1. Bali

Several ETU members have been personally affected by the catastrophe in Bali last month. The ETU Southern States Branch extends its condolences to all those members and families affected.

Members who wish to help can make a donation to the Red Cross Bali Appeal can call 1800 339 888 or visit www.redcross.org.au

2. Contracting Mass Meeting

A mass meeting of all ETU Members covered by Electrical and Communications Contracting Industry Agreements has been called for:

Wednesday, 13th November
10.00am
Dallas Brooks Hall
East Melbourne

This includes labour hire, service and communications contractors.

The meeting will report on the status on our upcoming Enterprise Agreement negotiations. The ETU has in excess of 1300 current certified agreements that are set to expire on December 31.

These agreements are second to none in this country for wages and conditions, far better than those of other workers in similar industries in all other states. While our gains have been hard won, we must be ever vigilant in defending them or they will be attacked by employers in an unprecedented manner.

All members in the industry are to attend this meeting.

Attendance at the meeting is compulsory and the Union encourages you to be outspoken in your views for the new Enterprise Agreement claims for the next three years. If we are not prepared for a strong, strategic and determined campaign we risk the gains that we have won together.

A draft claim (PDF) will be available from the ETU website soon.
http://www.etu.asn.au/

3. Group Training Apprentices Mass Meeting

A meeting of all apprentices employed by Group Training Companies has been called for:

Wednesday, 13th November
9.00am
Dallas Brooks Hall
Lower Floor
East Melbourne

Apprentices in Victoria have been ripped off and underpaid in many instances and some have experienced long-term down time without pay. The Union is determined to rid our industry of this practice.

The meeting has been called by the Union to discuss:

• a new enterprise agreement for Group Training Companies
• elimination of unpaid down time
• income protection insurance for apprentices
• other matters raised by apprentices

Only by attending this meeting can you make a difference to your working conditions and the future for yourself and other apprentices. If you are a member of the Union, you will know about your rights. If you are not a member, come along and have your say and let's make this industry a better industry for all.

For further information contact Shaun Leane, Organiser/ Apprentice Officer on 0419 872 387.

4. Trade Union Family Race Day

The annual Trade Union Family Race Day is on again.

Now in its fourth year, the annual Trade Union Family Race Day has proven extremely successful, attracting thousands of people.

Organised by Trades Hall, the day brings together trade union officials, delegates, activists, members and their families across the whole trade union movement.

Entertainment includes bands and roving musicians. For the children, there are pony rides, face painters, clowns, jumping castle and free fairy floss.

Free food and lots of prizes to be won on the day.

Tickets for union members are $6 family and $3 single and are available from the ETU, Trades Hall or at the Race Course.

Free buses between the railway station and Cranbourne Race Course.

Outbound trains run from Flinders Street at 10:48 am, 11:28 am and 12:08 pm.

Return trains fun from Cranbourne at 4:02 pm, 4:42 pm, 5:52 pm and 6:02 pm.

Sunday November 10 2002

10:00am - 06:00pm

Cranbourne Race Course

5.Colombian Unionists to Visit Melbourne

A delegation of senior Colombian Trades Unionists will be visiting Australia later this month. The visit is being sponsored by the ACTU with the direct involvement and participation of the VTHC.

Ms Gloria Ramirez, currently President of FECODE (the Education Union) and President elect of the CUT (the Colombian Trade Union Congress) and Mr Jesus Gonzales, Secretary of the Human Rights Division of the CUT, will be in Australia from November 6 to November 30. They will be in Melbourne on November 13 and then from November 23 - 30, as part of their Australian visit.

The situation in Colombia is extremely serious for trade unionists, with at least 147 killed in 2001 and at least 68 “disappeared” – the majority by army-backed paramilitaries.

Eighty five unionists were killed in the first six months of 2002. The CUT has stated that since its inception 15 years ago, there have been 3,800 unpunished assassinations of trade unionists.

According to Amnesty International, “Trade unionists are frequently labelled as guerrilla collaborators by the security forces and their paramilitary allies. […]Frequently these human rights violations are committed in the context of their on-going campaigns for socio-economic alternatives. Trade unionists in the health, education and municipal works sectors campaigning against privatisation have been particularly targetted."

Other targetted trade unionists are those working in strategic sectors of the economy such as the mining and oil industries, as well as members of the CUT.

A public meeting will be held at the Victorian Trades Hall Council at 7pm on Wednesday November 27th. All interested union members and others are urged to attend.

For further information contact Australian Solidarity Network with Colombia- ASNC on (03) 9459 2786 - 0410757241

6.New Membership Card

New style membership cards are now being issued.

These cards have names embedded in flexible plastic and will prove more durable than the previous paper cards.

7.2003 RDO Calenders

2003 Victorian and Tasmanian RDO Calenders are available from your organiser or nearest office now.

8.Annual Ticket Prize winner

The winner of the free return trip draw this year was Gippsland member, Robert Clark.

Robert and his wife went to Dunk Island on the Barrier Reef. Robert indulged himself in some tropical snorkling, in an ETU wetsuit.

To be eligible for the 2003 draw, you have to purchase an annual membership ticket before December 31 2002.

9.ETU Poet comments on Royal Commission

When at the commission they tried for submission
Oh they tried to prove us corrupt
And although it was daunting and found somewhat wanting
The silly buggers fecked up

The hearings where lengthy, allegations a plenty
in the end I’m sure they asked why
So they buried their heads and put it to bed
And the ETU held its head high

10. ETU Hard Hats

ETU hard hats are now available from the eTU Shop in any colour you like as long as it's black.

Cost: To be advised to Southern States members.

Call ETU Melbourne office for more details 03 8341 5555

11. Vale Jocka Burns

Last month saw the passing of long time union, political and community activist Jock (Jocka) Burns, aged 93 years.

Jocka was often seen at picket lines and community demonstrations encouraging and supporting fellow workers.

He became active in politics during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Like so many others, he was forced to leave home and carry his swag looking for work. In and out of gaols for jumping trains and putting stray sheep to work, he became politically active when he met a communist party organiser while camping at the Cootamundra showgrounds.

Jock continued to tramp Australia as a "Swaggy with Politics' who convinced many that society could and should be better organised.

His motto was "Solidarity Or Starvation".

He joined the Unemployed Workers Union and dedicated himself, with the help of other workers, to stopping evictions directly and in court.

When the Second World War started, there was work for all. Jocka joined the second AIF and engaged in a different kind of tramping.

After the war, the conservative government thought it would be a good idea to spend some money attacking workers. Naturally, a Royal Commission was the way to go. In 1949, a Royal Commission into the Communist Party was commenced. It lined the pockets of judges and lawyers, and the man in the street held it in contempt.

Smiths' Weekly reported "that a workman sauntered through the Royal Commission's Court from the adjoining Law Courts refurbishment with a plank on his shoulder, whistling 'The Internationale' ".

That was Jocka Burns! - "Solidarity Or Starvation"

See Quicktime movies of Jocka at

Click to see the movie of Jocka the evictionfighter

Click to see Jocka Whistle the International

12. Peace Rally

The Victorian Peace Network has organised another rally for peace, following the success of the last rally which attracted almost 40,000 people. Assemble at 1pm on Sunday 1 December for a rally followed by a festival with music and food.

Date: Sunday December 1, 2002

Time: 01:00pm - 04:00pm

Where: State Library of Victoria
(cnr Swanston and Latrobe Streets, Melbourne)

www.vicpeace.org/

13. Picnic Day

The 2002 Construction Industry picnic day will be on December 2 at Moonee Valley trotting track.

Tickets can be purchased at the Union office or see your organiser.

14. Electrical Installations on Construction Sites

Members should note that the publication referred to as "The Industry Standard for Electrical Installations on Construction Sites" has been amended.

This amendment replaces the existing Appendix B : Restrictions on Flexible Cords, located on page 20 of the Industry Standard.

Stickers to replace the table are available from WorkSafe.

15. Apprentices and OTTE Apprenticeship Field Officers

While most apprenticeships go smoothly, sometimes things for apprentices just don’t work out – you may not be happy with the training, you may be harassed, bullied or discriminated against, or there may be a problem with your training contract. It doesn’t mean that you have to put up with it. There are people you can contact for assistance.

For help, speak to the ETU or an OTTE (Office of Training and Tertiary Education) Apprenticeship Field Officer.

OTTE Apprenticeship Field Officers answer queries and provide advice on training, workplace issues and other matters.

Conversations are confidential.

If problems can’t be resolved at your workplace, you may choose to request an Inquiry to settle an issue about your training contract. A delegate of the Victorian Learning and Employment Skills Commission (the Victorian State Government agency responsible for the apprenticeship system) hears the Inquiry.

The first step is to contact an OTTE Apprenticeship Field Officer who will investigate the problem and prepare a report. If you would like assistance preparing for the Inquiry, contact the Union or Jobwatch - a community legal centre that specialises in employment law, freecall 1800 33 1617. On the day of the Inquiry, you can be represented by your union representative, family member or friend (not a legal representative).

Need assistance or want to know more?
Contact the ETU or an OTTE Apprenticeship Field Officer.

To find your nearest OTTE Apprenticeship Field Officer, call the Apprenticeship Administration Branch of the Department of Education and Training on (03)9412 6600 or go to website:

www.otte.vic.gov.au/apprenticeships/field.htm

16. Next edition eTU online