Yes, the ETU has delivered comprehensive benefits to its members, even with a Liberal government in power. And yes, some people think that just because John Howard is accused of telling lies about the children overboard and took us into Iraq at the whim of the USA is no reason to vote him out.

The problem is that the Liberal government will go all-out against the ETU and other unions if it’s re-elected. That means the very fabric of our lives - our capacity to earn a decent income and balance the demands of work and family - will be under attack. It’s not our intention to say a Labor government is paradise or to tell members how to vote. However, the leadership of this union is under no illusion as to how difficult it will be under a Liberal government.

All the things we’ve fought so hard for – an EBA that offers income protection and a 36-hour week in a workplace where the ETU can protect its members – will be up for grabs. Along with an attack on the capacity of the ETU to deliver real benefits to its members, health and education will go under the Howard knife. John Howard can crow about low interest rates until the cows come home. They’re low all around the world and the suggestion that they’ll rise under a Latham government is another lie. And why does John Howard reckon they’ll rise? Because of wage increases! He’s never said that executive salaries caused inflation, has he?

It doesn’t matter what any of us think about Mark Latham. It’s just that a Liberal government spells trouble for all of us.
If you’d like to help in some marginal seats – letter boxing, phoning, etc - during the election please email the etuonline@etu.asn.au for more information.

2. A Day at the Footy

A DAY AT THE REAL FOOTY - VFL - VFL - VFL - VFL

SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER - 12.00 PM ONWARDS

JUMPING CASTLES AND SURPRISES FOR THE KIDS

JUST BRING YOUR UNION OK CARD TO THE INGLES ST ENTRANCE AND ENTRY IS FREE

On Saturday 11 September we'll be running our third WORKERS DAY AT THE FOOTY at the Port Melbourne ground. This is a great opportunity to catch up with mates, enjoy a great game of community football and kick the footy with the kids.

The match starts at 1.10 PM and is televised on ABC TV across Victoria and Tasmania . WORKERS DAY is a great way for our union to get our Work and Family message to the general public, especially in the weeks leading up to an election. If we can bring 2,000 unionists and their families to Port the atmosphere will be special.

Just turn up at the Ingles Street entrance at Port Melbourne - ALONGSIDE THE ABC TV VANS - with your UNION OK CARD and we'll give you and your family a ticket

If you're angry about the way James Hardie has treated workers and want to send an email to the Prime Minister go to http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm

3. Power to the People

AGL has now joined Alinta in committing to sign an EBA as endorsed by our mass meeting. The AGL EBA includes an 11.25% wage increase, apprenticeships equal to 25% of the workforce and rolls over job security.

The following contractors have also agreed to accept our core claims.

* Subject to mass meetings.

As explained in the shop stewards meeting on Tuesday 24 August we've been running a strong media campaign around Victoria against TXU. Click on the TXU link on the ETU website to find out about the campaign. TXU has agreed to a 36-hour from 2 nd August 2005 and has offered a 10.5% wages increase. The apprentice question and certain other issues, including TXU's obsession with using unskilled labour remain unresolved.

If ever there was a company that couldn't see the wood for the trees and wanted an arbitrated outcome rather than to genuinely negotiate it's Powercor/Citypower. They have tried everything, from visits to depots by the CEO and managers, to a mail out of a slightly enhanced offer from that was accepted by the ASU/APESMA/NUW. Surely the tiny response to that tactic should indicate it is time to come to terms with the claims. As determined by the membership and now largely accepted by the industry.

As mentioned at recent workgroup meetings, agreement will be reached with the union. Why not now? And as you well understand, we won't have a bar of SPI's ASU deal.

4. Woman leads electrical union in Iraq

Mrs Hashimia Muhsin Hussein has been elected the President of the Electricity and Energy Union in Basra - the first woman trade union leader in Iraq 's history. Since winning the post on 13th May 2004 , she has campaigned relentlessly for workers' welfare at Basra 's energy and electricity plants. However, she said that workers there are still facing huge problems. For example, certain local Iraqi administrations in Basra are deliberately trying to revive Saddam's discredited anti-union law of 1987, which banned public sector workers from forming or joining unions.

Mrs Hussein and leading members of the Basra Electricity and Energy Union dismissed "false rumours circulating abroad that her union is not part of the IFTU" and said 'good unbiased journalists should report the facts.' She went on to say that 'the IFTU is the largest union in Iraq and our union is a part of the Basra and national IFTU, which will continue to struggle for workers rights' to union representation, social justice and a stable, pluralistic and democratic Iraq."

http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000070.html

5. National Child-Care phone-in

A National Childcare Phone In is being held in September, conducted by the ACTU and childcare unions LHMU and ASU in consultation with childcare and community groups.

The aim is to promote the Phone In widely so that parents and childcare workers ring and discuss any problems they're having with childcare. Issues such as long waiting lists; rising fees; rundown facilities; low wages; and high staff turnover have already been defined as crucial to the industry.

The results of the Phone In will then be used to put pressure on the Federal Government in the lead up to election. The ETU asks that members promote the Phone In widely and encourage anyone you know to call in to complete the survey.

The attached flyer has details about the Phone In. If you want to discuss the Phone In, please call Ian Wilson - Media Officer ACTU ph: 03 9664 7322 mob: 0408 513 849 or Susannah Greenleaf ph 03 9664 7326/mob 0418 479 455

6. A Hardie Perennial Problem Child

Under threat of legal action James Hardie Industries has agreed to stop distributing a misleading and deceptive letter it sent to customers downplaying the company's role in the manufacture of asbestos products and its liability for compensation claims by victims. The letter seeks to defend the company's record on asbestos and appears to be a direct response to pressure on James Hardie as a result of the consumer boycotts. The letter includes the following statement:

'Former James Hardie group subsidiaries, Amaba and Amaca, are two of around 150 defendants who are brought into legal process by claimants. It has been estimated that they will be liable for around 15 per cent of future claims in the Australian environment."

In fact, Peter Macdonald, the CEO of James Hardie was cross examined about that issue in the Jackson Inquiry, and conceded that the number of claims against Hardies is substantially higher than the number of claims against any other defendant. In fact, the uncontradicted evidence in the Jackson Inquiry, drawn to Mr MacDonald's attention during cross examination on 4 June 2004 , is that Hardies is now implicated in more than 40% of the claims brought by victims in the NSW Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW. The company's General Manager in Australia , James Chilcoff has agreed to stop further distribution of the letter.

On Wednesday 15 September there will be a Mass Rally and March from the Trades Hall to the Stock Exchange, as a protest against James Hardie.

7. Apprentice Newsletter hits the presses

In 2003 the apprentice committee was formed to tackle fight for the rights of apprentices, who according to many apprentices, were treated like second class citizens. As apprentice Chris Putnam testified, 'when jobs are shut down, trades people were usually sent home, but we apprentices were told to go back to the factory and sweep dust from one side of the floor to the other. With the support of the Electrical Trades Union the battle for PAID DOWNTIME was fought and won apprentices.'

The inaugural APPRENTICE NEWSLETTER, which went out to all apprentices last month flowed from that campaign and as a means of explaining the role of profiling for apprentices. The Newsletter will allow apprentices to discuss all the things that matter in the trade and provide the latest news. The apprentice section of the ETU Website has been updated also. Click on http://www.etu.asn.au/members/apprenticesinfo.html

The ACTU has issues a press release pointing out that apprenticeship numbers in a new TV advertisement by the Liberal Party are wrong. Whereas the advert claims that under the Howard Government 'apprenticeships have almost tripled to over 400,000', in fact the latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows that there are only 133,376 traditional apprentices currently in training. According to the ACTU the Liberals have included short-term trainees as well as traditional four-year trade apprenticeships and of the 416,800 total participants in the Federal Government's so-called 'New Apprenticeships' program, 175,473 (42%) are engaged in training of less than two years duration.

Can you imagine the size of John Howard's nose by election day?

8. What you need to know about your Super

Adrian McNamara, Field Officer from CONNECT Superannuation reports that most members would be aware that the Annual Reports/Statements for your Super fund is due out shortly. The previous two years have been very disappointing in regards to the performance of the Balanced and Growth Investment Options. Adrian says that members will be happy to learn that all Industry Superannuation Funds have returned very positive Crediting Rates for this year.

It can be reported that CONNECT'S rates are;

Capital Stable Option returned 6.47%,

Balanced Option returned 13.2%

Growth Option returned 16.2%,

When you take into account Connects' low fees and Insurance cover you can see the benefits of being in a fund like Connect. Over the coming months we will be explaining what the new legislation regarding 'Choice of Superannuation" will mean to you. In the meantime, why not visit the ETU website and click on the Superannuation link to keep up to date.

9. Win an ETU Windcheater or T-Shirt

Every month the member who submits the best photo of a member/s featured with an ETU logo in it, preferably in an exotic location will win an ETU Windcheater or T-Shirt. It can be in Antarctica , could be standing behind Mark Latham in the media pack, it could anywhere. But get the Southern States Branch logo in it. The best photo, as selected by Kevin Harkins , over twelve months will be the major (surprise) prize. So get your photo in before the close of copy on the first of each month to phil@etu.asn.au . Pictured above is Alex McCallum with Queensland Organiser Glenn Hall at the ETU Mackay office located in the Queensland Council of Unions building .

On Tuesday 17 August Allan Mulvena, the ETU's OH&S Officer, along with organise Mark Brien, presided over a stall at Rochester Farm and Road Safety Expo in the Rochester Showgrounds. The ETU had been asked to explain electrical safety to school children - grade prep to grade seven - from around the district. It's the first such visit by the ETU, and came about after one of our members rang Expo secretary Karen Hughes and suggested the ETU might be interested in attending.

'There were children from Rochester, Ardmona, Echuca, Elmore, Maiden Gully, Kyabram, Nanneela, Ballendalla, East Loddon, Girgaree, Goornong, Bendigo, Eppalock, Harston, Merrigum and Bunnaloo. They loved the stickers and were fascinated by the electrical circuit I made for them to play with. We've received a letter from Karen Hughes inviting us back to Rochester next year. It's crucial that the ETU is at the forefront of electrical safety in the community and explaining how important it is to use licensed electrician,' said Allan Mulvena.

As Allan told the eTU online, it's children who are the most vulnerable to the dangers of electricity. 'Generally speaking kids oblivious to the dangers of electricity. The trip to Rochester enabled me to explain the dangers of electricity and was well worth it. If other members are aware of similar of projects where the ETU could assist please email the eTU online,' said Allan.

11. You know the price of property?

Whether or not you think Craig Johnston should have participated in a run through at Skilled Engineering on 15 June 2001, the action of the Court of Appeal in overturning his suspended sentence and giving him a nine month stint in gaol is a disgrace.

As long ago as 1878, Ned Kelly, in his pounding Jerilderie Letter wrote, ‘there was nothing such a thing as justice in the English laws, but any amount of injustice to be had ... and rise old Erin’s Isle once more from the pressure of tyrannism of the English yoke which has kept it in poverty and starvation and caused them to wear the enemy's coat.’ Unionists over the years know only too well the truth of Kelly’s words.

The Appeal Court’s claim that Johnston showed no remorse for his actions is totally untrue according to Defence Counsel Rob Stary. As Stary told the ETU, ‘Senator Gavin Marshall provided a written testimonial at the trial saying Craig had expressed regret that things at Skilled had got out of hand. When this was put to the court it went uncontested by the prosecution.’

Expressing regret at what happened at Skilled Engineering, as Craig Johnston did, does not mean he should say sorry for
protesting about the mass sackings of workers by Skilled. Even if some trade unionists believe Graig should not have run
through Skilled, how can they say this is justice? How can they say the sentence doesn’t smack of double standards?

Over the past months the newspapers have been full of articles about the failings of the justice system. How do we explain that a Court of Appeal refused the DPP's request to send a man to gaol who'd raped a young woman and been given a suspended sentence? How do we explain the trial judge wishing the man well as he delivered the suspended sentence? How do we explain the same judge expressing words to the effect that the rape was the consequence of a set of unusual circumstances? Yes, the woman's door was unlocked when the guilty man, who claimed to have been under the influence of drugs, 'did a run through' and raped her.

We'll let Rob Stary have the last word. "I had a case recently where a magistrate , by the name, ironically, of English, gave a young boy a five months gaol sentence for shoplifting. That a bloke walks free after invading a young woman's home and raping her, yet a young shoplifter get five months and Graig Johnston gets nine months tells us something about the power of property. Craig genuinely deserves our support.'

12. Attention all shop stewards

Shop Stewards in all our industries (eg General / Contracting / Power / Metal) are asked to attend an ETU meeting next Friday, September 10. All stewards will be advised on Monday as to the location. The meeting will be at 10:30 am and will be for shop stewards to consider resolutions in relation to the Federal Election. You might have read in Friday’s papers that the High Court in a 6/1 ruling brought down a number of findings re bargaining fees and the parameters of EBAs that clearly discriminate against us. There’s absolutely no doubt that the Howard government will not rest until it has tried every conceivable method by which to restrict our power to protect our members. It is the considered opinion of the ETU that this election, and our role in it, becomes more important by the day.

13. Next edition eTU Online

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