1.Wilson Picket Dispute Ends

ETU Organiser Rick Conduit reports that after 70-odd days the Wilson Transformer dispute has reached a settlement. The members voted overwhelmingly to accept an offer made by the company for an improved union agreement, and returned to work on January 5.

“The members at Wilson’s both ETU and AMWU can hold their heads high, knowing that they have returned to work with the full support of both unions and a new three-year union agreement”, says Rick.

“The company’s position all through the bargaining period and the dispute was to fragment the workforce and get enough people to vote for a non-union LK-style agreement. This has been a huge victory for the union movement and put companies - including Wilson Transformers - on notice that our members are prepared to make a stand for their rights and union representation.”

A “Heads of Agreement” was done in conjunction with the already-agreed document that eased members’ concerns over their employee entitlements. It gives the unions access to the company audit following each financial year, proving the company’s capacity to pay employee entitlements. The company also agreed to work with the unions and the AI group to endeavour to find an industry solution for the protection of entitlements.

The company will also enter into constructive dialogue with the unions to demonstrate positive aspects and achievements of Australian-based manufacturing.

All in all, a great result and a hard fought battle won by our members at Wilson Transformers.

Rick said that on behalf of all the ETU and AMWU members on the picket line, he would like to thank everyone for their support through out this dispute.

TOUCH ONE, TOUCH ALL

2. Power Industry Mass Meeting

Members working in the power distrution businesses, whether directly hired or for contractors, are reminded that there will be a mass meeting of members on February 4 and that attendance is compulsory. The meeting has been called to endorse an EBA claim.

Details are:

Venue: Collingwood Town Hall

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Time: 11.00am - 2.00pm

Buses will be available for members from regional areas and members should contact shop stewards or their organiser for exact details.

Transport details will also be available from the ETU website in coming days.

3. Winner of Membership Ticket Draw

The winner of the ETU draw for members purchasing a 6-monthly ticket to June 30, 2004, is John Backhaus R/N 71518. John is an electrician who is currently looking for permanent work.

When told of the win John said that he usually “couldn’t win a kick in a riot”. He was astounded.

John wins tickets for two to anywhere in Australia flying QANTAS plus $500.00 spending money.

Congratulations, John.

This year there will be another draw for the prize in July. This is because of the change to annual tickets becoming due in July rather than December.

4. Lineworker Registration

On December 10, 2003, power industry shop stewards from around the state gathered at the ETU to discuss, amongst other matters, the regulation of their industry. Few were surprised when Bill Greenland, from the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector, explained that the number of serious incidents referred to the OCEI – those involving personal or public damage – had risen from 355 in 1997 to 3000 in 2002.

While Graeme Watson from Electrical Electronic Industry Training was prepared to accept that the increased number of reports was partly due to an improved reporting system under the new legislation, he was scathing of the refusal of the major power companies to treat the skilling of the industry properly. As one after another ‘linie’ explained, it’s no wonder the number of accidents has increased.

So flawed is the approach of the power industry that in 1995 United Energy, the first privatised electricity company in Australia, explored the possibility of a two-year apprenticeship for lineworkers. This was immediately dismissed by the ETU which argued, as Graeme does, that such a move would have only diminished the standards of lineworkers. The ETU is adamant that the training should be according to recognised apprenticeship guidelines and should be of four years’ duration.

The meeting reiterated the need to address the obsession of power companies with deskilling the industry. Graeme Watson has a simple solution: basically, he wants all lineworkers registered under a passport system that identifies a worker as a registered lineworker, but acknowledges his/her additional skills.

The problem according to Graeme Watson is it that some electricity companies don’t want linesmen to work across the industry. Rather than support a registration system that acknowledges a worker’s skills, they want untrained workers who meet whatever standards the company sets.

Citipower’s approach during a 16-week lock-out in 1997 was a perfect example of the stupidity of the power companies. During the lock-out, the company recommended giving substitute workers a three-week training course. It failed because the men weren’t competent to work on heights and on live cables.

Although companies face fines of up to $150,000 for every breach of the Act, Bill Greenland sees legal action as only a part of the solution. And whilst expressing no objection to Graeme Watson’s lineworker passport idea, his immediate concern is with creating the appropriate committee to identify the skills of a linesman.

As Chair of the VESI (Victorian Electricity Supply Industry) Lineworker Registration Committee, which has the responsibility of finding solutions, Graeme Watson is more impatient. ‘You have a licence for driving a car or firing a gun. We have a licence for electricians that involves a four-year training course. But we don’t regard linesmen as being as good. It’s demeaning. The passport with other skills listed is the way forward,’ he says.

5.“AAA Allway” Shuts Shop Leaving Members in the Lurch

Organiser Mark Brien reports that seventeen employees of “AAA Allway”, a Melbourne-based electrical contractor, have been left without work and their accrued entitlements following the company’s collapse early in the new year. The company owes employees $120,000.00 including a $61,000 debt to VICTEC Group Training.

Entitlements such as annual leave and wages owing will be lost if the company’s assets don’t cover employees’ entitlements and other debts. Generally other entitlements such as severance, long service leave and superannuation are covered because these are held in external trusts. However, in this case the company hadn’t made contributions to some trusts for December weeks and members may lose these entitlements.

This is a timely reminder to members to keep an eye on the contributions being made on your behalf. Check those contributions monthly to ensure your entitlements are not at risk.

6. Web Site of the Month

George W Bush is intent on slashing American workers rights to paid overtime by means of a royal decree that bans paid overtime.

The AFL-CIO which is the federation of America's unions and represents more than 13 million working men and women has set up a website as part of their campaign to stop the Bush plan.

Log on to this part of the site it uses “Flash software”

http://www.saveovertimepay.org/ot.htm?file=realimpact/afl-cio/7tvads/rulesstr.rm

or the homepage at http://www.saveovertimepay.org/

7. Next edition eTU online

Thanks for reading this issue of eTU online. You'll receive your next issue in February 5, 2004.