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. Temporary Wiring Refresher
2. AIG supports removal of Transmission of Business
3. The AGE dispute
4. Walk for Reconciliation
5. Veronica Nolan going back to Éire
6. Union Picnic Day
7. New CBD area defined
8. Hepatitis A and building sites
9. Contracting EBA
10. RDO Calendars
11. Melbourne Sub-Branch Meetings In 2001
12. Season's Greetings
13. Next Edition

All ETU members who were trained in the Temporary Electrical Installations (TEI) Wiring Course in 1997 or 1998 are advised that your 3 year ticket expires next year and you are therefore required to undertake the TEI Refresher Course in 2001.

The aim is to update all current temporary wiring ticket holders on significant changes made since 1998 to the electrical regulations. A major component of the Refresher Course content is the Victorian Electrical Regulatory framework.

The 2-day refresher course costs $290.00 per person. All information on course dates and bookings for 2001 must be made with either:

2. AiG submission to cut entitlements

AiG, the bosses union, has made a submission to the Minister for Workplace Rorts, Peter Reith, demanding provisions in the "transmission of business provisions" of the Act should only apply to awards and not to certified agreements or other forms of agreement.

This means that hard fought for conditions would no longer apply when a business is sold off. Employees enterprise agreement entitlements would go with the sale of the business. It would then be up to the employees and their Union to renegotiate from the Award up.

This would leave employees naked in the face of sell-offs. The only entitlements left would be acccured leave and wages. Bosses would be queing up to sell businesses and cut benefits like shorter hours, over-award wages, improved Long Service Leave and Redundancy pay.

Meanwhile Reith's entitlements would be preserved by an Act of Parliament.

3. The AGE dispute

Members employed by the AGE newspaper have asked the Union to pass on their thanks to all members who assisted them in their recent dispute.

The dispute continues, and revolves around the carry over of current employment conditions to the proposed new site at Broadmeadows.

4. Walk for Reconciliation

On Sunday December 3 the Melbourne 2000 Walk for Reconciliation will take place. The walk will provide a unique opportunity for Victorians to demonstrate their commitment to the reconciliation process.

The event is an important part of the national reconciliation movement, and follows successful reconciliation walks in six other Australian capitals. In addition, it is the last major event for the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation before it completes its ten-year term in December.

The walk is the initiative of the State Reconciliation Committee and the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, with assistance from ATSIC, the City of Melbourne, churches, unions, VCOSS, business and community groups.

The rallying point for Union members will be the Victorian Trades Hall Council, corner Victoria and Lygon Streets, Carlton South, at 9.30am.

At 9.40am we will march to Flinders Street and join the walk to the King's Domain Gardens (walkers will move south along St Kilda Road, left into Domain Road, left into Dallas Brookes Drive and Birdwood Avenue).

Then celebrate in the King's Domain Gardens at a free community festival from 9.30am to 3.00pm.

Special public transport arrangements will apply.

5. Veronica Nolan going back to Éire

The ETU has regretfully accepted the resignation of one of our office staff and a comrade to many in the Union, Veronica Nolan. Veronica came to the Union in 1995 after working at the Electrical and Electronic Skills Centre for 3 years. Prior to that she worked on the National Electrical Contracting Competency Standards with the Industry Training Board.

Veronica has been working as personal assistant to Dean Mighell, ETU State Secretary, as well assisting her colleague Mary Traitsis with industrial relations office administration.

She has been a tireless worker, for whom nothing has been too much trouble. Working long hours in a stressful and demanding job, she is always generous enough to do that extra letter or EBA at the end of the day.

Veronica will be missed by everyone at the ETU and we wish her well in her new life back in Dublin.

6. Union Picnic Day

Members are reminded that the annual picnic day is Monday December 4, 2000.

Members whose enterprise agreements (eg Electrical Contractors) provides for a Union Picnic Day and who have a ticket are paid for the day.

A family ticket costs $10.00 (inc GST).

The picnic is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, enter via McPherson Street. It commences at 11:00am.

Rides: Slides: Horses: BBQ: Sky divers: etc.

7. New CBD area defined

The new Victorian Building Industry Agreement (VBIA) defines an expanded area for the Central Business District (CBD). This means that there is now an expanded area in which members can claim the CBD site allowance.

A map of the area can be downloaded as a PDF here.

8. Hepatitis and building sites

Organiser Shaun Leane reports that a dispute took place last month at a refurbishment job at 120 Collins Street Melbourne.

A "peggie" clearing rubbish was pricked by a syringe that was discarded on the property. The site was shut while the Union negotiated with the builders.

As a result of those negotiations the entire workforce were offered Hep "A" inoculations and plumbers were also offered Hep "B" inoculations.

No new workers will be inducted on site unless they have been offered the appropriate inoculations.

The existence of used syringes on building sites is a growing problem and members should report any instances.

9. Contracting EBA - Pocket Edition

Early in 2001 members working in the Electrical Contacting industry will be able obtain a copy of the 2000-2003 Enterprise Agreement for Electrical Contracting. The agreement will be in a pocket-sized format and contain provisions applying under the VBIA.

The agreement has been in place since early this year but only recently have the parties reached detailed agreement on the VBIA. The agreement is currently in pre-print preparation. Members will be able pick up a copy from their organiser or the ETU office.

10. RDO Calendars

2001 contracting RDO calendars are now available from your organiser or the ETU office in your area. Members should note that 9 additional RDO's apply on VBIA sites in 2001 and a further 4 RDO's in 2003.

The ETU State council has determined to commence the Melbourne Sub Branch meetings at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month rather than 6:00 p.m. as is currently the case.

The State Council has suggested the move in order to boost attendance at the Melbourne Sub-Branch. Sub-Branch meetings are an open forum for members to have an input to running and policy of the Union.

The next monthly meeting will take place on February 14, 2001 @ 4:30 p.m.

12. Season's Greetings

The ETU would like to take this opportunity to wish all members and supporters a very happy Christmas, and we look forward to a very prosperous New Year for all.

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

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