1. October 1 Wage Increase

Members working under the Electrical and Communications Contracting EBA will have a change in the rate of pay from October 1.

The "E-Class" (A-Grade) Level 5 rate will move to $910.00 per week or $23.95 per hour. This will be the final wage increase under the current agreement.

The next EBA is currently being negotiated and reports on progress will be given at the next shop stewards meeting on September 24.

2. Contracting Shop Stewards Meeting

The next regular meeting of Electrical and Communications Contracting Industry Shop Stewards will take place on
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:00am at the ETU Melbourne office.

This meeting should be attended by all stewards in the industry, including Service and Labour Hire stewards.

Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

3. Blitz Uncovers Electric Shock

The recent findings of a WorkSafe Victoria Construction Electrical Installations blitz may only be the tip of the iceberg according to Electrical Trades Union (ETU) OHS officer, Allan Mulvena.

WorkSafe visited 294 sites during the blitz, issuing 62 Improvement Notices and 26 Prohibition Notices, with 38% of sites found to be non-compliant with electrical safety standards. Infringements ranged from inadequate maintenance of leads to unsafe supply. One site was found to be operating without a Certificate of Electrical Safety.

Allan said that while the ETU welcomed the WorkSafe blitz, the report failed to identify whether the sites inspected were commercial or domestic.

"They have gone out and inspected a significant proportion of installations but they don't seem to identify whether they are construction or housing industry sites. Most equipment that tends to be poorly maintained is found on housing sites rather than commercial sites.

A major issue here is the lack of control and the financial constraints on many contractors who repair their own equipment. Employers on large construction sites would usually have a greater financial base and probably a better strategy to look after electrical safety."

Allan also questioned the validity of the report's reference to 74 instances of 'voluntary compliance' for breaches such as 'inadequate maintenance of leads/equipment' and 'leads subject to mechanical damage'.

"I find the category of 'voluntary compliance' an interesting one. How do you get voluntary compliance other than removing the damaged or faulty equipment? I would have thought voluntary compliance meant they could fix the problem then and there. If they put things away, they can easily bring them back once the inspector goes away."

The monitoring and control of safety conditions is essential when dealing with electricity, according to Allan.

"Unfortunately electricity is one of those things that can be extremely dangerous if the mechanisms aren't in place to control it. I would hope WorkSafe have a continual program. If they need to have a blitz then the ETU would certainly welcome involvement to achieve a safe outcome for those workplaces."

Source: WorkSafe

4. FEVER - At Trades Hall

In 1987, using a Labour Movement initiative called Art in Working Life, a group of actors and railway workers formed the Melbourne Workers Theatre (MWT). For the first five years MWT operated from within the Jolimont Railway workshops next to the MCG. Those workshops have now been privatised and closed down, but in 1987 they employed 600 workers.

MWT's first play was State of Defence, written by Andrew Bovell who amongst other things wrote the hugely popular films Strictly Ballroom and Lantana. He says of State of Defence 'I wrote it against the backdrop of the decline of the workforce at Jolimont and the increasing attacks on trade unionism. Robe River, SEQEB, Mudginberri and Dollar Sweets were major industrial disputes of the time.

We wanted to tell the stories of workers and to defend hard won conditions. It's a fight that must continue and I am pleased MWT has survived to keep fighting. It's a very important company and deserves support'.

State of Defence was written with lunchtime shows in mind and toured building sites, factories, rural workplaces, working class schools, benefits and concerts.

The show was a huge success. MWT went on to produce other plays such as Black Cargo, about a bitter union dispute on the Melbourne Wharf in the 1950s and The Ballad of Lois Ryan, about the consequences of death in the workplace.

Andrew, with writers Patricia Cornelius, Christos Tsiolkas and Melissa Reeves and composer Irine Vela wrote another MWT success, Who's Afraid of the Working Class? which toured in four states in 1998/99 and is currently being rewritten for a major film production.

They have collaborated again to write MWT's latest play, Fever. Fever is set against a landscape marked by a sense of turmoil and deprivation. It addresses the issues of class, race and reconciliation. It explores the darker nature of our past and calls to account those who are responsible.

Fever will be performed at the Victorian Trades Hall, corner Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton, from September 16 to October 5.

For booking information and performance times, ring 03 9326 8371.

Tickets for union members are $20; non-union members $26, concession price is $15.

http://www.melbourneworkerstheatre.com

5. Finalist in Training Awards

Former VICTEC apprentice electrician Glyn Baker was a finalist in the 2002 Victorian Training Awards held last month in Melbourne.

Glyn is very positive about his future career in the industry and has undertaken additional training in the instumentation trade.

Congratulations Glyn!

6. Workers Day at the Footy

Last Saturday, Victorian building unions joined forces with the VFL to hold the inaugural "Workers Day at the Footy". September 14 was a day of solidarity and celebration.

Two thousand Union members and their friends and families enjoyed the warm spring weather at the VFL preliminary final between Port Melbourne and Coburg at Port Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Members came decked out with union flags and banners and wearing union colours.

It was a great picnic day as members and family members enjoyed BBQs and Jumping Castles and the opportunity to have a kick at "Terry the Kangaroo".

The success of the day has ensured it will be an ongoing event on the Union calender in future years.

Remember that the Trade Union Family Race Day is on again in November.

Tickets will be available from the Union or your Organiser for $6.00 Family and $3.00 single.

More details will appear in the next edition of eTU online.

7. BLOODY SUNDAY

Recreating the events of Sunday, January 30, 1972 in Derry, Ireland, a new film called BLOODY SUNDAY captures a controversial and highly disturbing historical incident. A peaceful march organized in protest to a law that permitted imprisonment without trial turned into a bloody shoot-out when the British army sent in its parachute regiment to keep order. It was the start of the modern troubles in Ireland. During the march, British troops fired at unarmed citizens, killing 13 of them. But this one day, seared into the consciousness of continuing generations via harrowing newsreel footage and a U2 song, remains a keystone focus as one of Irish history's great unhealed wounds.

Written and Directed by Paul Greengrass, and starring James Nesbitt (Waking Ned Devine and popular UK TV series Cold Feet), Tim Pigott-Smith and Nicholas Farrell. BLOODY SUNDAY is based on the book by Don Mullan.

http://paramountclassics.com/bloodysunday/index.html

Starts October 3

The Nova Cinema in Lygon Street Carlton will offer ETU members an in-season $8.00 ticket for all sessions except Saturdays after 5pm and public holidays.

http://www.cinemanova.com.au

8. Basic Occupational Health and Safety Representatives Course

The first Basic Occupational Health and Safety Representatives Course will be conducted at the ETU on Monday September 23 through Friday September 27.

This course is for elected Health and Safety Reps and is a requirement of the Act.

Bookings can still be made by calling Tanya on 03 8341 5555 before Monday September 23.

The cost of the five day course is $350.00

Another course will be conducted in late November 2002.

9. ETU Belt Buckles In Stock

The new ETU "Proud to be Union" belt buckles will be in stock next week at the eTU Shop. The belt buckles will available for purchase at the ETU Melbourne office for $20.00.

Alternatively, ETU Southern States members can order them by phone using their credit card. They will be posted free. Call Peri on
03 8341 5555 and have your Roll Number and credit card details ready.

Non-Southern States members will have to pay the cost of postage and handling.

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Next edition eTU online