1.Five Months on the Grass and Still Going Strong

Members at Smorgon Steel continue to battle for a real 36 hour week / 9-day fortnight. The members working for two labour hire companies have been on the grass for over five (5) months now. Despite the pressure and stress, members are “Sticking with the Union”.

Other members have been fundraising to ensure that they are not starved back to work as the management of Smorgon and the two labour hire companies (Addecco/TAD and Bernie Rubinstein’s IES) seem to be intent on.

Members have been appreciative of the support shown by all ETU members and other unionists.

Show your support by visiting the picket line at Dohertys Road, Laverton North.

Check the ETU website www.etu.asn.au for further information.

2. Award and EBA Book in Print

A new edition of the Electrical and Communications Award is available for members from your nearest Union office. This edition incorporates the 2003 - 2005 Enterprise Agreement.

Pick it up from the Union office or contact your organiser for a copy.

3. ETU Election Results

The ETU Southern States branch leadership was returned unopposed to office after nominations closed on July 14.

Full details of officers, biennial conference and state councillors are available from the ETU website at

http://www.etu.asn.au/members/electionresults.html

4. Winners of Footy Competition

The winners of last month’s eTUonline / Members Equity footy tickets were Ross Hay of Nestle Echuca and Michael Anderson.

Both winners will receive double passes for Axcess One at the Telstra Dome on Friday 15 August 2003 to see Collingwood vs Adelaide.

Congratulations!

5. Your Chance for a Finals Ticket!

On Saturday September 13 the ETU and other unions will hold their annual “Workers Day at the Footy”. As was the case last year, Workers Day at the Footy will be held at Port Melbourne to coincide with the ABC televised Preliminary final from Port.

Workers Day at the Footy is a great opportunity for workers and their families to enjoy a relaxing day on the grass at Port Melbourne. It's a chance to fly the union flag in a non-traditional setting and counter the myths created by Tony Abbott and his “big-end of town” mates (rats).

VFL football is real grassroots footy. You can take the kids out to the coach’s huddle and hear all the instructions, kick the footy with the family and enjoy a sausage and whatever gourmet food is on the menu. The more people we get to the day, the better it will look on TV.

Remember, all you have to do is present your union ticket and you'll get in for free. You can't do that at the MCG.

See you at the huddle.

6. Missing Owners for $A6,000,000,000.00 Sought

The statistics are staggering: in July 2002, there were over six (6) billion dollars in the superannuation “Lost Members Register”.

What is the “lost members register”?

"The Register" is a central register of lost superannuation fund members and Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders.

When a member of a superannuation fund (other than a self-managed super fund), RSA provider, approved deposit fund or eligible rollover fund becomes lost, the fund must provide details to the Tax Office about the member. These details are stored on the Lost Members Register (LMR).

You may be a lost member of a Superannuation fund, approved deposit fund, RSA provider or eligible rollover fund if:

Your Superannuation fund or RSA has been unable to contact you — you may have changed your address and not informed the fund, in which case the mail is returned to the fund unclaimed, or

In the last two years there were no contributions to your account, or your account was transferred from another superannuation fund or RSA as a lost member.

If you have changed address, worked interstate, or worked for an employer who may have paid your super contributions into a fund other than the mainstream industry funds, you may have money sitting in the Lost Members Register.

Remember there are six billion dollars sitting in this fund! What are the chances of some of that money being yours?

The Tax Office already slugs us hard enough - why give them a present of your Super money.

To find out if you have any money in the L.M.R you can do so by contacting your present Super fund and asking them to do a Super match for you, or you can ‘phone the Tax Office on 13 10 20 to arrange access to the Register.

If you need any further help or advice regarding your Super please do not hesitate to contact Adrian Mac Namara at CONNECT on (03) 83415555 or mobile 0418561727.

7. Next edition eTU online

Thanks for reading this issue of eTU online. You'll receive your next issue on september 5th 2003.