Four workers died and millions of dollars have been lost due to the ineptitude and carelessness of the Rudd government’s insulation rollout, yet it’s just business as usual in Canberra as Julia Gillard’s taskforce continues to terrorise workers.  If only the government was as passionate about the loss of a worker’s life as it was about nailing workers trying to protect other workers.

Unlike some in the union movement, ETU secretary Dean Mighell had no qualms about telling the ABC Four Corner’s program on 26 April that the loss of lives and money confirmed just how misplaced was the government’s commitment to self-regulation and its refusal to talk with unions. Thankfully, the ETU is prepared to challenge the ALP.

The same anti-ALP sentiments were expressed by assistant secretary Troy Gray in relation to the news that ETU member Mirek Grzegorek had received a letter from the building industry watchdog warning him he could be fined $22,000 for attending a couple of short union meetings. ‘It’s astounding that the government allows the ABCC to walk over workers but can’t do anything to stop contractors putting workers at risk, as happened during the insulation rollout. The ALP can't afford to have workers swearing to stand truly by each other and fight for their rights, can it?’ said Troy. The article in The Age newspaper about Mirek Grzegorek’s plight  can be found here:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/union-talk-may-cost-man-22000-20100426-tncj.html