1.VICTEC Apprentices’ BBQ

All VICTEC apprentices are invited to a BBQ, organised by the ETU Apprentice Committee.

Date: Wednesday 17 December 2003

Time: From 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Venue: Comrades Bar
514 Swanston Street
Carlton South

Meat and soft drink provided (other drinks on production of appropriate ID), and raffles for the chance of a pre- Christmas present. Contact Ray Crampton on 0400 135 900 for more information.

2. “Lohie” – BLF Stalwart

John Loh, a long-time union activist, BLF and CFMEU official, died late last month. A service to commemorate his life and work was held on Tuesday, December 2 at the Fawkner Cemetery.

He was BLF stalwart who fought government and bosses alike throughout the BLF deregistration fight, and likewise used the same energy to get the CFMEU consolidation on a sure footing.

Lohie had been a long time campaigner for union rights and sticking up for workers against injustice, and as one friend said “He wouldn’t take shit from anyone”.

He was a strategist and wordsmith who helped in all the great building industry campaigns since the 1970s.

He came up with the idea to use the “We Built This City” slogan in the campaign against the Howard government’s Royal Commission witch-hunt against the building and construction workers.

He was a campaigner in defence of the ‘Skilled Six”, and assisted many local community groups, including those involved in the saving of the “The House of the Gentle Bunyip” theatre. He was a passionate campaigner against war, and a founding member and later captain of the Royal Park Reds Cricket Club. He led the club as captain on an international tour, leading them to victory.

http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/cricket.htm

He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Laila and son Joe.

Please click on QuickTime logo to watch the CFMEU video clip honouring Lohie’s life.

John Loh: A principled unionist (from Green Left Weekly)

3. Cummins Engine Company Dispute Victory

Members at Cummins Engine Company returned to work on November 25 after a six-week strike at the company’s Laverton workshop.

The dispute, which was over wages and conditions, was resolved when the company agreed to a settlement which included an immediate 7.3% increase on electrical workers’ base rate, a further minimum increase of 4%, 2 weeks paid paternity leave and the introduction of a $40.00 “E” Class electrical licence allowance.

Additionally, apprentices will receive paid time for all TAFE training.

Most importantly, the workers at Cummins have realised their collective strength and management have accepted that they have to listen to the workers’ grievances and bargain collectively.

4. ADI Victory

Andrew Penna, E.T.U. Bendigo sub-branch President, reports on the successful conclusion of the ADI Bendigo EBA:

“The company’s claim sought to do away with incremental pay levels within levels, which in effect was a pay cut for all new employees. It would cut travel allowances, introduce AWAs, and take away second-class trades classification, make it harder to use pooled sick leave and agree to allow the company to asset strip the Bendigo site.

At first they would not offer a pay rise, but after some probing they offered 11% firm and a 2%KPI increase.

The campaign started with overtime bans and rolling stoppages. The bosses kept talking to us but they would not address the issues we raised. Those issues were very important: we wanted to address the misuse of casual and fixed term employment; an income protection scheme; using ADI workers’ pooled sick leave; a nine-day fortnight, and a decent pay increase over the next 3 years.

The members decided to organise a picket at the site after one more lockout.

The next day was great. We had organised a site hut, a portable dunny, tents and other devices. We had a big turn-up to our picket line, it was a force to be reckoned with. Most of us have never been involved in this type of thing, life's very slow in the country. The management arrived in a bus with a police escort at 8.00am. We let them through so we could meet with them at 10.00am.

This meeting was different than the last 15 meetings. They wanted to talk this time. We worked slowly through our claims. One by one, we got agreement.

But with all negotiations you can't get everything up. Out of the 33 claims we had, we got agreement on 20. We met until 9.00pm that night. The last item was the money! The manager started the same bullshit argument that they could not afford any more than the standard ADI offer of 11%. This was the line out of Sydney head office he had to peddle.

We put to them that 16.5% over 3.5 years would give us a better end date and deliver the pay outcome we were looking for.

They went away, and overnight agreed with to our pay claim. They called the lockout off, and at a mass meeting of the workers we voted to accept the offer (of 16.5%.).

The lesson that has been reinforced here is that not one thing of wages and conditions has been given to us by the bosses. Every thing you have has been won. Conditions are not for sale and the workers’ struggle will go on forever.

ADI Limited has strengthened the union movement in its company and planted the seeds of the next generation of Union stewards. With the great support of Greg Arnett and Dean Lawlor from the ETU, Damian King of the AMWU and Ben Davis of the AWU, trade unionism has been strengthened in country Victoria.”

Andrew Penna.

Postscript to the story. The manager of the Bendigo site has now moved on to pursue other interests following a visit from the Sydney management.

The ADI Mulwala and Benalla sites are still to secure their agreements. Mulwala is about to vote on an improved offer. Bendigo has bans in place and is continuing to pursue a satisfactory outcome in excess of the lousy 11% offer by local and Sydney management.

5.Wilson Transformer Company Soliarity Breakfast

Six weeks after a mass meeting at Wilson Transformers voted for indefinite strike action in pursuit of an enterprise agreement that guaranteed members their lawful entitlements, Wilsons has gone for dirty tricks instead of a just solution.

In recent days, management has asked the Monash Council to force the union to remove its ‘temporary shelter’ on the grounds that it ‘raises safety issues for pedestrians’. To add insult to injury, all of a sudden ‘no standing’ signs appeared, bolted to light poles, and parking inspectors went to work. It’s a disgrace that the local council should be lending its support to Wilsons.

Of course, when semi-trailers use Wilson Road and surrounding streets to deliver goods and antagonise striking workers, the Council says nothing. Despite being told by organiser Rick Conduit that local residents were unhappy about the excesive use of their street by heavy transport vehicles, City Development Director Don Cameron has yet to offer an explanation.

Not content with the support of the Council, Wilsons has sent letters indicating it will take the matter to the Federal Court. Although the ETU strike meets Mr Abbott’s and his off-sider Kevin Andrews’ definition of protected action, Wilson’s solicitors now claim there is unlawful activity at the site. The minute a worker speaks a word, Wilsons threatens court action.

On 18 November 2003, Managing Director Robert Wilson told ETU members he would ‘cancel the children’s Christmas party.’ Three weeks later, he had the nerve to write to striking workers telling them they ‘cannot obtain employment that conflicts with their job at the Company.’ This is an outrageous claim that, we believe, warrants a look from the ACCC. Wilson Transformer’ behaviour is disgraceful. If ever there was a company that must be defeated, it’s this mob.

To show Wilsons how serious we are, there will be a solidarity breakfast on site (Corner of Wilson and Springvale Roads, Glen Waverley) from 6.30 am on Wednesday 17 December. We encourage all members to be there to show their support for their mates in the lead-up to Christmas.

6. Hospital Maintenance Workers Dispute

Maintenance workers who are members of the ETU, AMWU, CEPU, and CFMEU in Victorian hospitals have been involved in a protracted dispute with their employers over a new enterprise agreement.

Negotiations with hospital management have been co-ordinated by the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association. Members are seeking a one-year rollover agreement with some minor amendments, including a 9-day fortnight over 38 hours, review of contractors and wage increases. To date, members seem to have the 9-day fortnight on the table and a wage increase of 2.25% with an additional 0.75% linked to productivity. Hardly bank-breaking stuff. They also want the wage increases backdated to the expiry of the previous agreement.

Industrial action by hospital management and workers alike continues at a number of metropolitan hospitals. Some regional hospitals have “stitched-up” deals and others are deadlocked.

There will be a mass meeting of members of all maintenance unions on Thursday December 11 at 9:00 am at the CFMEU office, 500 Swanston Street, Carlton South.

Contact Alex McCallum 0418 323 541 for further information

7. ANZ Bank Board - Vote in a Unionist

Financial Sector Union member and NSW ANZ Branch Manager, Joy Buckland is standing for election to the ANZ Board. Joy is calling on union members to support her campaign for election to the ANZ Board at the bank's December AGM.

Unions Australia-wide are seeking new ways to highlight the need for corporate accountability in the wake of excessive senior management salaries and regressive industrial relations policies.

The ANZ bank is a stark example of corporate excess and greed at the expense of workers’ and consumers’ rights.

In the past decade, the ANZ has sacked 17,000 workers and closed 500 branches - while increasing executive salaries and bonuses.

“If you share my concerns as a fellow unionist about the need to build a better place to work for employees, please support my bid for the Board by spreading the message to anyone you know who is an ANZ shareholder.”

For further information on Joy's candidacy, visit www.sharepower.org.au

8. Power Industry Shop Stewards’ Meeting

The power distribution and transmission industry enterprise agreements expire at the end of the month. Negotiations have been progressing slowly and some major issues have yet to be agreed.

Another important issue is the registration of Electrical Workers in the industry.

A meeting of all power industry stewards has been called to discuss these issues.

Details are:

Date: Wednesday 10th December 2003

Time: 10:00 am

Venue: ETU Office,
516-520 Swanston Street
Carlton South

Attendance is compulsory

For further information, please contact Wes Hayes on 0147 552 775 or Greg Arnett on 0149 376 801.

9. Health Insurance Selector and Discount Gym Membership

A health insurance selector service has been made available to help you choose from the range of funds available in the market place so that you purchase the right insurance at the right price.

Log onto www.iselect.com.au/etu to see just how easy it is to get the right advice. There is a discounted gym membership available to members from “Fitness Victoria” which is available across the state.

You can also call iselect and mention you are an Electrical Trades Union member on 1300 735 255.

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