election 2010 - cfmeu

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