Wollongong and Newcastle. 

WORKING FOR YOU 

Rescina Hekimian is one of the company solicitors 

ed to provide you with details of their workers’ 

compensation insurer such as the name and 

policy number. Once a claim has been notified 

to the insurer, you will be provided with a claim 

number. The insurer may require you to complete 

and lodge a claim form, particularly if workers’ 

compensation benefits are required to be 

paid. 

Even if you are injured whilst travelling to 

or from your place of employment, you are cov- 

Level 2, 

Robell House 

287 Elizabeth Street 

Sydney NSW 2000 

T: (02) 9265 2500 

F: (02) 9265 2555 

FREECALL 1800 600 664 

Ground floor 

1 Lowden Square 

Wollongong 

NSW 2500 

T: (02) 4227 2344 

F: (02) 4227 1590 

FREECALL 1800 678 225 

CALL 1300 4 COMPO (1300 426 676) 

EXPERIENCE YOU WANT ON YOUR SIDE 

ered by workers’ compensation and your injury 

should be reported to your employer immediately. 

If your employer refuses to allow you to report 

your injury, it should be report to your CFMEU 

organiser or the union office and WorkCover. 

If you are injured on a worksite and the accident 

involves a motor vehicle, whether registered 

or unregistered, the accident must also be reported 

to the police within 28 days. A failure to do so 

may result in you losing your right to claim any 

entitlements you have under the Motor Accidents 

Compensation legislation. Also any accident in 

the workplace which results in a death must be 

reported to police immediately. 

ON YOUR SIDE 

Taylor & Scott Lawyers have been fighting 

for the rights of CFMEU members for more 

than 60 years, getting members the compensation 

they deserve. Its team of experienced 

lawyers is readily available to provide 

legal advice to all CFMEU members 

and their families who have been injured in 

the workplace and can contacted on 1300 

426 676. Their offices are conveniently 

located in the City, Lidcombe, Wollongong, 

Newcastle, with solicitors also travelling to 

regional areas such as Bathurst, Orange, 

Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. 

Level 2, 

CFMEU Building 

12 Railway Street 

Lidcombe NSW 2141 

T: (02) 8737 4500 

F: (02) 8737 4555 

FREECALL 1800 600 664 

Suite 1 

Tonella Commercial Centre 

Cnr Bull & Ravenshaw Street 

Newcastle NSW 2300 

T: (02) 4929 6777 

F: (02) 4926 5109 

FREECALL 1800 880 777

EDITORIAL 

LET’S KEEP 

ABBOTT OUT 

ON AUGUST 21 AUSTRALIA will go to the 

polls and face a choice between Labor’s Julia 

Gillard and the Liberals Tony Abbott for 

Prime Minister. 

However for CFMEU members there is 

no choice as Tony Abbott will be a disaster 

for our wages and conditions. An Abbott-led 

government would take workers back to the 

worst days of the Howard years. 

The CFMEU had its disagreements with 

the Rudd Labor Government, but the government 

has protected our members from 

the worst impacts of the global financial 

crisis. It did this by focusing on infrastructure 

and maintaining jobs in the construction 

industry. Through the Building the 

Education Revolution, the government 

delivered 165,000 jobs in NSW alone keeping 

building workers in jobs in our cities and 

regions. 

Tony Abbott says this program, which 

stopped some building workers losing their 

homes, was all a waste of money. It is inevitable 

the haste needed to avert mass unemployment 

would lead to some mistakes. 

It is also important that when Labor 

tried to reduce the power of the Australian 

Building and Construction Commission, 

the Liberals in the Senate blocked them. 

Abbott is committed to the ABCC and ensuring 

it continues its work harassing building 

workers and reducing safety on sites. Under 

a Gillard Labor Government and a friendlier 

Senate, the ABCC can be abolished. 

Your vote is important on August 21. It 

can save our public health and education 

systems and ensure a safe workplace and fair 

wage are maintained. Vote for your rights, 

for your workmates’ safety and the future of 

your children on Saturday, August 21. 

Vote for Labor. Put the Liberals last. 

YOUR SAY: ROLE MODEL 

‘I CANNOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH of CFMEU Organiser Brad Parker. He is a professional, 

humane gentleman and an exemplary role model to all members of the CFMEU. 

I commend you on your choice of organiser. A union with trained, caring professionals will 

always be successful and strong. Thank you to Brad Parker for going above and beyond. 

I would also like to commend Paul Connell, (union delegate) for his support, advice and 

encouragement. Both men are excellent representatives for your union and your brand.’ 

Mark Stevens (Public Works), David Stevens (ex-Public Works) 

MORE LETTERS PAGE 37 

FEEDBACK 

This is your journal and the CFMEU encourages you to have your say. We welcome your contribution – 

letters, stories about wage claims, disputes, OHS, site conditions, poems, photos etc. Mark for the attention 

of Dani Cooper: Unity File, Locked Bag 1, Lidcombe NSW 1825 

tel 02 9749 0400 fax 02 9649 5255 cooperdani@bigpond.com 

DISCLAIMER: Advertising by a company in Unity does not in any way constitute 

endorsement by the CFMEU of the practices of any employer/company. 

CONTENTS 

AUGUST 2010 

ISSUE 50 

ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS 4 

YOUR UNION 5-7 

OHS 8 

CAMPAIGNS 9-10 

APPRENTICES 11 

ABOLISH THE ABCC 12-13 

ELECTION 2010 14-19 

YOUR SAY 20-21 

SUPERANNUATION 22 

WORLD 23 

AWARDS 24-28 

MULTILINGUAL 29-31 

WORLD 35 

COMMUNITY 36 

LETTERS 37 

YOUR HEALTH 38 

DRUGS & ALCOHOL 39 

PROFILE 40 

Writing, editing and photography 

BLEEDIN’ HEART MEDIA 

AND ANDREW FERGUSON 

Design 

RODNEY LOCHNER 0414 716 306 

Cover photo 

JAMES ALCOCK 

Printing and distribution 

PRINT&MAIL PTY LTD 02 9519 8268 

Advertising 

SUMMIT ADVERTISING 03 9329 7571

UNITY 4 

ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS 

CLEAN 

SWEEP 

FOR 

NEW 

DEAL 

A CONCERTED CAMPAIGN BY CFMEU 

Organiser Ian Gemmell is helping bring some 

order to the industrial cleaning sector. 

Deluxe Cleaning is the latest company to sign 

a union Enterprise Agreement making it the fifth 

company in the sector with an agreement. 

Managing director Adrian Maretta says the 

company has signed an EA for its Final Clean 

employees. 

“Deluxe is excited to have signed the EA and 

also with being associated with the CFMEU,” 

Maretta says. 

“We are hoping that it leads to future success 

and growth of Deluxe Cleaning and its services.” 

Gemmell says the cleaning sector has traditionally 

been full of rorts with the mainly female 

workforce ripped off with low wages and no entitlements 

such as superannuation. 

“Cash used to be rife in the sector along with 

bullying and intimidation,” he says. 

WORLD CUP WINNER 

PITY THE NETHERLANDS. Not only did they lose the World Cup in South 

Africa, but CFMEU members didn’t even rate them. 

In our World Cup competition not one entry selected the men in orange to 

be in the final, although eventual winners Spain featured strongly. The favourites 

from our membership were Argentina, Germany and Spain. 

The competition required members to pick the two finalists and the final 

score. With the dilemma of no winning entry and a fabulous prize on offer we 

decided the winner should be the person that selected the winning team and 

winning score. 

With a few Spanish offerings, including State Secretary Andrew Ferguson, 

it came down to picking the scoreline, leaving CFMEU Memberships Officer 

Sujata Kumar the last person standing. 

Kumar picked Spain winning 1-0, defying the protests of her husband who 

said Brazil would be champions. “I just had a feel about Spain,” says Sujata, 

who admits to enjoying a dabble during big events. 

For her insightful knowledge of the so-called “beautiful game”, Sujata wins a 

night’s accommodation and breakfast in one of Coogee Plaza’s sea view rooms. 

SIGNING ON 

Ian Gemmell with Deluxe Clean management 

“With many of the workers women with 

English as a second language they were unaware 

of, or scared of losing work, if they complained.” 

He says with these agreements workers 

employed by companies such as Deluxe Cleaning 

are guaranteed entitlements such as superannuation 

and top-up insurance. 

Other contractors in the cleaning sector with 

agreements include Clearwater, City View, CN 

Building Services and ICN Property.

YOUR UNION 

BROTHERLY LOVE 

THERE’S A TRADITIONAL MAORI SONG 

about older siblings looking after their younger 

brothers and sisters, and in a roundabout way 

that’s what’s been happening recently at the 

Bovis Darling Harbour Walk site in Sydney’s CBD. 

When 22-year old formworker, Te Kapua 

Karauti-Ngaia, was diagnosed with leukaemia 

at the beginning of June, he had to stop working 

at the site right away, but because he is 

a New Zealand citizen without permanent 

residency he didn’t qualify for vital government 

support. 

CFMEU site delegate Peter Genovese learnt 

that Karauti-Ngaia had been left with mounting 

medical expenses and no sure income, so he 

took matters into his own hands. 

UNION BRIEFS 

TIME TO GET ACTIVE 

When you hold your pay slip in your hand, you 

are holding a piece of history. 

At least that is the message the union members 

behind the re-formation of the Building 

Industry Socialist Activities Association (BISAA) 

want our younger workers to understand. 

For CFMEU Organiser Tony Papa the pay 

slip symbolises many of the gains made by 

the building union in improving conditions 

for workers. However Papa says getting young 

building workers interested in politics is 

becoming harder. 

“The future of the union movement is this 

generation of apprentices and younger workers, 

yet there is a complacency that is hard to 

break through,” he says. 

This is one of the reasons people like industry 

legends such as Jack Mundey, Graham 

Childs, Dick Whitehead, Vern Philpot, Don 

Macdonald and Mick Tubbs have thrown their 

He called a site meeting to ask for support, 

and was overwhelmed. An incredible $5000 

was collected from delegates, workmates and 

managers across the site who dug into their 

pockets to help. 

“It’s been a really generous site a number 

of times over,” said Genovese on July 26 

when he handed the money to the young 

Maori at a small meeting onsite attended by 

NSW Assistant State Secretary Brian Parker 

and former organiser and Maori elder, Steve 

Keenan. 

“When everyone puts in for a colleague like 

this it can make a real difference, it doesn’t 

happen as often as it used to but it still happens,” 

said Parker. 

support behind reinvigorating BISAA. 

“The political and industrial consciousness 

of the rank and file needs to be awoken and 

reignited into political and industrial activity,” 

says Papa. 

The BISAA was originally formed during 

the late seventies as an organisation of likeminded, 

politically motivated people committed 

to continue the Marxist/Leninist traditions 

and work within the building unions. 

Today it is hoped to be a source of information 

and a way to educate the youth that will 

inherit and take up leadership positions in the 

union movement in the future. 

You are welcome to get involved by attending 

meetings at the Lidcombe office. For more 

information about the BISAA contact Tony 

Papa on 0419 843 056. 

TAX GUIDE 

The 2010 Tax Guide is now available from the 

FRIENDS INDEED 

Te Kapua Karauti-Ngaia, centre , next to Peter Genovese, Brian Parker and workmates 

Adding to the support, Karauti-Ngaia’s 

employer, Dalma Formwork matched the 

CFMEU-raised funds. 

“It’s going to be a big help,” said Karauti- 

Ngaia who’s living with close family here and 

making hospital visits twice a week to keep up 

with the treatment. 

After a small speech of thanks in Maori 

and English by his uncle, Tarewa Paringatai, 

who teaches Maori language from the Sydney 

CFMEU offices, Paringatai and Keenan followed 

the Maori custom of singing a traditional 

song to finish the talking. 

And as they explained, on that occasion it 

had to be the one about caring for your 

brothers and sisters. 

CFMEU office in Lidcombe for financial union 

members. It can also be downloaded from the 

website: http://cfmeu.asn.au/sites/default/files/ 

downloads/nat/award/taxguide2010final.pdf 

ARE YOU STILL PAYING CASH 

It is time to throw that cash back in your pocket 

and take the easy and efficient way to stay 

financial – pay fees by direct debit or Bpay. 

With the new bonuses of travel insurance 

and an ambulance benefit for financial members 

it is more important than ever t ensure 

your membership does not lapse. 

Make sure this doesn’t happen by taking 

advantage of direct debit and pay fees monthly 

or fortnightly. More than 30 per cent of members 

are now paying fees by direct debit. 

Thanks to the upgrade of the CFMEU website 

members can also pay their dues via the 

internet. Log on to www.cfmeu-constructionnsw.com.au 

UNITY 5

YOUR UNION 

MEMBERS OF THE CFMEU CAN BE PROUD 

of the cross-community support our union 

received in the wake of the criminal attack on 

our Lidcombe headquarters. 

From speeches in parliament to letters to 

the editor of major newspapers, the messages 

of solidarity and financial support flooded in. 

This culminated in a half-page advertisement 

in the Daily Telegraph, paid for by the 

signatories, condemning the attack and urging 

“our leaders across the political spectrum to 

show their solidarity with the union”. 

Among those who signed the statement 

was then Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. 

Predictably Tony Abbott was silent and not 

forthcoming with any support. 

The statement was necessary they said 

“because an attack on the CFMEU is also an 

attack on all organisations that stand up for the 

rights of people in our community”. 

“Our democracy is stronger when workers 

feel free and fearless to speak up when their 

rights or safety are being undermined.” 

However, some of our staunchest supporters 

were overlooked in the chaos of producing 

the advertisement and meeting the publica- 

tion deadline. In particular mention should 

be made of the NSW Fire Brigade Employees 

Union and the Police Association of NSW. 

Not only did their members put their lives 

at risk when the fire was raging, but they then 

dug deep with financial support. 

Other friends that were overlooked include 

Newcastle-based Labor Member of Parliament 

Jill Hall and Jenny Haines, of the NSW Nurses 

Association. 

The Communist Party of Australia was 

another organisation that quickly stepped forward 

in solidarity. 

WORDS OF SUPPORT 

‘UnionsWA Council wishes to send a message 

of support to the CFMEU NSW Branch 

following the attack on their office and asks 

that the State and Federal governments put in 

sufficient resources to properly investigate the 

matter.’ 

Unions WA 

‘The South Coast Labour Council condemns 

the cowardly and violent attack on the NSW 

HEALING BEGINS 

Sydney’s Maori community helped start the 

healing process after the May 13 car-bomb 

assault on the union’s Lidcombe headquarters. 

Staff and officials were devastated by the 

attack and many were moved to tears to see 

how badly the offices were damaged. 

On the night in question, it was just luck the 

building was empty when the criminals struck. 

The Maori community was using the office as 

a meeting room on the night and had left the 

building less than an hour before the attack. 

Maori elder Hira Te Rangipumamao said 

people who had been in the office on the 

night were shell-shocked by the near miss. 

“The Maori community is in shock over 

the possibility of having some Maori members 

killed,” he says. “We are vehemently opposed to 

this kind of lawlessness. We are spiritually determined 

to help the CFMEU overcome this act.” 

Community spokesperson and former 

CFMEU Organiser Steve Keenan says a hangi 

and haka were held on May 27 which were a 

huge success. “It helped bring a feeling of 

positivity back into the offices and brought 

everyone together,” he says. 

HQ FIRE-BOMBING 

THE AFTERMATH 

office of the CFMEU. Council congratulates 

the Member for Throsby, Jennie George, for 

her parliamentary statement condemning this 

attack and the Premier of NSW for appointing 

a special taskforce to investigate the attack.’ 

South Coast Labour Council 

‘This was a malicious attack on organised 

labour in an attempt to impose the law of the 

jungle. It cannot, and will not, be tolerated. 

With hard-earned concessions extracted by 

Labor in this House and with the ongoing 

industrial struggles by organised labour, 

together we have ensured that Australia will 

truly be a place where the fair go is not only an 

ethos but also something real and tangible for 

working people.’ 

Ian West NSW Labor MLC 

‘The branch members were dismayed to learn 

of this attack and wished to convey their message 

of support for members and staff of the 

CFMEU.’ 

Kogarah Carlton branch of the ALP 

‘As the world economic crisis deepens, attacks

TEXT YOUR UNION 

STROKE OF LUCK FOR DYING UNIONIST 

on workers and our unions will become more 

frequent. Unionists will need to build active 

solidarity in mutual defence of our organisations 

against such attacks. 

The Communist League adds its voice to 

supporters of the CFMEU in drawing maximum 

public attention to this attack and its wider 

ramifications for the whole working class. 

We join with others in protesting this outrage 

which is an assault on all workers and their 

organisations.’ 

The Communist League 

‘This is a brutal assault on all working people 

and democratic rights gained through their 

hard and courageous struggles. We express our 

support and solidarity with you at this difficult 

time, and hope the investigation will result in 

bringing those perpetrators to justice.’ 

Solidarity Committee with Iranian Workers 

Movement-Australia 

‘The condemnation of this unprecedented 

and vicious attack transcends politics. It is an 

attack on the very fabric of our society. This is 

a frightening situation. The mere allegations of 

wrongdoing get an immediate response from 

the ABCC when those allegations are directed 

at unions and their officials. But when violence 

is perpetrated by opponents of unions we hear 

not a murmur of disquiet from the ABCC. That 

is clearly unacceptable.’ 

Jennie George Federal Labor Member for 

Throsby 

‘This Divisional Branch Management 

Committee condemns the violent attack on the 

office of our NSW Branch, and notes the main 

stream media’s disgraceful efforts in reporting 

the attack to the public at large. This DBMC 

calls on the Australian Government to condemn 

the recent bombing and to treat this as 

an attack on entire Labor Movement. 

The Victorian Branch of the CFMEU 

Construction and General Division 

‘This is a sign of one thing: that the CFMEU 

is a courageous and effective advocate of 

worker’s rights. The retaliation, for all its nastiness 

reveals the success of CFMEU in its work. 

Working for justice will always bring struggle 

and at times danger and hardship.’ 

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions 

Movement for Palestine, Sydney 

‘Our members are outraged that such an 

undemocratic attack could take place in 

Australia.’ 

Genevieve Kelly, National Tertiary Education 

Union State Secretary 

‘As the workers everywhere have nothing apart 

from their work power to secure their livelihood, 

there is no difference among workers of 

various countries and nationalities. They form 

one global class. We stand beside you in your 

struggle and support your quest to uncover the 

truth of this incident.’ 

Saman Karim 

The Head of the Abroad Organization 

Worker-Communist Party of Iraq 

‘That any group or individual should stoop to 

this kind of attack both shocks and outrages 

all of us.’ 

Sutherland District Trade Union Club Board 

and management 

THE ATTACK ON THE CFMEU proves that every cloud 

does have a silver lining with the car-bombing helping 

save a life in Iran. 

CFMEU Organiser Mansour Razaghi says when contractor 

Metrotex Painters was awarded the contract to 

repaint the burnt-out foyer of the CFMEU headquarters 

in Lidcombe, it became an opportunity to do some fundraising. 

Razaghi approached the company and asked if a 

volunteer group could help paint the foyer and their wages 

be donated to help secure a kidney transplant for jailed 

Iranian union activist Mahmoud Salehi. 

A group of five community activists that included former 

painters now working as taxi drivers worked for one day 

alongside Razaghi helping Metrotex Painters in their work. 

The company donated $3600 for their day’s labour and 

with donations $3787 ha been sent to Salehi’s family in 

Iran to help pay for a kidney transplant. 

Razaghi says Salehi’s kidney problems were exacerbated 

by being tortured while he was jailed for more than 

a year for his activities as a labour leader in Kurdistan. 

“We had an urgent call from his family that he was 

dying and now he will be able to have the surgery and will 

live,” says Razaghi. 

GANESH KEEPS 

FLAMES AT BAY 

Lord Ganesha is one of Hindu’s most revered 

gods. So when Indian workers who had 

been helped by the CFMEU in a wages dispute 

wanted to thank the union a statue of 

Ganesha, the god who can protect his devotees 

from any obstacle, was an obvious choice. 

Since 2005, Ganesha has watched the activities 

in the foyer of the Lidcombe office and now it 

seems may have helped save the office in the 

recent car-bomb attack. 

Officials at the CFMEU with an Indian 

background, including Charishma Kaliyanda 

and Radhika Raju above, believe the Ganesha 

idol protected the union. They point to the 

damage caused by the fire, yet the statue and 

the floral necklace on it were barely singed.

UNITY 8 

OHS 

SAFETY 

SUMMIT 

A STEP TO 

STOPPING 

TRAGEDY 

THE STEPS TO AVOIDING TRAGEDY in the 

workplace will be the subject of a one-day conference 

being organised by the CFMEU and John 

Holland. 

The Construction Safety Summit Fatalities: 

Nut & Bolts on October 6 this year is the first in 

what is hoped to be an annual event aimed at 

improving safety on NSW building sites. 

CFMEU members involved in safety on sites 

are urged to sign up for the one-day event, which 

is free to all participants. 

This includes staff such as site delegates, safety 

committee members and chairs and and site 

OH&S officers. 

CFMEU Safety Officer Rick Rech says the 

summit will discuss recent fatalities in the industry 

and the proactive efforts being made by major 

contractors to avoid these tragedies in the future. 

He says the event will feature major contractors 

sharing their companies’ experiences in 

dealing with a fatality, and how their businesses 

reacted in improving safety systems. 

OHS BRIEFS 

SAFETY ALERT 

Unmarked scaffold couplers (swivel and 

right angle reduction couplers) used to 

brace formwork frames and props were 

recently found on a construction site. 

Since 2009, Australian Standards have 

required scaffold couplers and accessories 

be marked as follows: 

• Each coupler and accessory, excluding 

base plates, shall be marked with the 

manufacturer’s or supplier’s name or 

trademark, and a code traceable to a 

manufacturing batch. 

• The marking should be impressed or 

embossed on the flap or body of the coupler 

or accessory and be legible after protective 

coating has been applied. 

• The height of the characters shall be 

at least 4mm and the impressed or 

embossed dimension at least 0.2mm. 

Do not use unmarked scaffold couplers and 

if they are on your site contact WorkCover on 

13 10 50. 

ANTI-GLARE SUCCESS 

A trial of anti-glare decking by Bovis Lend Lease has been so successful the company is preparing to 

introduce its use nationally, says CFMEU Safety Co-ordinator Rick Rech. The CFMEU and Bluescope 

Steel have been working together to improve safety on sites with the trial of anti-glare metal deck form. 

According to Rech commonly used metal deck form reflects the sun resulting in bad sunburn on workers’ 

faces and legs. It is also a safety issue for crane drivers as the glare can prevent them seeing what 

is happening on the deck. To overcome this issue Bluescope Steel has developed a matt finish on the 

form that aborbs the glare. The company is also developing anti-slip decking, Rech says. “This is a very 

positive initiative to stop and decrease the rate of skin cancer on building sites,” he says. 

“The overriding objective is to pull together 

businesses and the CFMEU in a collaborative 

forum to share learning and experiences around 

workplace fatalities, and to improve safety standards 

across the entire contracting and building 

sector,” Rech says. 

John Holland will provide one of the case 

studies which comes out of its research into a 

CRANE INSPECTIONS 

The WorkCover, MBA, CFMEU Industry Plant 

Consultative Committee has agreed that all 

cranes are required to have a 10-year major 

inspection. 

The 10 years is not an exact time period, 

it can be longer or shorter depending on 

whether the working history of the crane is 

known. 

If the work history of the crane is 

unknown the 10-year date will be determined 

by its date of manufacture. 

The scheme is due to start September 

this year. 

For further information on this requirement 

please visit www.workcover.nsw.gov.au 

or telephone 13 10 50. 

You should also refer to the Crane 

Industry Council Australia guidelines regarding 

criteria for the 10-year major service 

requirement by visiting their website at 

www.cica.com.au. 

number of serious safety incidents. 

The Workplace Tragedy Family Support 

Group will also be at the event to be held at Star 

City Casino, in Sydney. 

More details will be available as the event is 

further finalised. However interested participants 

should contact Rech through the Lidcombe 

office on 97490400. 

LADDER ALERT 

The CFMEU is launching a campaign to 

ensure safety on platforms and ladders. 

There have been a number of serious 

injuries recently, including fatalities, as a 

result of workers using ladders incorrectly or 

not using Australian Standards equipment, 

according to CFMEU Safety Co-ordinator 

Rick Rech. 

“I have been on major sites where I have 

seen platform ladders and platforms with 

stickers attached attesting that they comply 

with Australian Standards for commercial 

use,” says Rech. “However I have my doubts.” 

The CFMEU is requesting is WorkCover 

do an audit on the main suppliers of these 

items and have a random number of these 

ladders tested for compliance. 

Rech says workers using ladders should 

make sure they are tied off and well footed. 

Working platform should be no narrower 

than 450mm.

CAMPAIGNS 

WORKERS 

READY FOR 

FIGHTBACK 

ON LOST 

CONDITIONS 

THE FIGHT FOR THE RETURN OF SITE 

ALLOWANCES is on with the CFMEU targeting 

the $3 billion Barangaroo project to lift 

standards in the sector. 

Thousands of workers downed tools in July 

to march not only in support of Ark Tribe, but 

to call on the State Government and Bovis Lend 

Lease for a site-wide project agreement. 

CFMEU Assistant State Secretary Mal 

Tulloch says non-compliance and cowboy attitudes 

are rampant in the building sector at the 

moment. 

“Our membership is sick of it. Greedy developers 

and shonky operators are ripping them off 

constantly. 

“We see pushing for a project agreement 

at Barangaroo as an effective way of regulating 

the sector and enforcing payment of nonnegotiable 

entitlements such as superannuation, 

accident insurance and long service 

leave.” 

Under a project agreement contractors on 

the site would be required to show they were 

paying the right wages, superannuation and 

other entitlements. 

Tulloch says the restoration of site allowances 

was a win-win for the industry. 

“At the moment we are losing workers to the 

mining sector. With site allowances you attract 

the best and most 

productive workers. 

“It delivers 

better outcomes 

not only for the 

workers, but also 

for the developer.” 

He pointed 

to the experience 

of the 2000 

Olympics. 

“The Sydney Olympics were built on time, 

within budget with decent labour standards and 

a good safety record. Barangaroo should be no 

different.” 

He says the State Government has spent millions 

on taxayers’ money on the design of the 

project. Now it is time for the State Government 

to step up and enforce better conditions for 

workers. 

“The membership has been waiting for 

the union to move on site allowances. They 

were incensed when John Howard’s Liberal 

Government took them away. 

“They are itching for a fight on this and we 

are happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with our 

members on this issue.” 

READY TO TAKE A STAND 

Building workers turned out in force in July to demand a project agreement for the 

Barangaroo development that includes a site allowance 

Tulloch says the union is also pushing to replicate 

the Olympics experience in establishing 

a skills centre, run by COMET Training, on the 

site. 

“COMET established a centre during the 

Olympics and got fantastic training and employment 

results,” says Tulloch. 

The length of the Barangaroo project means 

an apprentice could start on day one, finish their 

apprenticeship and still be working. 

“Everyone talks about youth unemployment, 

yet this is an opportunity to do something about 

it,” he says. 

For more information on the campaign see 

the CFMEU website at: www.cfmeu-construction-nsw.com.au/tabarangaroo.htm

UNITY 10 

TEXT CAMPAIGNS 

REFUGEE SUPPORTERS 60 

CAMP COMMANDANT 0 

YOU WOULDN’T THINK A SOCCER BALL 

was dangerous, but that’s what the controllers of 

Villawood detention centre decided when some 

CFMEU members and their families turned up 

for a friendly game of football and a barbecue in 

solidarity. 

“It’s a shame the centre managers won’t let 

us in for a game of footy and a barbie,” CFMEU 

President Peter McClelland told the crowd of 

about 60 supporters who turned up at the west- 

AFTER MORE THAN SIX MONTHS OF 

FIGHTING to get paid by the builder of an 

Abbotsford residential development, subcontractors 

and workers on the site are now 

fighting to save their livelihoods. 

CFMEU Organiser Stewart Edward says 

the sub-contractors and workers have been 

picketing the site trying to raise awareness of 

their plight. 

Edward says there is more than $1.6 million 

owing to the sub-contractors. Both the 

builder and developer on this site have gone 

bust. 

“It’s a typical story that the site is in the 

hands of the bank and the workers and their 

plight is not a priority,” he says. 

“If these small family businesses don’t get 

paid they will go bust as well and the collapse 

ern Sydney detention centre. “We just wanted the 

chance to show that asylum-seekers are human 

beings like the rest of us, not the demons they’re 

made out to be.” Some might be ‘queue jumpers’, 

but many have been victims of persecution and 

even torture. 

Many construction workers are migrants 

or come from migrant families, he pointed out. 

“And these are now decent, hard-working and 

tax-paying members of our community.” 

ABBOTSFORD PAY STAKEOUT 

RED CARD 

CFMEU President Peter McClelland talks to refugee supporters after the friendly soccer match is called off 

will impact on the jobs and entitlements of 

hundreds of workers and their families.” 

Miguel Pires, of Chelva Holdings, is one 

of the leading campaigners and is owed 

about $276,000. He is determined not to 

move until he is paid. 

He says the issue has already forced him 

to sack five workers and naturally remaining 

staff are nervous. 

“It’s the worst thing to have to do, particularly 

for that reason as we were really happy 

with our workers.” 

The rendering company owner says he will 

struggle to pay suppliers if BankWest does 

not step up and make good on the developers’ 

obligations. 

“We did the work and now BankWest 

needs to pay up the money that is owed to 

The solidarity action was organised by the 

CFMEU’s Radhika Raju and the Villawood management 

at first agreed to let the “World Cup” 

event go ahead, but later withdrew permission. 

Elizabeth Rivera, who is the partner of a 

CFMEU formworker, was held in Villawood 

when her family fled the Pinochet dictatorship in 

the 1970s, addressed the crowd, saying how sad 

it was to see those refugees who were bona fide 

“demonised”. 

us,” he says. Pires says the developer had 

consistently been late with progress payments 

but that was common these days. 

“The last three or four months we were 

chasing money and they kept saying it would 

come and threatening to use another contractor 

if we didn’t show.” 

Pires says he is delighted the CFMEU is 

helping the campaign. 

“Realistically without the union we 

wouldn’t be heard at all.” 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: 

Ring Elise Cockerill, Manager-NSW Property 

Risk Management Specialist, (02) 8299 8344 

and urge (politely) BankWest to help these 

battlers. Visit our website to keep up to date: 

http://cfmeu.asn.au/campaigns

APPRENTICES 

HUNG OUT TO DRY 

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR 

BOSS wants you to hang out washing, 

clean his house, mow the lawn 

and wash dishes instead of teaching 

you a trade. Justin Biddle and Jordan 

Whittaker know the best course of 

action is to call the union. 

The two first-year apprentices, with 

the support and help of the CFMEU, 

took their boss Michael Sultana to the 

Vocational Training Tribunal and had 

him declared a prohibited employer. 

The CFMEU is also chasing up compensation 

and wage claims for the two 

apprentices with Sultana never paying 

their superannuation or other entitlements. 

Sultana has appealed the tribunal’s 

decision and as Unity went to 

press a decision had yet to be made. 

Biddle, now 18, says he was pretty 

delighted when he secured an apprenticeship. 

But rather than learn a trade, 

the young CFMEU members was given 

a pretty tough lesson in life. 

The two first-year apprentices were 

regularly required to work seven days a 

week and were often required to spend 

most of their days doing work around 

Sultana’s house including washing up 

dishes, cleaning the house and hanging 

out washing. 

When they did work on sites, the 

apprentices were also consistently put at 

risk, working unsupervised, without fall 

protection and often required to work in 

the rain. 

Justin, who is now “very happy” 

with a new boss, says the final straw was 

being told to come to work at 4.30am. 

“I just knew that wasn’t right so I 

went to the union,” he says. 

However his experience has left him 

with a scar on his leg after he was told 

to climb down a building without a ladder 

and fell two metres. Justin says he 

felt under pressure to go along with his 

boss because it was his first job. 

However he warns other apprentices 

not to take this type of behaviour 

from their boss. Jordan agrees: “I don’t 

want any other apprentice to go through 

what I went through.” 

The 19-year-old says he had left a 

job in removals earning $1500 a week 

to take on an apprenticeship because he 

“wanted to learn a trade and kickstart a 

career”. 

While he was prepared for the drop 

in wages, Jordan wasn’t prepared for the 

fact he wasn’t being paid at all. 

As the main provider for his mother 

and younger sister, it was important 

that he kept an income. 

“To be honest I didn’t mind working 

seven days a week because I thought 

all the overtime would be great – but I 

wasn’t getting paid at all so it was doing 

me no good.” 

After leaving the job, Jordan is 

reconsidering whether he wants a trade 

at all. 

“I’ve had second thoughts because I 

tried working for another bloke but he 

was 22 and it was the same story – he 

just wanted cheap labour and wasn’t 

interested in training me.” 

WINNING WAYS 

The CFMEU is helping develop skills in 

our regions with its sponsorship of the 

2010 Hunter TAFE Statewide Awards. 

The joint sponsorship with the 

Australian Construction Industry 

Redundancy Trust (ACIRT) provides 

awards to the two outstanding apprentices 

in 

This year’s winners Morgan 

Clements, far left and Mark Morrow 

received their awards from CFMEU 

Apprentices Organiser Charishma 

Kaliyanda at a dinner attended by more 

the 250 people. 

Hunter TAFE director Phil Cox says 

the union’s continuing sponsorship of 

the event was welcomed by TAFE. 

A MOTHER’S TALE 

Anna Biddle finds it hard to talk about what her son went 

through without feeling pangs of guilt. 

“We kept saying don’t complain, just go there and 

work [to Justin],” she says. “At the end of the day he had 

no one to talk to about what was happening.” 

However it was also Anna that told Michael Sultana 

where to go and brought Justin to the union offices after he 

demanded the boys start work at 4.30am cleaning his tool 

shed. 

“I spoke with Michael on the phone and he told me he 

could make Justin do whatever he wanted,” she recalls. “I 

started asking him what was going on and then called the 

union and brought him in.” 

Her advice to other parents whose children are doing 

apprenticeships is to keep an eye on any emotional or 

behavioural changes. 

“You’ve got to look at how they change from that 

happy person to being very moody and withdrawn,” she 

says. “Justin was an emotionally a mess, he would come 

back from work late and was so worked up.” 

Anna says they should have acted earlier than they 

did. However she says the staff at the CFMEU involved in 

the case were fantastic and gave him the support to talk 

openly about what had happened. 

“I was astounded and couldn’t believe what he’d been 

through. It is hard to comprehend how someone could do 

that to young people.” 

Anna also believes parents need to give their children 

the confidence to speak up against their boss. 

“You have to listen and constantly make them aware 

they have rights at work and don’t need to be mistreated,” 

she says. 

“I would recommend parents encourage their children 

to be in the union so they have that protection.” 

UNITY 11

UNITY 12 

ABOLISH THE ABCC 

TRIBAL FIGHT 

WHEN THE CFMEU ASKS 

its members to Ark up, they 

respond. Tens of thousands of 

building workers and activists 

have rallied across Australia 

twice in recent months to support 

Ark Tribe as he faces court. 

In Sydney, on June 15 and 

again on July 20, thousands 

of workers and supporters 

marched to show solidarity 

with the South Australian rigger, 

who faces six months jail 

on charges of refusing to be 

interviewed by the industry 

watchdog the ABCC. 

Demolition worker and 

Scottish expatriate Brian McPhee has lived in 

Australia for the past 10 years. He says organisations 

like the ABCC remind him of the years 

of worker oppression under Tory British Prime 

Minister Margaret Thatcher. 

“I lived through the Thatcher years and you 

just have to stand up to people like this [the ABCC 

and Liberals],” he says. 

Labourer Martin Brown joined the June 15 

rally with his 18-month-old son Sean. 

“I think the ABCC is a load of shit,” he says. 

“I’m here today for Sean and for his future as if 

we don’t fight [for our rights] who knows what is 

going to happen.” 

CFMEU rank and file member Nick Rawson 

told the rally “many of us our lives are touched by 

the union and would be a lot worse without it”. 

“The struggle against these laws and the 

LOUD AND PROUD 

CFMEU members marched in solidarity with Ark Tribe 

right to collectively bargain is not just about politics 

and the leaders of the union movement – it 

is about ordinary workers getting involved and 

fighting for what we know is right.” 

At the July 20 rally CFMEU State Secretary 

Andrew Ferguson reminded the rally that Ark 

Tribe and his workmates had stopped work over 

safety issues. 

“It is rare to see a worker take a stand like Ark 

Tribe. He is not a political activist. He is a worker 

who says these laws are unjust.” 

Uniting Church Minister Reverend Andrew 

Johnson spoke to the June 15 rally after it had 

marched to the front of the ABCC offices in 

Castlereagh St. Johnson said the ABCC laws 

against building workers were an issue for the 

whole community. 

“One question we have to ask is what sort of 

JAIL ONE, JAIL ALL 

Workers are committed to downing tools if Tribe is jailed 

community do we want to 

have? We want to work in a 

fair community.” 

The ABCC has introduced 

to harass and target 

building workers and building 

unions as part of the 

John Howard-led government’s 

attack on workers’ 

rights. 

An attack workers 

should remember was 

strongly supported by current 

Liberal leader Tony 

Abbott. As a direct result, 

deaths on construction sites 

have risen – in 2004-05 the 

year before the ABCC was introduced there were 

19 deaths in the construction industry. Last year 

that toll had risen to 40. 

Large sections of the industry are being subjected 

to cut-price safety, and long established 

and hard-won wages and conditions are being 

eroded in many states. 

The urgency of the fight against the ABCC 

was underlined just one day before Ark Tribe 

faced court again on July 20 when a 35-year-old 

man died at work at Adelaide’s desalination 

plant. 

He was crushed to death by a steel beam after 

a soft sling being used to lift the beam gave way. 

As South Australian CFMEU official Martin 

O’Malley pointed out to ABC Radio there should 

be no shortcuts with safety: “You don’t rectify 

deaths, they’re permanent.”

ABOLISH THE ABCC 

ARK TRIBE’S LAWYER HAS SUGGESTED 

to the Adelaide Magistrate’s Court that 

the Australian Building and Construction 

Commission has acted beyond its powers. 

As a result the defence has called into 

question much of the evidence put forward by 

prosecutors. 

For more than two years, South Australian 

rigger, Tribe, and his family have struggled under 

the threat of imprisonment for doing nothing 

more than speaking up on a safety issue. 

In extraordinary evidence during the recent 

hearings in July the community learnt a great 

deal about the way the ABCC does business. 

RETIRED FROM WORK 

NOT FROM LIFE 

STAR CHAMBER TACTICS EXPOSED 

Members of the CFMEU Retired Members Association (RMA) have been swelling 

the ranks of rallies and adding their voice to the protests. RMA President 

Mick Tubbs told protesters at the Ark Tribe rally an estimated 1700 years of 

union experience from their members was swelling the ranks of the rally. 

“When I look back and think of all the sacrifices we made to finish up with 

this type of legislation,” he said. “This isn’t 1810, this is 2010 and the last 

tough cop on the beat in Australia wore a redcoat and was a soldier. 

“If we haven’t moved beyond that notion of industrial relations then we 

have lived for nothing.” 

And Tubbs threw his members’ support behind members working on building 

sites today. “We retired from work, but we haven’t retired from life. This is 

not just your issue. We are with you and will keep fighting to the end.” 

The construction industry Star Chamber is 

supposed to exhaust all other channels before 

it uses its big guns (the controversial section 

52 orders which compel workers to attend a 

secret interrogation). 

But under cross-examination, ABCC 

Inspector Seamus Flynn admitted that not much 

had been attempted before the Commission 

resorted to its extreme coercive powers. 

All Flynn did before he fired the cannon was 

to make two quick telephone calls to CFMEU 

member Ark Tribe. No letter, no text, no visit – 

straight to the compulsory secret interrogation. 

A pattern is emerging of an organisation 

CENTURIES OF EXPERIENCE 

Graham and Bruce McLeod, Barry Hemsworth, Don McDonald and Len Quill 

that may not have operated within its powers 

and functions under its own legislation. 

The Commission does not seem to have 

paid proper attention to making sure it acted 

even in accordance with the very limited safeguards 

placed on its unprecedented powers. 

The trial has now moved to written submissions. 

A further hearing is expected to take 

place on September 13. 

If Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party had not 

blocked Labor’s attempt to abolish the ABCC 

and its unrestricted use of coercive powers in 

the Australian Senate, Ark Tribe would not have 

been facing jail. 

UNITY 13

UNITY 14 

ELECTION 2010 

FOR THE PAST YEAR THE CFMEU has been 

campaigning strongly for the need for better support 

for workers when companies go bust. 

Too often the GEERS system rejects workers’ 

claim and unpaid superannuation is not included 

in the scheme. 

The Gillard Labor Government has taken note 

and announced a package of reforms to protect workers’ 

wages and entitlements in the event of a company 

collapse. This is a great victory for the CFMEU. 

For people like Wideform worker and 

CFMEU member Paul de Sousa it will be a welcome 

change. Like many of his mates, de Sousa 

only managed to claw back entitlements he lost in 

the collapse of Wideform thanks to the negotiating 

efforts of the CFMEU. 

Ceiling fixer Lazor Stojoski, who worked for 

Inplace, is another worker who would be better 

off under the new system. 

He worked on an all-in rate of $40/hour for 48 

hours a week and was told to get an ABN number. 

When Inplace collapsed the current GEERS system 

rejected his claim saying he was a sub-contractor. 

LIBERAL LEADER TONY ABBOTT might 

have ‘cremated’ WorkChoices but he has found 

another way to erode conditions and wages in 

Australia – temporary work visas. 

Abbott is committed to using temporary 

work visas to fill skill shortages. Under 

Howard, temporary work visas (457s) led to 

abuse of migrant workers and a loss of jobs for 

locals who could not compete against the low 

wages 457 visa holders received. 

Now the CFMEU is working with the liquidator 

to see if it can claw back money for our 

members. CFMEU Senior Industrial Officer 

Keryn McWhinney says thousands of workers 

like Stojoski are being forced on to the all-in/ABN 

system of payment. 

“They are and should be employees by law, but 

because the shonky bosses force them to work 

this way they have no protection from GEERS.” 

NSW State Secretary Andrew Ferguson says 

the reform package is a significant step forward, 

although there is more to do in the area of including 

unpaid superannuation. Ferguson says the 

increasing number of insolvencies means too 

many workers and sub-contractors are vulnerable 

to losing their wages and entitlements. 

“Too many shonky operators have been ripping 

off workers accrued entitlements by running 

their business into the ground and siphoning 

off the money elsewhere,” he says. 

The changes will also stop the so-called phoenix 

effect where unscrupulous companies can 

collapse their business with unpaid debts and 

The CFMEU stood beside and supported 

many 457 visa workers when they were ripped off. 

Unity readers will recall the shocking story 

of Sam Kautai who got $50 a month wages and 

was beaten regularly suffering horrific injuries 

including blindness in one eye, partial deafness, 

a broken nose and jaw and neurological 

damage. The union also campaigned for 457 

visa holders to receive the same minimum 

wages and conditions as other workers on 

OLD FRIENDS 

Julia Gillard with workers back in 2009 

JULIA GILLARD GEERS UP 

re-emerge under another name. “However this 

guarantee for workers’ entitlements will only be 

introduced if Labor wins office,” says Ferguson. 

“There is no way a Liberal Tony Abbott government 

will pay back its business mates by making 

them pay out to workers.” 

Under the reforms protections for workers 

accrued entitlements will strengthened through: 

1. The Fair Entitlements Guarantee which will 

protect workers’ entitlements including: redundancy 

pay (up to a maximum of four weeks for 

each year of service), all annual leave, all long service 

leave and up to three months of unpaid wages. 

2. Securing Super will strengthen compliance 

measures to ensure employees receive their 

superannuation entitlements. 

3. Strengthening Corporate and Taxation 

Law will give the Australian Securities and 

Investments Commission (ASIC) increased 

powers and strengthen penalties to take action 

against companies that do the wrong thing. 

Reforms will be introduced that target ‘phoenix’ 

company arrangements. 

LIBERALS READY FOR MIGRANT WORKER RIPOFF 

sites. This was not only was good for the 

migrant workers it was good for Australian 

workers as it meant they were not being undercut 

for jobs. The Labor Government listened 

to this and Gillard’s Government is committed 

to ensuring 457 visas are not used to deny 

Australian workers jobs. Abbott’s ‘vision’ for 

Australia is to bring in more temporary workers 

from overseas to ensure big business maximises 

its profits.

TEXT ELECTION 2010 

FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER Justin 

Ketteringham has wanted to be a carpenter. 

“Ever since I was really young when I started 

off building with leggo, I’ve always wanted to 

build things.” 

Now a third-year apprentice construction carpenter 

with Watpac, the young CFMEU member is 

about to embark for the first time on nation building. 

On Saturday August 21, he will vote for the 

first time in a federal election defying the statistics 

that say almost a third of 19-year-olds are not 

IT IS EASY TO GET OVERWHELMED by the 

media’s election campaign coverage. 

But as Assistant State Secretary Mal Tulloch 

was reminding a building worker the other day, 

the only issue that counts on election day is 

your job and family. 

“Workers have to understand the Labor 

Government is a better option for workers. 

With them at least we have a seat at the table. 

“Abbott is a wolf in sheep’s clothing: he is 

the worker’s enemy, especially building workers. 

He will try to destroy the building unions 

– that was his agenda, that is his agenda, he 

hasn’t changed.” 

In its first three years in office the Labor 

Government has delivered for workers and 

their families. 

Here are some of the facts: 

• Labor abolished WorkChoices. 

• Who are we kidding, many of the same 

on the electoral roll. Although he is not overly 

politicised, he did enrol “almost as soon as I 

turned 18” and does consider his “swinging” vote 

important. 

That is why he has been thinking through 

the issues and is still weighing up the candidates 

and the issues in his western Sydney seat of 

Macarthur. 

Of the party leaders the keen bagpipe player 

has a more definite view. Of Julia Gillard he says: 

“As long as she does what she says I’ll be happy.” 

faces that loved the WorkChoices legislation 

are still sitting in Abbott’s team – 

WorkChoices will be resurrected, whatever 

the name. 

• Trades and Training Centres are being 

built across the country at high schools to 

encourage young people into trades and 

address the skills shortage. 

• The Abbott-led Liberals won’t invest in our 

future, instead they will bring in migrant 

workers to fill the gaps and drive local 

wages down. 

• The Labor Government has spent on 

average a third more than the Howard 

Government did on education, skills and 

transport infrastructure and increased 

public health spending by a massive 50 per 

cent. 

• Compare that with the $1 BILLION Tony 

Abbott tore out of public health when he 

THINKING IT THROUGH 

Justin Ketteringham will vote in a federal election for the first time on August 21 

NO TRUSTING ABBOTT 

But Tony Abbott’s last-minute commitment 

to the “cremation” of WorkChoices doesn’t sit 

with him. 

“Why would you believe anything they say … 

Abbott was the great architect of WorkChoices.” 

And although Justin “luckily” wasn’t in the 

workforce for the worst of the WorkChoices 

years, he’s heard enough to know “I’m not too 

keen on it”. 

“If Abbott brings it back I’ll be round his 

house and knocking on the door.” 

LABOR RECORD SHOWS THEY HAVE DELIVERED 

was Health Minister. 

• Tony Abbott opposes the Mining Resource 

Rent Tax that will lift workers’ superannuation 

payments and bring the government 

back into surplus as a “great big new tax”. 

• He seems to have conveniently forgotten 

that the last “GBNT” imposed on us 

was the GST, introduced by the Howard 

Government. But then ordinary workers pay 

the GST, not Abbott’s big business Liberal 

mates that are reaping huge profits in the 

mining sector. 

• The Labor Government protected us from 

the worst of the global financial crisis by 

acting decisively. The legacy of that investment 

in infrastructure is not only jobs 

protected, but wonderful resources at our 

schools for our children. 

• The last big investment Abbott’s Liberals 

made in schools was flagpoles. 

UNITY 15


OUR BOYS 

ON THE 

FRONTLINE 

UNITY 16 

BUILDING WORKERS IN THE WESTERN 

Sydney seats of Macarthur and Mitchell have the 

chance to vote for one of their own. 

CFMEU members Nigel Gould and Nick 

Bleasdale are hoping to win a seat back from the 

Liberals on Saturday August 21. 

By the far the hardest job is Gould’s in 

Mitchell where he is running against Liberal 

extreme right-winger Alex Hawke, the 33-year-old 

former President of both the NSW and national 

branches of the Young Liberals. 

However Gould, 50, a former plant operator 

from Castle Hill, is used to knocking off giants. 

As a union delegate he took on Thiess 

Services last year when he and co-workers were 

sacked and won. 

Gould is a familiar face in the seat having run 

in the 2007 election. His grassroots approach to 

campaigning saw him win a 10 per cent swing, 

but lose 7.5 kilos and wear out three pairs of shoes 

door-knocking. 

Anyone interested in helping the campaign 

should contact Nigel or campaign manager Ray 

Harty on 0468 715 424. 

For Nick Bleasdale in Macarthur the chances 

of the self-employed carpenter sitting in 

DON’T BUY LIBS LIE 

HOW THE STIMULUS SAVED OUR ECONOMY 

IF YOU LISTEN TO TONY ABBOTT and the 

Liberals and anti-Labor commentators in the 

media you would think the federal government’s 

stimulus package had been a waste of money. 

If that is true then they must believe keeping 

Australians in jobs is worthless. 

At present the Australian economy and how 

it weathered the Global Financial Crisis is being 

held up as a model around the world. 

Our economy and our quality of life was maintained 

because the Federal Labor Government 

acted quickly and decisively with targeted stimulus 

packages. 

Thousands of jobs in the building trade were 

retained because of the stimulus. 

The international Organisation for Economic 

Co-operation and Development estimates 

200,000 Australian jobs were saved by the government’s 

stimulus spending – most of these 

workers were in the building trades. 

In the United States unemployment doubled 

Parliament House 

are very strong. 

The seat is considered 

a marginal 

Labor seat with just 

a .5% swing needed 

to send it Liberal. 

In Bleasdale’s 

favour is the high 

profile he has in 

the community 

thanks to his fight 

last election campaign 

where he won 

a 10 per cent swing 

against popular 

Liberal incumbent 

Pat Farmer. 

However Farmer’s decision to move to 

Mosman has seen him lose Liberal preselection 

and Bleasdale is now up against a former local 

mayor and policeman. 

The 36-year-old Bleasdale says the vote will 

be very close, but people’s fear of a return to 

WorkChoices is often a topic of discussion. 

“They are worried job security, wages and 

to 10 per cent and it is expected it will take the US 

seven years to get back to 5 per cent unemployment. 

Australia will reach that target in less than 

seven months. Throughout Europe and North 

America tens of millions of people are still unemployed. 

Maintaining employment levels is important 

because of the Catch 22 effect it has on the economy. 

Fewer people in work means the government 

receives less tax yet unemployment costs rise and 

government debt surges. 

The Nobel Prize-winning US economist, Joseph 

Stiglitz, has described the Labor Government’s 

stimulus package as “one of the most impressive 

economic policies I’ve seen, ever’’. 

Professor Stiglitz told media on a recent visit 

it was inevitable people would complain about 

cases where money had been misspent. 

But, he added, Australia’s stimulus had got it 

broadly right. 

‘’Not only was it the right amount, it was 

DAVID AND GOLIATH 

Nigel Gould on the picket line in his fight against Thiess Services 

conditions will be ripped away in a Coalition 

Government.” 

As if he didn’t have enough on his hands trying 

to get elected, the birth of his third child seven 

weeks ago has him juggling campaigning with 

cleaning nappies. 

If you want to help Bleasdale win call the campaign 

office on 0417 749 750. 

extraordinarily well structured, with careful 

attention to what would stimulate the economy 

in the shorter run, the medium term and the long 

term,” he was reported as saying. 

‘’When I look around the world, it was, I 

think, probably the best-designed stimulus program 

in the world and you should be happy that 

in fact it worked in exactly the way it was designed 

to work.’’ 

And although you may have read or heard 

countless stories about the waste of the Building 

the Education Revolution, this is the reality: 

There have been just 240 formal complaints 

from 24,382 projects in 9526 schools nationally – 

or problems with just .1 per cent of works. 

In any case when you are rushing to save hundreds 

of thousands of jobs it is inevitable there 

will be mistakes. 

But the biggest mistake would have been 

to listen to Tony Abbott and do nothing and see 

building workers suffer.

TEXT ELECTION 2010 

ABBOTT: THE FACTS 

TONY ABBOTT IS AN ARCH-CONSERVA- 

TIVE politician who in the election campaign has 

described John Howard as a “pretty good political 

mentor”. 

He entered politics as failed Liberal leader John 

Hewson’s adviser behind the 

CFMEU members cannot trust what Abbott 

says with the Liberal leader admitting he only 

tells the “gospel truth” when reading from a prepared 

statement. 

He may look like a good bloke, but when he 

talks about bringing the budget back into surplus 

CFMEU members will be the ones who pay for it. 

Under Labor increased superannuation benefits 

and a budget surplus will be funded from 

the profits of the super multinationals who profit 

from our resources. 

Under an Abbott-led Federal Liberal 

Government there will be no superannuation 

increase to 12 per cent and the surplus will be created 

through “savings”. 

We know from previous experience what 

Liberal “savings” mean – cuts to services that 

ordinary building workers and their families use 

such as public schools and hospitals. 

We also know that a pledge to not alter the 

Fair Work Act means three more years of unfettered 

attacks by the Australian Building and 

Construction Commission. 

Gillard tried to water the ABCC powers down 

and has already got rid of ABCC boss John Lloyd 

refusing to reappoint him. With a friendlier 

HUGH READY FOR 

POLITICAL EVEREST 

AS A COMMITTED MEMBER of Freshwater 

Surf Club, Hugh Zochling admits to owning a 

pair a budgie smugglers. 

But unlike Liberal leader Tony Abbott, 

Zochling is reluctant to share his budgie smuggler 

moments with the general public where he 

can help it. 

Zochling, a long-term supporter of the 

CFMEU, is the ALP candidate running in the 

seat of Warringah against Abbott. 

He likens the contest to Maxine McKew’s 

successful bid to beat John Howard in the blueribbon 

seat of Bennelong. “As Maxine said it is 

the Mt Everest of politics, but Everest is there 

to be climbed,” he says. 

After a few weeks on the campaign trail, the 

university lecturer and father of three says he 

believes Julia Gillard’s promotion to leader will 

be a “game changer” in the federal election. 

“People are naturally surprised and 

affronted by the brutality of what happened, 

but also there is a warm embrace of Julia and 

what she stands for and the new direction she 

Senate after the August 21 election the ABCC can 

be wound down. 

That will never happen under Abbott. It was 

Abbott and his Liberal cronies in the Senate 

that stopped her disbanding the ABCC. But we 

shouldn’t be surprised. 

As Minister for Employment in the Howard 

Government it was Abbott who launched the 

represents,” he 

says. 

In the Manlybased 

seat of 

Warringah, 

Zochling sees 

education and 

health funding as 

priorities in the 

electorate. He 

regards Abbott as 

a long-term foe 

of unionists and 

workers. 

“It concerns 

me that in Abbott 

we have a leader 

who is blatantly 

committed to the reincarnation of a working 

class – despite what he is positioning himself 

for this campaign.” 

Should Zochling reach the summit on 

August 21, CFMEU members can be assured 

Cole Royal Commission into “thuggery and 

rorts” in the construction industry and created 

the Australian Building and Construction 

Commission (ABCC). 

And for all his smart campaigning and disciplined 

behaviour, the real Abbott is the bloke who 

as Minister for Health at the 2007 election had 

a go at national hero and asbestos campaigner 

Bernie Banton. 

Abbott attacked the gravely ill Banton who 

was then campaigning to have a mesothelioma 

drug to be placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits 

Scheme. 

“Just because a person is sick doesn’t mean 

that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things,” 

he said after Banton called him ‘gutless’ for not 

being present to collect a petition. 

Is that the kind of person you want leading 

this country? All members are urged to put the 

Liberals last when they vote at the federal election 

on Saturday August 21. 

THE LAST WORD 

What Abbott says on the campaign trail and what 

will happen in government are two different 

things as his Opposition Workplace Relations 

spokesman Eric Abetz pointed out. 

Abetz dropped a clanger into the 

WorkChoices is cremated claim by saying: “It 

would be very brave to say you would never have 

to tweak a regulation or make a ministerial direction 

....” 

ON THE MARCH 

Hugh Zochling with ALP Senator Doug Cameron at the rally for Ark Tribe 

they have another friend in Canberra. 

The committed unionist – he is a member 

of the National Tertiary Education Union – will 

be lending his voice to calls for the abolition of 

the ABCC. 

UNITY 17

UNITY 18 


A VOTE IS A VOICE 

Apprentices Organiser Charishma 

Kaliyanda recalls the excitement of 

voting for the first time and believes 

in the power of the ballot box 

IN AUSTRALIA, LIKE ANY DEMOCRACY, 

voting is an integral part of our society. 

Political decisions and governments affect 

many, if not most, aspects of our lives – from the 

laws and regulations that affect our working conditions 

to the incentives apprentices get for learning 

their trade. 

Voting is a chance for people to have their 

say about the direction of the country and is like 

a progress report on an incumbent government. 

Elections are supposed to keep governments 

and politicians accountable to their constituents, 

on a local, state and federal level. 

The last federal and state elections in 2007 

were momentous for me. These were the first 

I was ever able to vote in, so filling in my ballot 

papers and getting my name ticked off on the roll 

were quite exciting. 

Then, seeing the Howard Government booted 

out so convincingly that John Howard lost his 

own seat made me feel as if I had directly helped 

get rid of him! 

In my family, we’ve always had spirited debates 

and discussions about politics. My dad is a strong 

trade unionist and I’ve got a strong sense of social 

justice, so obviously I felt strongly about many 

issues that were being played out in politics. 

A really important part of the whole process 

is being aware of where your vote is going and 

what you’re voting for. The mainstream media is 

covering the election campaigns of the ALP, the 

Coalition and the Greens in a big way. 

But take a bit of time to go beyond the media 

– speak to family, friends and workmates, speak 

to the candidates for your local electorate about 

their policies if you see them during the campaign 

or on polling day. 

Part of all of this also might be asking ques- 

ENROL! 

Of the Australians of voting age not on 

the electoral roll, the Australian Electoral 

Commission estimates about 70 per cent 

are aged between 18 and 39. About 45 per 

cent of 18-year-olds and 30 per cent of 

19-year-olds are not on the electoral roll. 

If you have missed out this election make 

sure you don’t miss out again. Collect 

enrolment forms from your post office or 

visit the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au 

MAKING IT COUNT 

Charishma Kaliyanda believes grassroots activism can influence politics 

tions about how it all works. I still don’t get some 

of the complexities of the preferencing system! 

The main thing you get from this is how to tell 

what’s real from the crap! 

Voting and elections, however, are not the 

only part of a democracy and politics. 

If you feel strongly about an issue, whether 

it’s a glamorous one that’s constantly covered in 

the media or not, there are other things you can 

do to make your opinions heard. 

Write a letter to your local member or a relevant 

minister, speak to candidates in your local 

electorate and put in your 2 cents worth, or join a 

political party. 

The base of a political party is its members 

– so a Member of Parliament is not just a voice 

for the people of their electorate, but also the platform 

of the Party they are aligned to. 

Joining a political party means you can directly 

contribute to the formulation of policies that 

MPs then push in Parliament – a much more 

direct way of being involved. 

After the last federal election, I signed up the 

ALP and take every opportunity to go along to my 

local branch meetings. 

Here, I get an opportunity to raise issues with 

my local MP, I can also listen to issues that other 

people have and contribute if need be. 

So this federal election, don’t just rely on 

others to tell you who to vote for – make an 

informed decision!

UNITY 20 

YOUR SAY 

ELECTION 

2010 

IT 

WHY WE’RE 

VOTING LABOR 

NOOELL YOUNAN, 42, MARRIED WITH 3 CHILDREN 

14 YEARS A MEMBER. A CARPENTER 

I want back what I lost – safety, awards, site allowances, all 

my workplace conditions. We had them because we fought 

for them and I want them back. Abbott’s ABCC doesn’t 

work, it hurts all Australian workers. I want fair laws for all. 

IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS 

since the CFMEU helped kick John Howard 

and the Liberals out of government. Some 

union members have felt keen disappointment 

in the efforts of the Labor 

Government in its first term. However, 

based on interviews by Unity that disappointment 

is not strong enough to make 

them embrace the self-confessed love child 

of Howard and Bronwyn Bishop (makes 

you shudder to think), Liberal leader Tony 

Abbott. He says WorkChoices is dead and 

buried but he cannot be believed. If the 

Liberals win, Abbott will take his election as 

a mandate to implement hardline rightwing 

policies and do what he knows best – attack 

workers by cutting services and reducing 

their rights. But what are the issues you 

really care about? Here, some of your union 

comrades give an insight into who they’ll be 

voting for on polling day. 

TIM SAVILLE, CFMEU MEMBER 7 YEARS 

FROM CAMDEN 

I’ll vote Labor. I don’t trust Abbott on industrial 

relations. I want a government that gives 

a fair deal to all workers. I’ve got three kids so 

education is an issue for me. I’d like to see 

refugees given a fair go. I expect Labor to 

honour its promises to working people.

HAYLEY MITCHELL (RIGHT), 21, 

TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FROM 

SYDNEY’S INNER WEST 

I’ll be voting Labor. How could you vote for 

Abbott after what he did to workers. I hope 

Labor will support our families and give us 

back our workplace rights. Workers want 

workplace safety, it’s a priority. 

LARRY VALESINI, 53, FROM PENRITH 

MARRIED WITH 4 CHILDREN 

NOW GROWN UP 

I want a fair government and a leader 

who will look after the working class and 

support unions. I think Julia Gillard will 

deliver. The hospital system needs fixing 

and public transport could be improved. 

The everyday needs of the working people 

need to be attended to. Our area is under 

the Libs now but I’m hoping for a swing 

against them and Labor gets the seat. 

JOSH DUNNING, 25, APPRENTICE 

CARPENTER FROM LANE COVE 

3 YEARS A CMFEU MEMBER 

Education and apprenticeships need to 

be better. The environment is an issue. 

Not just an international issue it’s also an 

Australian problem. I’m not sure which 

way to vote. After the last election Labor 

didn’t deliver on their promises. Labor has 

to do more to convince me. The Greens 

look like they have a cause they believe in 

and want to do something about it. 

STEVE JONES, 31, 

SINGLE, FROM BONDI 

FIVE YEARS A MEMBER 

I want the government to 

bring back our workplace 

rights. Tony Abbott’s a 

grub –look at what he did 

with his industrial policies. 

The government needs to 

do more for our roads and 

public transport. 

GLENN BALDWIN, 35, 

BRICKLAYER AND STONE MASON 

FROM MILPERRA 

Abbott’s ABCC took away our conditions 

and site allowances. I’ll vote 

Labor, but I’m jack of Labor doing 

nothing for the working class. We 

helped get them into government. If 

they forget that it’s big mistake. I’ll 

also look at what the Government will 

do for the mentally disabled. 

UNITY 21

SUPER 

SUPER GOES TO 12% 

GOOD ONYA HENRY 

THE FEDERAL LABOR GOVERNMENT 

recently announced a series of changes to superannuation 

that will put more money in your 

pocket. 

The most significant for many CFMEU 

members will be the increase in the superannuation 

guarantee from 9 per cent to 12 per cent 

by 2020. 

The changes are a result of the Henry tax 

review and are generally good news for Cbus 

members. 

New savings incentives will help working 

Australians further build their superannuation 

nest eggs, while inequities in the current system 

have been addressed to help low-income earners 

and those nearing retirement achieve better 

outcomes. 

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN CHANGES: 

Superannuation Guarantee contributions to 

157866/0710 

‘NEW SAVINGS 

INCENTIVES WILL HELP 

WORKING AUSTRALIANS 

FURTHER BUILD THEIR 

SUPERANNUATION 

NEST EGGS’ 

gradually lift from 9 per cent to 12 per cent: 

at the moment employers are required to pay a 

minimum 9 per cent of ordinary salary earnings 

into superannuation on behalf of their workers. 

This change will mean more money for you 

in retirement. 

The Superannuation Guarantee age limit will 

be lifted from 70 to 75 from July 2013: meaning 

The Super Members Term Deposit interest rates are up to 0.25% p.a. more than the interest rates for a Standard Term Deposit. See mebank.com.au for eligible 

super funds and unions. Fees and charges may apply. Terms and Conditions available on request. This is general information only and you should consider if this 

product is appropriate for you. Members Equity Bank Pty Ltd ABN 56 070 887 679. 

if there are any construction workers still willing 

and able to work beyond their 70th birthday, 

their employer will be obligated to pay their 

superannuation contribution. 

Annual Super Bonus for low-income workers: 

if you earn less than $37,000 a year the government 

will deposit an additional $500 into your 

super account. This is a great bonus for low-paid 

workers and apprentices. 

Concessional contribution cap extended 

for over 50s: From 1 July 2012, workers with 

account balances under $500,000 will continue 

to be allowed to receive concessional contributions 

of up to $50,000 p.a. to their super (which 

includes SG payments made by your employer 

and salary sacrifice). 

This provides an opportunity for workers 

with low superannuation account balances to 

‘catch-up’ on their super contributions during 

their final years of work. 

Super Members Term Deposit 

0.25 % p.a. 

up to 

bonus interest 

for CFMEU members 

If you’re a member of a union 

To find out more about the benefits of banking 

with ME Bank, call 1300 309 374 

is your bank 

mebank.com.au

WORLD 

TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE 

IN APRIL 2010 I RECEIVED AN EMAIL from 

the Global Alliance Against the Trafficking of 

Women (GAATW). This alliance is an advocacy 

group representing more than 100 international 

organisations. They were seeking information 

on a court case the union had run involving the 

assault and non-payment of wages to six young 

Cook Island workers. 

The Alliance’s member-countries have found 

that of all the horrific treatment of trafficked workers, 

the one thing they were most upset about was 

they did not receive any wages for their work. 

GAATW asked me to speak on the CFMEU’s 

experiences in recovering wages for trafficked 

workers and the methods we used. GAATW 

applied for a grant to cover the cost of the trip and 

CFMEU Legal Officer Leah Charlson and I participated 

the Bangkok conference. 

I presented conference delegates with four 

case summaries and details of the CFMEU’s 

action in resolving each of the cases by using a 

combination of negotiations, media, protests and 

pickets, investigation of individual directors and 

of course, legal action. 

We found that labour and trafficking were 

treated as separate specialities by most countries 

– including Australia. When the CFMEU has 

worked on cases of exploitation of workers we 

looked only at the labour laws as a resolution for 

these workers. 

For example anti-trafficking laws in most 

countries see a person as a ‘victim’ deserving 

justice. But when using labour laws a trafficked 

person is seen as a violator of the law for working 

without a valid work permit. 

An example of this is in Germany where an 

Ethiopian woman accepted a job in a Berlin restaurant. 

She was not paid any wages and her 

WORKERS UNITED NEVER DEFEATED 

Former Triumph workers who are now their own bosses meet with Leah Charlson and Keryn McWhinney 

passport was confiscated. She finally escaped 

and was provided with legal support. Three years 

later the employer was jailed for trafficking and 

was ordered to pay compensation – however the 

amount was a fraction of her lost wages. 

German anti-trafficking laws allowed the 

woman to stay in the country. However, if this 

woman had used labour laws to recover her unpaid 

wages, she may have received all her wages but she 

would have been returned to Ethiopia. 

‘DURING THIS STRUGGLE, 

A GROUP OF WOMEN 

HAD THE IDEA TO START 

THEIR OWN CO-OP AND 

PRODUCE THEIR OWN 

GARMENTS’ 

At our request, GAATW arranged some post-conference 

meetings for us to speak with local trade 

unions and community groups. 

We first met with the COMMITTEE FOR 

ASIAN WOMEN – who work across 14 Asian 

countries to advance the rights of women workers. 

They are currently lobbying for domestic 

work to be included within the scope of labour 

laws as women who work as domestics in private 

homes, fishermen and agricultural workers do 

not have any lawful right to a minimum wage. 

International Labour Organisation – ILO East 

Asia Office. 

They deal with many trafficking and forced 

labour issues and have identified more than 

400,000 victims of trafficking representing $9 

billion in unpaid wages. 

ILO officials also spoke of their work with 

trade unions in Vietnam.The ILO recently 

received an Australian government grant to 

work on migration projects. The grant includes 

a requirement to work with an Australian grassroots 

organisation and they showed an interest in 

working with the CFMEU on this project. 

TRY ARM WORKERS 

Their story started last year when more than 2000 

garment workers at the Triumph International 

factory in Bangkok were sacked, after 20 years of 

working in the harsh factory conditions. 

We met all the Try Arm workers and spoke 

with Jittra Cotshadet who was the former leader 

of the Triumph International Labour Union 

in Thailand. These workers protested for four 

months at the Triumph factory, then moved their 

protest to the Ministry of Labour. 

During this struggle, a group of the women 

had the idea to start their own co-op and produce 

their own garments. They chose the name Try 

Arm as it symbolised their fight with Triumph. 

As part of a deal to end the protests, the Thai 

Ministry of Labour provided loans to help the 

women start their own business and donated 

sewing machines. 

The co-op is now run under democratic management 

and the workers are paid by sharing the 

earnings equally at the end of each month. The 

women told us they are proud of the TRY ARM 

brand and that their garments are made according 

to principles of sweat-free labour and workers’ 

self-management. 

Keryn McWhinney 

UNITY 23

UNITY 24 

AWARDS 

SYDNEY COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND CONSTRUCTION 

EBA RATES OF PAY 

THE CFMEU negotiates extra wages for union 

members. The majority of members are paid well 

above the rates of pay applicable under awards. 

Hundreds of companies pay in accordance with 

the wage rates outlined in this CFMEU EBA rates 

SYDNEY (COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND) 

CIVIL EARTHMOVING EBA RATES OF PAY 

RATES APPLICABLE FROM 1 MARCH 2010 

CLASSIFICATION PER HOUR PER DAY 7.2 

HOURS 

0.8 RDO ACCRUAL PER 36 HOURS TIME & A HALF DOUBLE TIME 

CW1 22.09 159.05 17.67 795.24 33.14 44.18 

CW2 22.93 165.10 18.34 825.48 34.40 45.86 

CW3 (Non Trade) 23.30 167.76 18.64 838.80 34.95 46.60 

CW3 (Trade) 23.78 171.22 19.02 856.08 35.67 47.56 

CW4 24.90 179.28 19.92 896.40 37.35 49.80 

CW5 25.96 186.91 20.77 934.56 38.94 51.92 

CW6 26.98 194.26 21.58 971.28 40.47 53.96 

CW7 28.19 202.97 22.55 1014.84 42.29 56.38 

CW8 28.90 208.08 23.12 1040.40 43.35 57.80 

RATES APPLICABLE FROM 1 OCTOBER 2010 

CLASSIFICATION PER HOUR PER DAY 7.2 

HOURS 

of pay sheet. These rates are included in most 

union-negotiated agreements. In addition to these 

rates the union negotiates extra allowances. Also, 

in union-negotiated EBA’s there is extra superannuation 

and redundancy benefits and a fares and 

RATES APPLICABLE FROM 1 MARCH 2010 

A fares allowance of $27 per day for each day worked (including RDOs) per mployee from 1 March 2010 will be paid. 

CLASSIFICATION PER HOUR 

PER DAY 

7.2 HOURS 

0.8 RDO 

ACCRUAL 

PER 36 

HOURS 

TIME & A 

HALF 

travel allowance above the award rate. If your boss 

is paying less than these rates you should contact 

the union and assist in campaigning for a unionnegotiated 

EBA with your company. 

DOUBLE 

TIME 

CW1 22.96 165.31 18.37 826.56 34.44 45.92 

CW2 24.01 172.87 19.21 864.36 36.02 48.02 

CW3 (Non Trade) 25.01 180.07 20.01 900.36 37.52 50.02 

CW3 (Trade) 25.87 186.26 20.70 931.32 38.81 51.74 

CW4 27.15 195.48 21.72 977.40 40.73 54.30 

CW5 28.42 204.62 22.74 1023.12 42.63 56.84 

CW6 29.71 213.91 23.77 1069.56 44.57 59.42 

CW7 31.03 223.42 24.82 1117.08 46.55 62.06 

CW8 32.33 232.78 25.86 1163.88 48.50 64.66 

0.8 RDO ACCRUAL PER 36 HOURS TIME & A HALF DOUBLE TIME 

CW1 22.60 162.72 18.08 813.60 33.90 45.20 

CW2 23.46 168.91 18.77 844.56 35.19 46.92 

CW3 (Non Trade) 23.84 171.65 19.07 858.24 35.76 47.68 

CW3 (Trade) 24.33 175.18 19.46 875.88 36.50 48.66 

CW4 25.48 183.46 20.38 917.28 38.22 50.96 

CW5 26.56 191.23 21.25 956.16 39.84 53.12 

CW6 27.61 198.79 22.09 993.96 41.42 55.22 

CW7 28.85 207.72 23.08 1038.60 43.28 57.70 

CW8 29.57 212.90 23.66 1064.52 44.36 59.14

AWARDS 

STATE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AWARD 

Rates payable from the first pay period on or after 26 November 2009. 

CLASSIFICATION 

PER 

HOUR 

TIME 

AND A HALF 

DOUBLE 

TIME 

PER 

38 HOURS 

ACCRUAL OF 

0.4 HOURS 

Carpenter, stonemason, 

bridge & wharf carpenter 

20.15 30.23 40.30 765.70 8.06 76.18 

Bricklayer, tilelayer hard floor coverer 19.94 29.91 39.88 757.72 7.98 75.40 

Plasterer, floorlayer 20.03 30.05 40.06 761.14 8.01 75.73 

Roof tiler, slate ridge/roof fixer 19.81 29.72 39.62 752.78 7.92 74.68 

Stonemason machinist 18.83 28.25 37.66 715.54 7.53 71.27 

Carver (stoneworker) 20.75 31.13 41.50 788.50 8.30 78.41 

Marker/setter out, lettercutter 20.15 30.23 40.30 765.70 8.06 76.18 

Special class trade 20.75 31.13 41.50 788.50 8.30 78.18 

Quarryperson 18.83 28.25 37.66 715.54 7.53 71.27 

Signwriter 19.61 29.42 39.22 745.18 7.84 73.94 

Painter 19.00 28.50 38.00 722.00 7.60 71.90 

Refractory bricklayer 21.67 32.51 43.34 823.46 8.67 81.60 

Refractory bricklayer’s assistant 19.40 29.10 38.80 737.20 7.76 73.39 

GROUP 1 

Rigger, dogman 18.83 28.25 37.66 715.54 7.53 71.27 

GROUP 2 

Scaffolder, powder monkey, hoist winch 

driver, foundation shaftsperson, steel 

fixer including tackwelder, 

concrete finisher 

18.29 27.44 36.58 695.02 7.32 69.27 

GROUP 3 17.90 26.85 35.80 680.20 7.16 67.82 

PRO RATA ANNUAL 

LEAVE PLUS 

LOADING 

Trades labourers, demolition work, gear hand, pile driver, tackle hand, jackhammer, mixer driver, concrete steel erector, gantry hand, crane hand, 

crane chaser, cement gun operator, concrete cutting or drilling machine operator, concrete gang including concrete floater, roof layer (malthoid or 

similar material), dump cart operator, underpinner, concrete formwork stripper. 

FARES ALLOWANCE PER DAY: $16.50 

�� Where an employer requests a worker to transfer from one site to another site during working hours with 

his/her own vehicle, an extra $0.89 per kilometre must paid. 

��Where a worker using his/her car to a job outside the required work boundaries in the award an extra $0.47 

per kilometre must be paid. 

��The fares allowance must be paid on all days worked plus rostered days off. 

LEADING HANDS ALLOWANCES PER HR 

In charge of 1 person $0.44 

In charge of 2–5 persons $0.96 


In charge of 11 persons or more $1.63 

The applicable leading hand rate should be added to the hourly rates and applies for all purposes of the award. 

MEAL ALLOWANCE: $12.50 

UNITY 25

UNITY 26 

AWARDS 

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION GENERAL 

ON-SITE AWARD 2010 

Rates payable from the first pay period on or after 1 January 2010. 


FARES ALLOWANCE PER DAY: $16.50 

�� Where an employer requests a worker to transfer from one site to another site during working hours with his/her own 

vehicle, an extra $0.89 per kilometre must paid. 

��Where a worker using his/her car to a job outside the required work boundaries in the award an extra $0.47 per kilometre must be paid. 

��The fares allowance must be paid on all days worked plus rostered days off. 

LEADING HANDS ALLOWANCES PER HR 

In charge of 1 person $0.46 



In charge of 11 persons or more $1.73 

The applicable leading hand rate should be added to the hourly rates and applies for all purposes of the award. 

MEAL ALLOWANCE: $11.90 

PER 

HOUR 

TIME AND A 

HALF 

DOUBLE 

TIME 

PER 38 

HOURS 

ACCRUAL OF 

0.4 HOURS 

Carpenter, stonemason, 

bridge & wharf carpenter 

18.86 28.29 37.72 716.68 7.54 65.89 

Bricklayer, 18.65 27.98 37.30 708.70 7.46 65.17 

Tilelayer (NSW) hard floor coverer 18.86 28.29 37.72 716.68 7.54 65.89 

Plasterer, floorlayer 18.73 28.10 37.46 711.74 7.49 75.44 

Roof tiler, state ridge/roof fixer 18.52 27.78 37.04 703.76 7.41 64.72 

Carver (stoneworker) 19.99 29.99 39.98 759.62 8.00 69.77 

Marker/setter out, lettercutter 19.43 29.15 38.86 738.34 7.77 67.85 

Special class trade 19.99 29.99 39.98 759.62 8.00 69.77 

Quarryperson 18.15 27.23 36.30 689.70 7.26 63.45 

Signwriter 18.89 28.34 37.78 717.82 7.56 65.99 

Painter/glazier 18.32 27.48 36.64 696.16 7.33 66.76 

Refractory bricklayer 21.47 32.21 42.94 815.86 8.59 74.85 

Refractory bricklayer’s assistant 18.72 28.08 37.44 711.36 7.49 65.41 

GROUP 1 

Rigger, dogger 18.15 27.23 36.30 689.70 7.26 63.45 

GROUP 2 

Scaffolder, powder monkey, hoist winch 

driver, foundation shaftsperson, steel 

fixer including tackwelder, concrete 

finisher 

GROUP 3 

17.65 26.48 35.30 670.70 7.06 61.73 

17.29 25.94 34.58 657.02 6.92 60.50 

PRO RATA ANNUAL 

LEAVE PLUS 

LOADING 

Bricklayer and plasterer’s labourer, demolition work, gear hand, pile driver, tackle hand, jackhammer, mixer driver, concrete steel erector, gantry 

hand, aluminiumalloy structural erector, crane hand, crane chaser, cement gun operator, concrete cutting or drilling machine operator, concrete 

gang including concrete floater, roof layer (malthoid or similar material), dump cart operator, underpinner, stonemason’s assistant, concrete formwork 

stripper, mobile concrete pump person or linehand.

AWARDS 

MOBILE CRANE HIRING AWARD 2010 

Rates payable from the first pay period on or after 1 January 2010 


Operator of mobile crane with a max. lifting capacity of: 

BOOTS 

‘N’ ALL 

UNDER THE MODERN AWARDS CFMEU members have a 

chance to claim back some more money on personal protective 

equipment. If you have any problems getting your employer to 

comply with the new right, contact the CFMEU on 9749 0400. 

The Building and Construction General On-Site Award 2010 

(which covers all on-site building and construction workers who 

are not covered by an enterprise agreement) provides that where 

workers, except refractory bricklayers, are required to wear steel 

capped safety boots: 

1. At the start of work, an employer will reimburse a worker the 

cost of buying the boots; and 

2. Based on fair wear and tear, replace the boots every six 

months, or sooner, if agreed. 

This condition also applies under new CFMEU-negotiated 

Enterprise Agreements negotiated in 2010. Make sure that you 

are wearing steel-capped boots that are in good condition! 

PER 

HOUR 

TIME AND 

A HALF 

DOUBLE 

TIME 

PER 38 

HOURS 

Up to 20 tonnes 17.74 26.60 35.47 673.94 7.09 

21-60 tonnes 18.29 27.43 36.57 694.84 7.31 

61-100 tonnes 18.83 28.25 37.67 715.64 7.53 

101-200 tonnes 19.33 29.00 38.66 734.54 7.73 

201-300 tonnes 20.30 30.44 40.59 771.24 8.12 

301-400 tonnes 20.70 31.06 41.41 786.74 8.28 

400 tonnes plus 21.25 31.88 42.50 807.54 8.50 

Thereafter for each additional 20 tonnes lifting capacity an extra $10.64 per week is applicable 

Where more than one crane is engaged on any one lift the following additional payments are payable: 

2 cranes=$2.70 per day; 3 cranes = $5.35 per day; 4 cranes =$8.00 per day; over 4 cranes = $10.70 per day 

Where the boom length rating is in excess of 28 metres an additional $1.03 per metre per week shall be paid. 

EXTRA ALLOWANCES 

Pile driving allowance $13.10 per day 

Protective clothing/ 

footwear subsidy 

$53.40 

Car allowance $0.74 per kilometre Overnight allowance $12.30 per night 

Meal allowance $11.90 Fares and travel (NSW only) $23.40 per day 

ACCRUAL 

OF 0.4 

HOURS 

PRO-RATA 

ANNUAL 

LEAVE PLUS 

LOADING 

UNITY 27

UNITY 28 

AWARDS 

GLASSWORKERS STATE AWARD 

CLASSIFICATION LEVEL 

STATE APPRENTICES 

PER 

HOUR 

TIME & A 

HALF 

Rates applicable from first pay period on or after 26 November 2009 

DOUBLE 

TIME 

PER DAY 

7.6HRS 

ACCRUAL OF 

0.4 HOURS 

TOOL ALLOWANCE is incorporated into the above rates; however travelling allowances are paid in addition to the rates above. 

MEAL ALLOWANCE - $12.60 payable when required to work overtime for one and a half hours or more. An extra 20 minutes pay (crib) Monday to 

Friday is payable after two hours overtime, and on Saturday and Sunday after four hours work. 

INFORMATION about junior apprentices who are over 18 and adult apprentices (ie apprentices who are 21 years or older or turn 21 during their 

apprenticeship) can be obtained by ringing the CFMEU Apprenticeship Officer. A copy of all wage sheets and entitlements can be obtained at 

www.cfmeu-construction-nsw.com 

APPRENTICE ALERT 

If you work under a union negotiated enterprise bargaining agreement you are entitled to extra wages, allowances and benefits. 

For more details ring the CFMEU on 9749 0400. 

PER 38 

HOURS 

Experienced glass worker 

and complex computer operator 

7 21.45 32.18 42.91 163.04 8.58 815.20 

Experienced cutter/glazier 6 20.82 31.23 41.64 158.22 8.33 791.10 

Glass cutter and glazier, furnace operator, 

quality control, senior windscreen fitter 

5 20.13 30.19 40.26 152.98 8.05 764.90 

Forklift driver (licence), Truck driver (HIAB), 

Windscreen fitter, experienced glass workers 

4 19.50 29.25 39.00 148.20 7.80 741.00 

Stores/warehousing, Furnace loader/unloader, 

Truck driving, Crane overhead 

3 18.53 27.80 37.07 140.86 7.41 704.30 

Glass handler – repetition work 2 18.24 27.36 36.48 138.62 7.30 693.10 

Induction training 1 17.57 26.36 35.15 133.56 7.03 667.80 

This does not include the Construction Work Allowance $25.00 per week or the Tool Allowance of $6.30 per week as of 26.11.09 

Annual leave is accrued at 2.923 hours per week. These rates include the special loading of $93.90 payable for all purposes 

These wage rates apply from the beginning of the first pay period to commence on or after 26 November 2009 and apply to apprentices who are under 18 or 

work for an unincorporated employer. 

JUNIOR TRAINEE APPRENTICES – BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION 

CARPENTER/JOINER/STONEMASON 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

BRICKLAYER/ 

TILELAYER 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

PLASTERER PAINTER ROOF TILER 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

1st Year 9.84 373.80 9.64 366.20 9.72 369.20 9.31 353.90 9.51 361.30 

2nd Year 13.03 495.10 12.83 487.60 12.91 490.60 12.51 475.50 12.71 482.80 

3rd Year 16.71 634.80 16.51 627.30 16.59 630.30 16.19 615.20 16.38 622.50 

4th Year 18.40 699.10 18.20 691.60 18.28 694.60 17.88 679.50 18.07 686.80 

JUNIOR INDENTURED APPRENTICES – BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION 

CARPENTER/JOINER/STONEMASON 

Hourly 

Rate 

FARES ALLOWANCE FOR ABOVE 

1st Year $15.30 

2nd Year $15.80 

3rd Year $15.90 

4th Year $16.10 

Weekly 

Gross 

BRICKLAYER/ 

TILELAYER 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

PLASTERER PAINTER ROOF TILER 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

Hourly 

Rate 

Weekly 

Gross 

1st Year 8.93 339.40 8.73 331.80 8.81 334.80 8.41 319.50 8.60 326.90 

2nd Year 11.93 453.40 11.73 445.80 11.81 448.80 11.41 433.50 11.60 440.90 

3rd Year 15.60 592.80 15.40 585.20 15.48 588.20 15.08 572.90 15.27 580.30 

4th Year 17.68 671.70 17.48 664.10 17.56 667.10 17.15 651.80 17.35 659.20 

These allowances apply to 

all apprentices except for 

Civil Engineering (Bridge 

and Wharf) Carpenter 

apprentices who will 

receive $15.40 per day. 

CIVIL ENGINEERING (BRIDGE & WHARF) CARPENTER 

Hourly Rate Weekly Gross Fares Allowance Per Day 

1st Year 10.40 395.20 16.50 

2nd Year 13.57 515.70 16.50 

3rd Year 16.89 641.80 16.50 

4th Year 19.31 733.90 16.50

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NE DAJTE DA ABBOTT DOĐE NA VLAST 

Australija 21. kolovoza izlazi na izbore i suočena je s izborom za 

Ministra Predsjednika između Julie Gillard iz Laburističke i Tony 

Abbott-a iz Liberalne Partije. 

Međutim, za članove CFMEU-а nema izbora, pošto će Tony 

Abbott biti katastrofalan šta se tiče naših plaća i radnih uvjeta. Vlada 

pod rukovodstvom Abbott-a vratila bi radnike natrag u najgore 

godine Howardove vladavine. 

CFMEU se u nekim stvarima razmimoilazio sa Ruddovom 

Laburističkom vladom, ali vlada je štitila naše članove od najgorih 

posljedica globalne financijske krize. Učinila je to tako da je 

usredotočila pažnju na infrastrukture i održavala je radna mjesta 

u građevinskoj industriji. Izgradnjom revolucije u obrazovanju 

– Building the Education Revolution – samo u NSW-u vlada je 

osigurala 165.000 radnih mjesta i zadržala naše građevinske radnike 

na radnim mjestima u našim gradovima i regijama. 

Тony Abbott kaže da je taj program, kojim se spriječilo da neki 

građevinski radnici izgube svoja radna mjesta, bio čisto rasipanje 

novca. Neizbježno je da je brzina potrebna za izbjegavanje masovne 

nezaposlenosti dovela do nekih grešaka. 

Тakođer je važno kad su Laburisti pokušali smanjiti moć 

Australske građevinske i konstrukcione komisije – Аustralian 

Building and Construction Commission – Liberali su ih u 

Senatu blokirali. Abbott podržava АВСС i osigurava da će i dalje 

uznemiravati građevinske radnike i smanjiti zaštitu na radu na 

gradilištima. Pod Laburističkom vladom Gilardove i prijateljskijim 

Senatom АВСС se može raspustiti. 

21. kolovoza je važan vaš glas. Može nam spasiti sustave 

društvenog zdravlja i obrazovanja i osigurati da se održe zaštićena 

radilišta i fer plaće. U subotu, 21. kolovoza glasujte za svoja prava, 

za zaštitu vaših kolega radnika i za budućnost vaše djece. Glasujte 

za Laburiste. Stavite Liberale na zadnje mjesto. 

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KHÔNG CHO ABBOTT CẦM QUYỀN 

Vào ngày 21 tháng 8 tới đây dân chúng Úc sẽ bầu cử và chọn đảng cầm 

quyền giữa lãnh tụ Lao Động Julia Gillard và Tự Do Tony Abbott. 

Tuy nhiên đối với đoàn viên nghiệp đoàn CFMEU, chúng ta không 

có một chọn lựa nào, vì Tony Abbott là một tai họa đe dọa lương bỗng 

và điều kiện làm việc của chúng ta. Một chánh phủ do Abbott cầm đầu 

sẽ đưa nước Úc lùi trở lại những ngày đen tối nhất trong những năm 

dưới chánh phủ Howard. 

Nghiệp đoàn CFMEU bất đồng ý kiến với chánh phủ Lao Động Rudd 

về nhiều điểm, nhưng chánh phủ này đã bảo vệ đoàn viên của chúng ta 

khỏi những ảnh hưởng tệ hại nhất trong cuộc khủng hoảng tài chánh. 

Chính phủ thực hiện được điều này bằng cách chú tâm xây dựng hạ tầng 

cơ sở và duy trì công ăn việc làm trong kỹ nghệ xây dựng. Qua kế hoạch 

Xây Dựng Cách Mạng Giáo Dục, chỉ riêng tại tiểu bang NSW, chánh phủ 

đã tạo ra 165,000 công việc làm giúp công nhân ngành xây dựng khỏi thất 

nghiệp tại các thành phố cũng như các vùng quê. 

Tony Abbott nói chương trình đã giúp công nhân ngành xây dựng 

khỏi mất việc mất nhà là phí phạm tài sản. Trong khi gấp rút hành động 

để tránh việc thất nghiệp tập thể, chánh phủ mắc một vài lỗi lầm là điều 

khó thể tránh được. 

Một điều khác cũng quan trọng nữa là trong khi chánh phủ Lao Động 

cố gắng giảm quyền lực của Ủy Ban Xây Dựng và Kiến Tạo Úc (ABCC), 

đảng Tự Do tại Thượng Viện đã ngăn chận lại. Abbott quyết tâm duy trì 

Ủy Ban ABCC và bảo đảm Ủy Ban này tiếp tục gây phiền nhiễu cho công 

nhân xây dựng và giảm mức bảo vệ an toàn cho công nhân tại các công 

trường làm việc. Dưới chánh phủ Lao Động do Gillard lãnh đạo và một 

Thượng Viện thân thiện hơn, ủy ban ABCC có thể bị giải tán. 

Lá phiếu của quý bạn rất quan trọng vào ngày 21 tháng 8. Lá phiếu 

của quý bạn có thể cứu vãn hệ thống y tế và giáo dục công cộng, bảo đảm 

môi trường làm việc an toàn và duy trì mức lương bỗng công bằng. Bầu 

phiếu vào ngày Thứ Bảy 21 tháng 8 cho quyền lợi của quý bạn, cho sự an 

toàn của các bạn đồng nghiệp và cho tương lai của con cái chúng ta. Bầu 

cho đảng Lao Động. Bỏ lá phiếu của đảng Tự Do vào hạng cuối cùng.

UNITY 32 

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UNITY50 

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Statewide 

Sleepers 

(NSW) 

Proudly Supporting 

the CFMEU 

P.O. Box 1760 

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Ph/Fax: 

(02) 4862 1089 

MARQUESFORMWORK 

MARQUES FORMWORK 

Unit 15, 3 Kelso Crescent 

Moorebank NSW 2170 

UNITY50 

PH: 02 9602 7911 

FAX: 02 9602 

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Level 4, 9 - 13 Young Street 

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Ph: (02) 9252 4411 

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Unit 37, 65 Marigold Street 

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Mirvac 

Supporting 

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ACN 126 012 217 

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231 WARE ST 

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M 0414 270 282 

F 02 9727 2569 

UNITY50 

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Ph: (02) 9540 3855 

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Campbellfield, Vic. 3061 

P: (61 3) 9357 8122 

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Supporting the CFMEU 

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(Construction Services) 

Trading as 

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P.O. Box 3066 

Bankstown, NSW 2200 

Ph: (02) 9426 3400 

Fax: (02) 9426 3422 

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Proudly Supporting 

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Building a better future 

Ph: (02) 9758 7100 

Fax: (02) 9758 7255 

Email: info@dasco.net.au 

www.dasco.net.au UNITY50 

Tresamber Pty Limited 

Proud to support the CFMEU 

Mob: 0402 072 720 

UNITY50 

Formwork for 

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Servicing Newcastle & The Valley 

patrick@maitlandformwork.com 

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P.O. Box 2116 

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Safe, Reliable Asbestos & 

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Free Advisory Service 

9584 2233 

alkene@alkene.com.au 

Unit 4, 17 Norman Street 

Peakhurst, NSW 2210 

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ABN 67 091 658 052 

Civil Contractors & Project Management 

28 Woodfield Boulevarde 

PO Box 2246, Taren Point, NSW 2229 

Ph: (02) 9531 2866 

Fax: (02) 9531 2966 

Email: headoffice@wallisconstructions.com.au 

GLEDHILL 

CONSTRUCTIONS 

PTY LTD 

Commercial – Industrial 

Institutional – Heritage 

13 Leeds Street, Rhodes 

Ph: 9743 0344 

Fax: 9743 0455 

Email: builders@gledhill.com.au 

SAFETY 

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TILING SERVICES PTY LTD 

Professionals in Planning and Co-ordinating your 

specialist requirements in Commercial and 

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Also exclusive residential properties upon request. 

Unit 19/250 Milperra Rd, Milperra, NSW 2214 

Ph: (02) 9792 7430 • Fax: (02) 9792 7442 

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Ph: (02) 9599 4736 

Fax: (02) 9599 5764 

UNIQUE CONTRACTORS PTY LTD UNITY50 

Sydney Plaster Pty Ltd 

★ Proud to support CFMEU 

Rear 892-896 Canterbury Road 

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Ph: 0418 434 433 UNITY50 

Meridian Construction 

Services Pty Ltd 

P.O. Box 80, Banksia, NSW 2216 

Ph: (02) 9599 0399 

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Unit 1/15 Deadman Road, Moorebank, NSW 2170 

Phone: (02) 9600 8353 Fax: (02) 9600 8246 Mob: 0458 626 006 

Email: admin@brickmen.com.au 

Formtec 

P.O. Box 606, Chester Hill, NSW 2162 

Phone: (02) 9708 5011 Fax: (02) 9708 5199 

Inten Constructions Pty Ltd 

Unit 3/5-11 Mellor Street, West Ryde, NSW 2114 

Phone: 1800 046 836 Fax: 1800 146 836 Mobile: 0411 677 287 

Website: www.inten.com.au 

E-Masonry Contracting (NSW) Pty Ltd 

451 The Boulevarde, Kirrawee, NSW 2232 

Phone: (02) 9545 1788 

Email: emasonrycontract@aol.com 

Mars Painting 

Phone: (02) 9591 1595 Fax: (02) 9559 2231 

Morrow Equipment Company L.L.C. 

P.O. Box 533, Caringbah, NSW 2229 

Phone: (02) 9525 7741 Fax: (02) 9525 0278 

Email: aust@morrow.com 

Website: www.morrow.com 

Topdeck Scaffolding Pty Ltd 

P.O. Box 586, Mona Vale, NSW 1660 

Office: (02) 9979 5914 Fax: (02) 9979 5714 

Email: office@topdeckscaffolding.com.au 

Website: www.topdeckscaffolding.com.au 

DAY 

SHIRT 

LIGHT BLUE, NAVY WITH 

MAP LOGO 

$25 

N 

UNIOWEAR

WORLD 

Former Organiser Luis Villazon, now 

based in Chile and working as a lawyer 

for the union movement, has been 

on the ground seeing how aid money 

the CFMEU helped raise is already 

making a difference. 

ON SATURDAY JULY 17, together with the 

president of the Confederation of Chilean Copper 

Workers, Cristian Cuevas, we returned to the 

zone of Lota, devastated by the earthquake on 27 

February 2010. 

The objective of this new visit was to coordinate 

the economic aid sent by the Australian 

workers – in particular the members of the 

CFMEU. 

This aid will be used in the construction of a 

community centre for the workers and their families 

who live in ‘Calera Sur’ – an extremely poor 

village in Lota. 

Also it will help with the extension of the 

existing community centre in the village of 

Canteras Dos – in the zone of Lota Alto – another 

very poor area. 

Work has already commenced in the Cantera 

Dos village and both centres are scheduled to be 

finished by December this year. 

Along with these projects, infrastructure 

will be completed so the people in the area can 

utilise the facilities. This financial help will go 

towards the day care centre in the village of Las 

Tranqueras, which is running in precarious conditions 

. 

Without a doubt, this aid sent by the 

Australian Union movement, especially the 

workers and members of the CFMEU, has been a 

REBUILDING LIVES 

The first turf is dug in the building of a community centre with the CFMEU’s contribution acknowledged 

WHOLE LOTA LOVE 

great help to lessen the effects of the earthquake. 

THE MONEY WAS RAISED AT A DANCE 

FOR CHILE event held at Sydney Town Hall. 

The event was organised by the CFMEU, 

along with Viva Magazine and Union Aid Abroad 

– APHEDA to assist the victims of the February 

earthquake in Chile. 

Sponsorship was also provided 

by Unions NSW, the Teachers 

Federation, Rail, Tram and Bus 

Union and Marrickville Council. 

More than 1.5 million people 

were displaced and up to 500 

people killed by the 8.8-magnitude 

earthquake, which hit near 

Chile’s second-largest city of 

Concepcion. 

CFMEU State Secretary 

Andrew Ferguson says “it was 

appropriate for Australian working 

families to extend their hand 

in assistance to fellow working 

families in Chile who had lost 

homes in the earthquake”. 

“Many of the worst affected 

were coal miners in the region 

south of the city of Concepcion, 

and we should assist them in any 

way possible.” 

While the event, which 

included spectacular Latin dancing, 

music and song, raised 

$28,500, Sydney City Council 

also donated $37,750 bringing the 

total funds raised to $64,340.15. 

Alexis Meza from Viva 

Magazine was responsible for 

bringing together the spectacular show on short 

notice. “All the artists and dancers, along with the 

MC, donated their time and efforts,” he says. 

“It is a sign of the great generosity of the 

Chilean community here in Sydney and their 

desire to help their relatives and friends affected 

by this terrible earthquake.” 

�� 

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*Source ICFTU 

Is it fair? 

MAKE LIFE FAIR EVERYWHERE, 

BECOME A GLOBAL JUSTICE PARTNER. 

Union Aid Abroad APHEDA 

The overseas humanitarian aid agency of the ACTU 

Call 1800 888 674 or visit apheda.org.au 

UNITY 35

COMMUNITY 

DIGGING DEEP 

FOR OTHERS 

UNITY 36 

NEVER A FOUL WORD 

Schizophrenia Research Institute SwearStop Ambassador Glen Wheeler visited work sites with Organiser Rebel Hanlon 

ITS OFFICES HAVE BEEN CAR BOMBED 

and staff dispersed to offices across Sydney, but 

the CFMEU and its members have refused to be 

intimidated, instead digging deep to help some of 

society’s most marginal people. 

Just a week after the CFMEU offices were carbombed, 

the union presented a cheque for $5000 

to the Schizophrenia Research Institute during 

a meeting of 120 union delegates at the torched 

union offices. 

The money was raised during the week 

through bucket collections on building 

sites across Sydney as part of Schizophrenia 

Awareness Week. 

“This donation to the Schizophrenia Research 

Institute highlights the important role the union 

plays in our community,” State Secretary Andrew 

Ferguson told delegates. 

“We fight for workers’ rights and conditions, 

but our members are also the first to put their 

hands in their pockets when tragedy strikes. 

“Threats and violence won’t stop the CFMEU 

from doing its job.” 

‘WE FIGHT FOR WORKERS’ 

RIGHTS AND 

CONDITIONS, BUT OUR 

MEMBERS ARE ALSO THE 

FIRST TO PUT THEIR 

HANDS IN THEIR 

POCKETS WHEN TRAGEDY 

STRIKES.’ 

The money was raised as part of the 

Schizophrenia Research Institute’s SwearStop 

campaign where people swear off swearing for a 

week. 

Last year CFMEU Assistant State Secretary 

Brian Park took part in the fundraiser, shocking 

those he knows by keeping his colourful language 

under control for a week. 

This year fundraiser SwearStop ambassador 

and Channel Seven celebrity Glen Wheeler 

toured a number of Sydney building sites to talk 

about the work of the institute and thank workers 

for their support. 

With CFMEU Organiser Rebel Hanlon, 

Wheeler met workers on the Bovis Lend Lease 

Sega World site at Darling Harbour and the St 

Hilliers workers at The Rocks. 

Although none of the workers seemed keen 

to keep the expletives to a minimum, they were 

happy to support the campaign in bucket collections 

and raffles. 

The CFMEU link to the Schizophrenia 

Research Institute stretches back to former 

CFMEU State Secretary Don McDonald, who 

after his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, 

played a leading role in the establishment of the 

institute. 

Today the union is represented on the Board 

by the union’s Senior Legal Officer Rita Mallia, 

who has been part of the institute for a number 

of years.

LETTERS 

HEY FELLAS, 

THIS IS PAT 

This was intended as an email that Pat Minty wrote in his own words before his 

death to be sent in thanks to his fellow union workers. Pat was a rigger/crane driver 

and member of the NSW CFMEU for the past 30 years, but spent the last five years 

working out of state. He died, aged 52, in June from cancer 

HI FELLAS 

I am writing to let you know how overwhelmed 

and proud Karen my wife and I 

are to be the recipient of your generosity 

and solidarity. 

I never thought I’d be on the wrong side 

of a tarpaulin muster. I’ve got terrific support 

from my medical team, all top-class 

professors, doctors etc, and the diagnoses 

is progressing as they predicted. 

Also, Rita Mallia, the CFMEU lawyer, has 

handled a lot of things for me that I was in 

no state to take on myself. 

I just want to make a couple of pieces 

of advice that I have made in light of my 

situation. 

1. Get regular checkups – THE WORKS 

– on your time off. Some of these diseases 

have no symptoms until it is too 

late. 

2. Do not lose your 24-hour income insurance. 

Without that, we would have been 

in a mess financially for the last three 

months. 

3. I’ve been a union member since 1975 

and I’ve had blues with union organisers, 

officials, and union management. 

SUPPORT IS COMFORT 

‘I am writing on behalf of the Khattar family to 

thank (Andrew Ferguson) for honouring us with 

your presence at the funeral recently held for my 

brother, George Khattar. 

The family takes comfort in our time of grief 

by knowing how many people’s lives George 

touched and his legacy is one the family holds 

dearly. George’s immediate family has resolved 

to continue George’s dream of improving 

the local community, principally through his 

involvement with the youth centre at Our Lady 

of Lebanon Church and the Parramatta Rugby 

Leagues Club. 

George’s caring and generosity of spirit 

have served as a role model to the community 

and the family has been touched at 

tributes paid and recognition received for his 

generous nature to others, which has provided 

great consolation to those he has left 

behind, most importantly his wife Carol and 

two daughters, Georgia and Alana. 

Joe Khattar, Dyldam Developments 

But to know that we have an organisaa- 

tion with assets, lawyers and skills 

whose job it is to look after us, organ- 

ise EBAs, tackle safety, it is priceless. 

Regardless of the individual’s viewpoint 

STAY WITH OR BECOME A UNION 

MEMBER and you can walk the site with 

pride. 

It’s great to see you are keeping up 

the tradition of the Whip Around that has s 

been part and parcel of being a rigger or 

construction worker since I got into the 

game in 1983, and also as a member of 

the NZ Seaman’s Union. 

It is one of the only ways that we can 

openly show our support for a fellow 

worker, but more importantly for their 

families who do it tough in these situations. 

So I’ve gone on enough. 

Once Again, Karen and myself thank 

you all, you the staunch, solid men that 

it has been my privilege and honour to 

have worked alongside of. 

Fraternally 

Pat and Karen Minty 

UNITY 37

UNITY 38 

YOUR HEALTH 

WORK 

SUNSAFE. 

ALWAYS. 

IT MIGHT BE COOL TO HAVE A TAN and show 

off your six-pack on the worksite, but next time 

you strip down in the heat, think about Rohan 

Crotty. The Queensland construction worker and 

CFMEU Organiser died in July last year aged 43 

leaving behind his 39-year-old widow Jo and four 

sons aged under five. 

Ironically Rohan, a carpenter and plasterer by 

trade, had been active as an Organiser on a sun 

LOOKING OUT 

FOR SKIN CANCER 

Get to know your skin: what is normal for 

you and what has changed since the last 

time you looked? Early detection of skin 

cancer is important as it can be cured if 

treated early. See your doctor as soon as 

you notice any unusual changes on your 

skin, and consider a yearly check-up. 

I have often been called to construction sites 

that have been contaminated because of 

temporary sewer pump pit overflows or burst 

sewer pipes. The worst example was when 

three basement floors of a new construction 

needed to be decontaminated and workers’ 

amenity areas were affected. 

The concern is that workers may be exposed 

to harmful bacteria and viruses that live in 

sewage contaminated water. These include 

organisms that cause stomach and gut problems, 

as well as a potential for contracting the 

Hepatitis A virus. 

When a spill occurs, management should 

immediately isolate the area, notify workers on 

FALLEN ALLEN COMRADE 

A newspaper report about Rohan Crotty’s death 

awareness program m 

before his own diaggnosis and his wife has as 

now picked up the he 

chalice and is working ng 

with the Queensland d branch of the CFMEU to devel 

op a program in honour of Rohan. 

Although it may get hot working in long 

sleeves, statistics highlight the importance 

of sun safety on site. It is estimated 1.2 million 

Australian outdoor workers face an increased risk 

of developing sin cancer. 

Around 200 melanomas and 34,000 nonmelanoma 

skin cancers are caused by workplace 

sun exposure in Australia every year. 

Cancer Council Australia CEO Professor Ian 

Olver says workers and employers need to understand 

that the sun is potentially as deadly as toxic 

chemicals or heavy machinery. 

“Outdoor workers have died from skin cancer 

caused by their sun exposure at work. No one 

should have to risk their life for work.” 

INDUSTRIAL HEALTH MATTERS 

PEGGY TROMPF 

›› SHIT HAPPENS 

the site and identify those workers who may 

have been exposed to the contaminate. The 

area should be cleaned with a suitable sterilising 

solution, such as a 10 per cent solution of 

household bleach. 

If the spill is on soil, the top layer (up to 

approximately 15cm) should be removed and 

replaced with clean fill. A waste removal contractor 

should be employed to do the clean up, 

and any workers involved should wear suitable 

PPE i.e. P1 mask, gloves, disposable overalls, 

gloves and eye protection. 

Workers at risk of getting an illness e.g. 

those who have had contact with the contaminate 

or been in the vicinity and who may have 

YOUR RIGHT 

TO BE PROTECTED 

Health and safety laws mean your 

employer must provide a safe working 

environment. That includes protection 

from the sun in the form of sunglasses, 

hat, sunscreen and long-sleeved protective 

clothing. But it is a two-way street – you 

must also co-operate with your workplace’s 

sunsafe program. 

For more information on a sunsafe 

work environment contact the Counter 

Organiser at Lidcombe on 9749 0400. 

had contact should contact their employer and 

arrange for a medical examination. 

Hepatitis A is spread by eating or drinking 

sewage contaminated food and water or by 

entering the body through open sores or cuts. 

People can spread the disease in the immediate 

period before they become ill and during 

the illness. Recovery from hepatitis A can take 

weeks or months. Most make a complete 

recovery but the disease can be more severe in 

older people. 

Workers should be particularly careful to 

wash their face and hands before eating, drinking 

or smoking as the organisms causing these 

diseases are spread by contact with the mouth.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL 

PUTTING YOU 

IN THE PICTURE 

THE BUILDING TRADES GROUP OF UNIONS 

DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM has produced 

a new training film to provide information 

for workers and employers about how to deal 

with drugs and alcohol in the workplace. 

“Just Not at Work, Mate” replaces the 

Foundation’s 1994 video, “Not at Work Mate”. 

“The original video was very successful. But 

we were getting feedback that some workers 

had seen it several times,” says the Program’s 

Co-ordinator Trevor Sharp. 

He also says the services offered by the BTG 

Program and the Foundation have expanded considerably 

since the original video was made. 

“We now have residential programs at the 

new Foundation House, we offer a gambling 

program and we have set up a very successful 

apprentice training program,” Sharp says. 

While the training film contains plenty of 

new information, the plain-talking style and 

simple messages of the original video have been 

retained. 

“We wanted to make sure that we made something 

that spoke directly to construction workers 

in their language. It still packs an emotional 

punch.” 

Safety is paramount in all workplaces and 

people dangerously affected by alcohol and/or 

other drugs are a safety risk to themselves and all 

others in the workplace. 

The realistic and confronting film follows 

three stories to see how drinking, drug taking and 

gambling affect the ability to work safely, and create 

problems in personal lives. 

The film looks at how these problems are recognised 

as safety issues and dealt with through 

the implementation of the Building Trades 

‘WE WANTED TO MAKE 

SURE THAT WE MADE 

SOMETHING THAT SPOKE 

DIRECTLY TO WORKERS IN 

THEIR LANGUAGE. 

IT STILL PACKS AN 

EMOTIONAL PUNCH’ 

Group Drug and Alcohol Program and its workplace 

policy. 

It also highlights the treatment services 

offered by Foundation House, the Construction 

Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation 

Treatment Centre in Rozelle. 

This film is essential viewing for all in the construction 

industry, particularly Safety Committee 

members, union officials and delegates, manage- 

ABOVE PAR The field of 120 players at the annual golf day fundraiser 

ment and employer representatives and apprentices. 

It is also an effective resource for anyone who 

has responsibilities for maintaining safety standards 

and preventing accidents, or is concerned 

with drug and alcohol problems in any other 

industry or workplace. 

The principle aim of the Building Trades Drug 

and Alcohol Program is to improve safety in the 

workplace by teaching workers to take responsibility 

for themselves and their workmates in relation 

to drug and alcohol use. 

It was produced by Maze Productions 

from Melbourne and was jointly funded by 

the Building Trades Group of Unions, the federal 

Department of Health and Ageing, and 

the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation 

Foundation. 

It is 22 minutes long, but there is also a 

10-minute version especially made for site inductions. 

The new training film is available for purchase 

to companies both in and outside the construction 

industry and comes with a training 

pack that includes overheads, a trainer’s guide 

and speaker notes, and the DVD. 

If you would like to arrange to have “Just Not 

at Work Mate” shown at your site or should your 

employer or someone you know wish to purchase 

a copy, please call us on (02) 9555 7852. 

UNITY 39

UNITY 40 

PROFILE 

BRITAIN’S MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL 

took more than 600 years to build and echoes of 

the masters who raised its spires live on in people 

like John Park. 

The retired tiler is one of a dying breed in the 

industry – traditionally trained with the ability to 

replicate work done centuries before. 

As a young man Park repaired tilework on 

such iconic British religious sites as Manchester, 

Peterborough and Leicester cathedrals. 

“We did a lot of restoration in the winter 

when the weather was bad and we needed to 

work indoors,” he says. 

The work at Manchester Cathedral stands 

out because he was able to replace 300-plusyear-old 

tiles with other originals. 

“In the pews where people used to stand they 

had worn the tiles through. Those tiles had been 

down more than 300 years and we contacted the 

Welsh factory where they were made and they 

were still producing them,” he says. 

Unlike today, laying the tiles required more 

than reaching for a packet of adhesive because 

the tiles were laid into pitch – a tar-like substance. 

Examining union banners in Trades Hall 

recently, Park reflected on how far the industry 

had fallen as an artisan trade. 

“I’m not sure there are many people now 

who could do the work you see on the Tilers 

Banner,” he says. 

Park took up the trade in his early 20s 

after leaving the merchant navy, where he had 

worked since he left school aged 14. 

“The sea is a way of life more than a job – I’d 

met my wife and wanted to get married and had 

to make a decision. It was hard because I loved 

the sea.” 

However using a scheme that helped put 

many ex-servicemen into the trades after World 

War II, Park soon was an apprentice tiler. 

With all the talk now of global warming, Park 

says it is ironic it was global cooling that sent 

him to the southern hemisphere. 

‘THOSE TILES HAD BEEN 

DOWN 300 YEARS AND 

THE WELSH FACTORY 

WHERE THEY WERE MADE 

WAS STILL PRODUCING 

THEM.’ 

“We’d had two severe winters in the early 

sixties and all the talk was about a mini-Ice Age 

coming on,” he says, recalling how on one job 

the clerk of work used to carry a thermostat and 

require the temperature to be 2-3 degrees above 

freezing before they could start work. 

Having visited Australia as a seaman, Park, 

aged 28, his wife Patricia and their first child 

headed as Ten-Pound Poms for Australia. 

A union member from age 14, Park first 

joined the Maritime Seaman’s Union and then 

LOST ART 

John Park worries the skills of a traditional tiler are being eroded 

A LIFE’S 

WORK 

ECHOES 

THROUGH 

THE AGES 

the Building Workers Industrial Union of 

Britain. 

In Australia joined the Tilers Union of NSW, 

but says the small union had little support and 

it was often hard to get a quorum for meetings. 

With the amalgamations of unions in Britain 

in mind, he moved a motion that the tilers 

union negotiate to join the Building Workers 

Industrial Union (NSW), which was passed. 

In Australia, Park worked first for Lehmann 

Brothers before going into a partnership. 

He considers a badge of honour that as a contractor 

he and his partner helped keep the skill 

in the industry by training apprentices. 

“For a long time we always had two apprentices 

between us and as one would move into 

fourth year we would bring on a first year,” he 

says. 

But that type of commitment is fading. 

“Quality tiling is a lost art. In the old days 

banks, publicans and breweries all had money 

and would tile their buildings beautifully. 

Tiling now is about flat walls and adhesives,” he 

says. 

After more than 50 years in the union movement, 

Park’s contribution to the tiling sector 

and unionism was acknowledged recently with 

a life membership to the CFMEU. 

“I fully believe in unions and believe they 

have a place in society,” he says. 

“[But] it’s not so much an hours and wages 

battle any more. Unions need to be more a part 

of the life of workers in terms of health care, 

superannuation and everything else.”

election 2010 - cfmeu

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