April 2001
| |
eTU online |
| April 5th, 2001 | Volume 2, Issue 4 |
eTU online is a e-newsletter for members and supporters who have registered their e-mail address with the union. It aims to keep you informed of the latest developments within your Union.
Please forward a copy to other members or print off a copy for the notice board.
In This Issue
- eTU online's first birthday
- Linesman terminated for working too long
- Contracting employees win improved Long Service Leave benefits
- Apprentice training levy
- Shop steward training course
- Turn left @ the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
- May Day M1
- Next edition of eTU online
This is the first birthday edition of eTU online.
Its brief is to bring members up to date on events and news created by and affecting the Union and its individual members.
It complements the Victorian ETU NEWS and the national edition of ETU NEWS.
Members should keep the union informed of their current email address so they can stay informed.
Further information can be heard on 3CR, 855 AM band on Wednesday mornings at 6:30 a.m.
| 2. Linesman terminated for working too long |
An ETU linesman employed by TXU in Benalla was recently terminated for performing a reverse polarity on an after-hours fault. The linesman committed the error at the end of an 18-hour day. He did not conduct the check test which would have alerted him to the fact that the circuit had been incorrectly wired.
The union contested the matter in the Commission. The evidence presented was that the two linesmen who were on availability duty that evening were tired and exhausted by the end of the shift and this led to the error.
TXU did not have an extended hours policy and the Commission's decision was critical of the company's lack of policy in this regard. The Commission found that the company did not have any procedures in place which would stop an employee from working those kinds of hours in a dangerous work environment.
The Commission found that TXU had a valid reason for terminating the linesman because the required polarity test had not been conducted. However, due to TXU's lack of an extended hours policy, the Commission ordered the linesman be reinstated and the company pay him the wages that he had lost since termination.
Our members should be very cautious about performing work when they believe that their performance might be affected by tiredness and exhaustion. If something goes wrong, do not expect the company to support you, as the linesman found out on this occasion. It is not worth risking your employment, your safety or the safety of the public for the sake of the couple of hours' overtime or to assist the company when they have heavy workloads.
| 3. Contracting employees win improved Long Service Leave benefits |
On 27 March 2001, after prolonged negotiations with building industry employers, the Victorian Building and Construction Unions declared victory in their campaign to improve long service leave entitlements.
The unions, including the ETU, won all four of the major claims:
- Pro Rata LSL after 7 years from 1 July 2001.
- 13 Weeks LSL after 10 years from 1 July 2002.
- In the event of a death of a worker with more than 55 days service, the family must receive all accrued benefits.
- No cashing out of LSL entitlements. Leave must be taken.
The win came on the eve of another industry stoppage.
Currently only 25% of workers in the industry access their LSL. This great win for the industry will enable more workers to access these improved entitlements and enjoy more paid leisure time.
| 4. Apprentice training levy |
Last week, the independent member for Gippsland, Susan Davies, launched a report commissioned by the ETU and NECA, "Apprentice and Ongoing Training Needs in the Electrical and Allied Industries."
She was very supportive of the measures outlined in the report and was concerned about the loss of apprenticeship opportunites in regional areas, particularly for women.
"The message (from the report) is clear - Victoria needs an extra 750 electrical apprentices every year just to repair the damage done by the privatising and outsourcing accountants who ran policy in the 1990's," Dean Mighell said.
"A clear commitment to a ratio of one apprentice to every three electricians on every job is the only way to stop this dangerous erosion of the State's skills base."
Employers who refuse to train apprentices and rely on others to provide a skilled work force should be required to pay a training levy.
Large companies and privatised former government utilities, which outsource their maintenance workforce and use labour hire companies who provide almost zero apprentice training, are just bludging off those employers who do provide training.
Bludging employers and organisations should pay a levy equal to the cost of training, while employers who meet their responsibility to the community and industry by sustaining apprenticeships, should be rewarded with a payroll tax incentive from the revenue provided by the levy.
Dean called on the Victorian Government to take up the report's recommendations for improvements in apprentice training.
"The Government needs to give a commitment to our youth to gain first class electrical training that is fully resourced, provides career and personal counselling and has strong links with workplace trade trainers and registered training organisations.
"As a matter of absolute urgency, the Government must provide additional resources for VET to allow students early access to electrical training and turn around the decline in female apprentice numbers since 1991."
Copies of the report will be available in the near future, as a PDF from the Union's website or in hardcopy from the office.
| 5. Shop stewards Level 2 training course |
Sixteen ETU shop stewards recently participated in the Level 1 Shop Stewards course at the ETU. The stewards came from all sectors of the industry including Contracting, Vehicle, Education, Metal and Service.
Shop stewards are reminded that the next Shop Stewards Level 2 training course will be conducted at the Melbourne office on May 9 - 11. The next Level 1 Shop Stewards course is June 5 - 8.
To request your place in the course, contact Mary on 03 8341 5555 or email her at mary@etu.asn.au
Written confirmation of course details can be provided to employers when requested.
| 6. Turn left @ the Melbourne International Comedy Festival |
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has kicked off for 2001, with the Victorian Trades Hall again playing host to a number of shows. There are five rooms at the Trades Hall dedicated to the event and some 17 different events there.
A shuttle bus runs between the Trades Hall and the Melbourne Town Hall, the main venue.
The programme will run until April 22. Check out the website for further details. http://www.tradeshallarts.com.au/events/events.htm
| 7. May Day M1 |
The traditional May Day march and rally is on again, this year on Sunday May 6. Assemble at the Trades Hall and march to the Yarra Bank.
Meanwhile, S11 has been reincarnated as M1, which will be a huge protest rally on May Day (May 1). The rally will be centred at the Melbourne Stock Exchange.
The Stock Exchange represents the values of globalisation and the values of the giant corporations that rule the globe.
"M1 is a way of expressing the need for us to close the gap between rich and poor, end exploitation in the workplace, and defend the environment. It is a positive call for democracy: in a world where corporate power has defrauded democracy and its central idea of one person, one vote, one value. " - Bob Brown 24.02.01
Further details from http://www.s11.org/m1/
| 8. Next edition eTU online |
Thanks for reading this issue of eTU online. You'll receive your next issue on May 15.
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