An EBA To Celebrate

Everywhere we look, the consequences of Howard's NoChoices legislation is clear for all to see. Stories about the sacking of workers who shun AWAs have been a daily occurrence in the media over the past months. Fortunately, members of the ETU have been spared the horrors. The reason is simple. Only those unions that maintain the primacy of collective bargaining can withstand the onslaught. On Thursday 1 June the ETU reached an in-principle agreement with NECA that locked up our current EBA in contracting until 2010. 'Despite what the doubters said about our strategy of using a common law deed to enshrine conditions outlawed by the NoChoices legislation, all the key conditions are there in the new agreement,' said branch secretary, Dean Mighell. Right of entry, recognition of shop stewards - the things ETU members consider non-negotiable - have been included in the deeds. So significant is the victory, most other unions wish they too had followed the ETU's lead. 'It's a great victory, one that gives security until 2010 to more than 10 000 members in contracting,' said the elated ETU secretary.

The success of the 28 June 2006 rally in Melbourne and elsewhere across the state should not lure us into a false sense of security. Although Labor politicians at state and federal level are now declaring their support, we need to maintain the momentum. The fact that ALP leader Kim Beazley used the rally to express an unequivocal commitment to abolishing the NoChoices legislation only proves the power of the community campaign. It's in the community that we'll win the battle against ruthless, greedy bosses and compliant politicians.

It's the ETU's view that if we are to see the end of the NoChoices legislation we need to maintain the rage. And that includes joining the marginal seats campaign to ensure that members such as Phil Barresi, in the federal seat of Deakin, lose their seat. Barresi, of course, is a strong supporter of WorkChoices, or what we prefer to call 'NoChoices'. On Thursday 29 June the campaign to unseat Phil Barresi began outside his office in Mitcham. In the August edition of the ETU News, local resident and ETU man Mike Symon, explains why he wants to see the end of Barresi. If you wish to join the campaign, ring Mike Symon on 0418 362 154 or email on mike@etu.asn.au

Lifting the Lid on the Lifts

As the ETU moved closer to a new EBA with the lift companies it was uplifting to see the Herald Sun (Monday 1 July) run a special report on the parlous state of the lift industry. This followed radio reports on the ABC and 3AW several weeks earlier, which included interviews with organiser Danny Timmers.

It's instructive that on 11 June 2004, a year before the incident at the Sofitel that started the media ball rolling, correspondence about 'a potential for a major, life threatening accident to occur' was passing between the lift companies and consultants. The correspondence focused on the counterweights in lifts such as those at the Sofitel. According to experienced ETU lift mechanics, many lifts desperately need servicing.

For once the Herald Sun agreed with our concerns. What the paper didn't properly analyse was the declining skill base in the industry, a problem caused by the companies placing profits ahead of safety. 'I've heard of a company hiring washing machine mechanics to work on lifts,' long-time mechanic, Joe Duckstein, told the eTU online magazine. Let's hope that now the cat's out of the bag, the companies do the right thing and make a commitment to the safety of the community by signing the EBA and addressing the skills shortages.

Apprentices Fly The Flag

On Tuesday 27 June ETU apprentices met at the Comrades Bar, alongside the ETU's Carlton Office, to discuss a range of political questions and listen to some experienced speakers. The speakers included Dave Kerin, from Union Solidarity, organiser Dave Mier, shop steward Geoff Hogg, and Brent Matthews, who's on delegation with the ETU. How to fight multi-national companies, in order to stop them exploiting workers in the Third World . How to organise industrially in the wake of the new IR laws. Even socialism found its way on to the agenda.

'I was really impressed by the political sophistication of the discussion, especially given that these were mostly young apprentices,' said the very experienced Dave Kerin. Rather than concentrate on how to stop workers who want to come to Australia the consensus among the apprentices seemed to be that we should be helping to lift wages in these countries. 'It was so refreshing to see young workers talking the language of international solidarity,' said Geoff Hogg.

When Dave Kerin raised the spectre of unionists being gaoled, and outlined the responsibilities that might fall on the shoulders of the people in the room should this happen, the feeling of support was palpable.

Not surprising, hot on the heels of branch secretary Dean Mighell's strong public statements regarding the dangers faced by ETU members working near mobile phone towers, a Pascoe Vale community group has sought the support of the ETU to stop the construction of a tower, opposite a community park and sports reserve. It's Telstra's intention to build the tower near Cole Reserve, a local park used for cricket and football. Hutchison had previously been thwarted in its attempt to build the tower in the park, two years ago.

With the support of the owner of the petrol station across the road from the park, Telstra is pushing on. The community is angry about what it calls a 'lack of community notification in relation to their proposal and its general opposition to towers being built so close to facilities used by children.'

The community has asked Dean and the ETU's manager of communications, Phil Cleary, (independent federal member for the area, between 1992 and 1996) to speak at a rally on Saturday 15 July, starting at 10.30 a.m.

Place: Corner of Kent Road and Cumberland Road (in Cole Reserve), Pascoe Vale.

RSVP: the Save Cole Reserve Action Group- email jennings@jeack.com.au

email  adinuzzo@ozemail.com.au

How often do we hear stories of old photos and rare film going missing? It happened with an early Ned Kelly film, and sadly, once it's gone that's the end of the matter.

ETU members would be aware of just how serious this union is about protecting and preserving its history. From our extensive and growing photographic collection to DVDs such as Standing Together the ETU is making every effort to tell the story of its proud and exciting history.

Joan Robinson the director of the outstanding, Standing Together, has now turned her talents to a documentary film about enterprise bargaining in the electrical contracting industry. She is desperately keen to acquire film or video footage from any period up to the present. If you have home movies of union activities that you'd be willing to contribute to the documentary, we'd love to hear from you.

If you think you can help, email Merran at uniondoco@mac.com or phone 03 9417 0001 to let her know what you have.

Is nuclear energy really clean? ETU honorary member Mike McKeon doesn't think so. He offers the following insights:

Did you know that for every refined ton of reactor fuel there is 7 tons of DU (loosely termed nuclear waste) created? A number of countries have found a solution to getting rid of this stuff - they put it into weapons. It makes a missile tougher and stronger and very efficient.

The side effect is the creation of invisible radioactive gas that can be spread anywhere and everywhere. In excess of 7,000 tons of DU has been used in wars since 1991 by NATO and the US mainly in Kosovo , Afghanistan and Iraq . It may be the cause of many malformed births, both in the populations of these countries and in the families of military personnel.

If this is not bad enough, the Australian Government signed an agreement in 2005 with the US for combined military 'exercises' - Shoalwater Bay, N of Rockhampton; Lancelin, N of Perth; and Delamere, SW of Katherine. Will we be eating radioactive beef, tropical fruits, and lobsters in the near future? If you want to know more, I'd be happy to show the film "Blowin' In The Wind" at your club, group meeting or in your home and pass on more detailed information on the topic.

Mike McKeon

Tel No.: 9551 7363

E-mail: mmckeon@alphalink.com.au

Who said AWAs weren't designed to cut wages and conditions? Surely not Mr. Howard or his mate Mr. Andrews! So how interesting to receive an email from the ASU Victorian Private Sector Branch describing how Global Tele Sales (GTS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Airways has been dragooning employees into AWAs that slash their wages and conditions.

And this is despite there being a collective agreement that does not expire until December 2006. According to the ASU 'employees' base wages will be cut by up to 10 per cent.penalties for work on public holidays and reduced from 100% to 75% and the penalty for work before 7am and after 7pm Monday to Fridays removed completely'.

Despite the Global Tele Sales claim that it is not putting pressure on employees to sign the AWAs, the ASU points out that the company's documentation says:

  The conditions offered are not negotiable:

  The Company will not negotiate a new collective agreement, but if it does it will be on the same or less favourable terms.

Any employee who doesn't sign won't get Lufthansa travel privileges     (which is a significant benefit).

If targets for productivity increase and cost efficiencies are not met, "the Company [will have] no choice but to seek concessions from those who have not signed an AWA."

To support the staff, email Thomas Bartsch, Managing Director Global Tele Sales, on Email Thomas Bartsch, Managing Director Global Tele Sales and tell him what you think.

East Timor - What's Happening?

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA has announced that it will be bringing Elisabeth Lino de Araujo, the Office Manager from the East Timor office to Australia in July. There will be two forums at which she will speak - one in Sydney on Thursday July 6 and one in Melbourne on Monday July 10.

Given the lack of clarity in discussions about events in East Timor and attempts by right-wing apologists to ridicule the East Timorese for their inability to spontaneously recover from the horrors of colonialism, the ETU recommends that members attend where possible.

Where - Trades Hall

When - 6.30 pm - Monday 10 July

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