eTU online

eTU online is a e-newsletter for members and supporters who have registered their e-mail address with the union. It aims to keep you informed of the latest developments within your Union.

Please forward a copy to other members or print off a copy for the notice board.

Newsletter Archives

In This Issue

1. The Campaign 2000 (C2k) Agreement
2. No Ticket No Start - A Winner
3. Alstom Connex Transport Agreement
4. Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE
5. Apprentice Welfare Is A Union Issue
6. Metal and Engineering Industry Award Increase
7. Rates for Contractor Liability Insurance
8. ETU News Radio Raffle Result
9. Comrades Bar Winter Trading Hours
10. Injured At Work? Your Time Is Nearly Up
11. Campaign 2000 Shop Stewards Meeting
12. Contracting Industry Shop Stewards Meeting
13. Next Edition

Organisers are gradually working through all C2K companies speaking with membership and attempting to get agreements through. Results so far have been very encouraging with many companies settling and signing agreements.

The process involves serving a bargaining notice on employers conferring with members, meeting with each employer and attempting to conclude an agreement.

Our bargaining notice contains a series of claims which was endorsed at the controversial mass meeting last November.

There is another agreement that has been negotiated by a group of employers known as "the Breakaway Group". That agreement can be used as a settlement document for reaching a C2K settlement.

Members can get a copy of that document as a PDF file here or ask their Organiser.

2. No Ticket No Start - A Winner

Causing a sensation in racing circles and in Peter Reith's Office of the Unemployment Advocate,is three year old filly No Ticket No Start.

The horse is owned by three construction industry shop stewards including ETU stewards Ivan Balta and John Duvnjak. No Ticket No Start won at Kyneton on July 3 and followed up with a third place at Wangaratta on July 24.

Ivan told eTU online No Ticket No Start was passed in at auction but these workers saw her potential.

Ivan said that when she won at Kyneton he was watching the race at the local pub/TAB on an RDO. It was obvious that a lot of the other construction workers in the pub had put money on No Ticket No Start by the cheers that went up when the horse won.

So keep an eye on No Ticket No Start. Let's hope she goes on to the Melbourne Cup: that would really get up Reith's nose, though the odds might be a bit short.

The first enterprise agreement in the public transport sector has just been completed. The agreement is the first since public transport was hived off to the private sector by the former Kennett Liberal government.

Members have held three stop work meetings since the current agreement expired on June 30. Previous rates of pay were based on public sector rates and conditions. After some vigorous and protracted discussions, agreement was reached. This agreement will be put to members in coming days.

In the Workshops area, the 3-year agreement provides the following;

• An immediate increase of $100.00 per week
• An additional 15% over 3 years
• Illness and Accident insurance
• A contractors agreement
• No changes in current work practices

In the Infrastructure area (on-site), the 3-year agreement provides;

• 13% over 3 years
• Illness and accident insurance
• A contractors agreement
• No changes in current work-practices

This will bring the workshops and infrastructure divisions in line prior to the next agreement.

This agreement will form the basis for our claims in the remaining areas of the former PTC operations including Bayside Trains, Clyde Engineering, AdTranz, Theiss, Yarra Trams and Freight Australia.

eTU online congratulates the members and officials involved in the negotiation of this agreement.

4. Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE

Maintenance workers at Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE had a significant victory recently when they secured an enterprise agreement that entitles them to wage rises of 22%.

Workers in the TAFE sector were previously paid under a state award and there was not even a safety net wage increase awarded. New starters were classified as being "award free" and received worse treatment.

Members at NMIT have secured for themselves an enterprise agreement that blocks contracting out entitlement to a paid RDO and other significant benefits that many other members may take for granted.

Congratulations.

5.
Apprentice Welfare Is A Union Issue

by Dave Kerin, Apprentice Welfare Officer 0417.607.011

We've got fellow workers, good union members out there battling with addiction in their lives. If they confide in you, remember to share the load - it always makes it lighter. Just be there to listen, and if they want to do anything give me a ring. For your part, your interest and friendship is medicine enough. You don't need to have the answers.

Dave says,

"Nothing, and no problem, is unbeatable! To illustrate, let's look at a typical heroin problem, and how we deal with it.

We use a disciplined structure as the means to get through. It is a crowded program which leaves no time or energy for anything other than its own agenda. It is indeed the ‘Hell Program’, but springs from a compassionate drive by all towards freedom of choice. Sometimes in attempting to treat ourselves as a friend within an extreme context, we may need to use some extreme measures.

The program consists of Narcotics Anonymous meetings, counselling, affirmation (positive reinforcement), meditation and visualisation work, hard physical training, naltrexone in the early months of the program, and diet. This is a mind-body basic training or ‘boot camp’.

Most important is the attitude with which we enter the program, an attitude which we maintain throughout. It is the attitude of self-management. We voluntarily take naltrexone each morning in front of someone, we voluntarily perform each function of the program. The moment that we feel the program is an imposition then we won't own it".

Contact Dave Kerin on 0418 607 011 if you or someone you care about needs help

6. Metal and Engineering Industry Award Increase

The rate of pay for a trades-person on the award rate of pay under the Metal and Engineering Industry Award was increased by $15.00 on May 22 to bring the award up to $492.20 per week or $12.95 per hour at the c10 rate.

This illustrates the importance of getting on to a Union agreement. A recent survey of members working under the Metal and Engineering Industry Award showed that the average weekly rate was in excess of $750.00 per week at the c10 level.

Registered Electrical Contractors

Did you know that more than 3000 ETU members also hold Registered Electrical Contractors licences?

Some members use their licences daily whilst they run their own businesses and others just keep the REC licence as a back up for a "rainy day".

Recent changes to REC licensing have seen costs rise from $135 per year (for a 3-year licence) to $170 per year (for a 1-year licence).

Considering that in 1992 a 3-year licence cost $60, this is an effective increase in licensing fees of 850% in 9 years. Not a bad earner for the OCEI!

Whilst the ETU cannot control the rate at which Government fees and charges rise, we can, due to the size of our membership, offer great deals on compulsory Public Liability insurance.

In conjunction with BGS insurance brokers, the ETU offers financial members the cheapest Public Liability rate in both Victoria and Tasmania.

To qualify for the rates below, you must be a financial member of the ETU.

Many members who have REC licences actually work for a boss and therefore only occasionally do their own work. If you only work weekends for yourself, then you can save even more by applying for insurance with a $10,000 yearly turnover limit.

At present there are 2 minimum rates of cover in Victoria:

For licences renewed prior to 30/6/99 (i.e. 3-year licence), the minimum public liability insurance required is $1 million.

For licences renewed after 30/6/99 (i.e. 1-year licence), the minimum public liability insurance required is $5 million.

There are also rates for Whitegoods,TV antenna, Data and Telephone installers.

Rates are also available for $2 million and $10 million cover (as required by some contracts).

For more information

Contact Mike Symon at The ETU on 8341 5555 or

James Moore at BGS Insurance Brokers on 9729 2300 (let him know that you are an ETU member or you will pay too much).

8. ETU News Radio and Raffle Result

Congratulations to these three prize winners and thanks to all those who participated:

Proceeds go to the 3CR 2000 Radio-thon to assist the station which has produced uncensored and outspoken radio for 24 years.

It is a vital link between unions and the wider community in Melbourne and across Australia. It is pro-worker and provides excellent coverage of many industrial matters.

ETU Radio news can be heard every Wednesday morning @ 6:30 am on 3CR 855 am.

9. Comrades Bar Winter Trading Hours

Rally Days open from 11.00 am

Can't wait until Wednesdays to get into the Bar? Why not get a group together and make a weekday booking - Mondays/ Tuesdays all day and Wednesdays/ Thursdays until 3.00 p.m. Function rates are just $25 per hour for exclusive use of the Comrades Bar.

Weekend hire rates - please contact Mike Symon at the ETU on 8341 5555 or Yvette at the Comrades Bar on 9347 9024.

10.
Injured At Work? Your Time Is Nearly Up

If you were injured before NOVEMBER 1997 and it was your employer's fault, you need to act now.

Thursday 31st August 2000 is the deadline to lodge a claim for lump sum compensation for your pain and suffering and loss of income.

The current Government as now changed the law. Under the new law if you wish to pursue a claim in negligence against your employer or a third party for injuries before 12th November 1997, you should contact the Union or our preferred solicitors to make the arrangements.

If you qualify and meet the requirements under the Accident Compensation Act 1985 and you wish to make application or to discuss the possibility you will need to have medical reports, tax statements and other documents proving your financial losses.

This information will be needed to prepare a detailed affidavit from you to accompany the application. Act now or lose your rights forever.

Please contact:

11.
Campaign 2000 Shop Stewards Meeting

A Campaign 2000 Shop Stewards meeting has been called for Thursday August 17. All Campaign 2000 Shop Stewards are expected to attend this vital meeting. Make sure your workplace is represented.

Meeting Details:

Metropolitan:

Regional:

12.
Contracting Industry Shop Stewards Meeting

The next regular Stewards Meeting will be held on:

Wednesday August 16 @ 1:30 pm

The next edition of eTU online will be e-mailed to you on September 5, 2000.

1. Event dates are subject to change. Check with your organiser or local office.

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