AUTUMN 2016 Victoria

turnbull WANTS TO END YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK. USE YOUR VOTE TO END HIM

An official publication of the Pay your dues early for a chance to win a car! See Inside! Electrical Trades Union Victoria ETUNEWS > AUTUMN 2016

The Electrical Trades Union Victorian Branch represents members working in the Inside this issue electrical and communications contracting industry, power, manufacturing, education, whereswilliam.org hospitality, aerospace, food and other industries. 05 06 07 08 President A ssistant From strength to The Setka Reardon Case. Trade Union Royal We demand a National Gary Carruthers Secretaries strength with Troy Gray. Masking Legitimate Commission Corruption Commission. 03 8329 0000 Wes Hayes rights as blackmail. Recommendations. Secretary 0417 552 775 T roy Gray [email protected] 0418 323 552 Ivan Balta [email protected] 0418 147 272 [email protected]

Organisers Omar Merhi Matt Boyd 0418 513 127 09 10 12 14 0405 124 953 [email protected] [email protected] Peter Mooney Update – Contracting Senators oppose the Our power assets in a Licensing - E-OZ Somebody saw something. Somebody knows something. Steve Diston 0418 338 725 Industry Bargaining. ABCC. state of crisis. abolished. 0400 938 980 [email protected] Somebody can help bring William home. Is that somebody you? [email protected] Mick Montebello Gerry Glover 0418 323 559 0418 354 359 [email protected] [email protected] Justin Sordello Arron Harris 0409 200 893 0418 376 161 [email protected] [email protected] Nathan Stott 16 18 21 22 Nathan Jenkins 0419 500 465 0420 504 407 [email protected] Don’t work live! Drug & alcohol testing Asbestos - not here, not 5 ways to look after your [email protected] Danny Timmers rollout continues. anywhere. lungs. Troy Knight 0419 378 404 0400 982 292 [email protected] [email protected] Colin Williams Damian King 0419 378 182 0407 925 696 [email protected] [email protected] Reno Lia 0409 188 809 [email protected] 24 26 29 30 No room for racism. Around the sites. Renewable energy is What ETU Life means Lawyer Editor here now. to you. Geoff Borenstein For story ideas, contact: 0407 097 808 Jason Gibson [email protected] 0433 544 277 Legal [email protected] L ucy Weber Training 0408 030 094 Danny Filazzola [email protected] 0402 347 117 OH&S [email protected] 32 34 36 39 David Tuddenham Apprentices 0419 132 833 Omar Merhi National apprentice Workers rights under The ETU female Lawyers are people too. [email protected] 0418 513 127 conference. attack. members survey. Kris Gretgrix [email protected] WILLIAM TYRRELL IS MISSING. BELIEVED ABDUCTED. 0438 996 620 Welfare [email protected] Pat Tutton Little William disappeared from his Nana’s home on the NSW mid-north coast on 0409 200 841 [email protected] Message from the Secretary...... 4 the 12th September 2014. We need your help to find him. He could be anywhere! ETU50820 Regular Features ETU in the Community...... 42 The police believe William could still be alive! Produced by Publicity Works. Ph. 03 8566 8000 www.publicityworks.com.au If you have seen William or have any information relating to his disappearance, Stay updated to what matters to members. facebook.com/etuvic please contact Crime Stoppers now on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 Visit whereswilliam.org to make a donation to help us bring William home. Our Kids 3

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WW poster A4-V5.indd 1 23/06/2015 1:47 pm m eSSAge from the secretary > TROY GRAY F rom strength to strength! Message from the Secretary / Troy Gray / ETU Victoria Branch

2016 is seeing the your industry closely with the Solar Shop Stewards Conference, NOW It is practices of the big-end-of-town agreements, if you Council and Holmesglen great deals on ETU unacceptable extend far beyond our own industry on training up as many branch continue to value EBAs, if you merchandise, and more … that THE as the recent Panama Papers leak has value your hourly members as we can on revealed. go from strength to Our huge Biennial Shop Stewards misguided rates, if solar installation. This is THEN I f you Conference is coming up at the end of AUSTRALIA We desperately need a proper strength. With a great you value one of the growth areas for value your June — see page 15 for details. This is independent corruption body in this health the industry and the union FIRST PARTY team of officials and industry the event at which the union will set land. Not an ABCC that just targets and safety — into the future. Watch are using the agreements, its strategic direction for the next two Eureka Flag some of the hardest working people supporting roles such then you have this space for some new years and beyond. If you’re a Shop James Saleam chairman of the Australia First Party. in this country, construction workers. if you value as a symbol as welfare, research, to put the Liberals solar installation courses Steward, make sure you’re enrolled We need a truly independent body EBAs, if you for their last. that the union will be to attend. If you would like to raise an Guarding the spirit of the that will investigate all aspects of legal, administration value your divisive and If they get their promoting through issue for discussion at the conference, Eureka Flag: no room for corruption, including tax evasion. hourly and communications, way with 2016-2017. talk to your Shop Steward. racism racist ideas. rates, if you We recently learnt that the far- The ETU Our union: a heartening 94% the ABCC, Don’t risk it: Don’t the union is a value health right Australia First Party has stands strong the Building Work Live formidable machine and safety Code and the attempted to register the Eureka against Recently union membership density This year we have — then you Registered Organisations Flag as its emblem on ballot papers. racism and across our workplaces was mapped that is recognised as witnessed several deaths have to put Bill, the world as we know This divisive organisation has no bigotry in all at an astonishing 94%. This is a figure of workers from contact with one of the strongest the Liberals it will change for the worse. But business appropriating this symbol of its forms. even the biggest and loudest union electricity. The toll from electrocution last. we have a secret weapon with which Australian freedom and fairness. would be jealous of and is testament labour organisations now stands at 75 over the last decade. to fight back. That secret weapon is The miners, representing 18 to the diligence and passion of our in the country. Thankfully none of the recent deaths D amien Thomlinson will speak at the ETU Shop members and Shop Stewards. You you. Together we have built a union Stewards Conference this year. different nationalities, who fought have been of ETU members. This recognise the value of belonging nd we need to be. that today is at its strongest. Standing under this flag during the Eureka demonstrates the value of ETU- to our union and wish to share the 2016 sees 15,000 together we are an unbeatable Change is underway in the world of Rebellion did so ‘irrespective of regulated safety on worksites, but the love. Thank you for your efforts and of our 19,000 force that is more than capable of ETU-branded merchandise. We are nationality, religion or colour… as a fact remains that every single one of support. We couldn’t do what we members out of defending our heritage and fighting currently running a clearance sale refuge of all the oppressed from all these deaths is an absolute tragedy do without you and never take your an agreement, and 1,000 off this anti-worker offensive. to clear our warehouse of existing countries on earth’. A for the individual, their family and the ongoing membership of our union for enterprise agreements up for We look forward to these stock. It has been so successful that It is unacceptable that this communities they leave behind. granted. n negotiation. This is complicated challenges, and know that all 19,000 we shifted over 2,000 items in just misguided organisation, and others

by the threat of the ABCC being members will seize the day, stand one week during April. People love like it, are using the Eureka Flag reintroduced and the draconian together and defend 114 years of ETU the ETU! Get in quick to grab yourself as a symbol for their divisive and Building Code that will gut history. a bargain as our t-shirts and hoodies racist ideas. The ETU stands against the living standards of many are literally flying off the shelves. racism and bigotry in all its forms. Training for the future of our members unless We recently entered into a new Read more about our position on the After years of planning, our we resist it. partnership with Staples Advantage recent resurgence of racist politics state-of-the–art industry training for the provision of logistical support on page 24. High stakes Federal T llurnbU ’s facility is now up and running. We for the ETU Shop. This will lead to election L are looking forward to Futuretech N ational Corruption LABCC WI faster turnaround of orders, cheaper We believe that members ur assisting all of our members Commission Remove yo overheads for the union and greater have a clear choice at this to increase their skill levels. The ETU supports a t to variety of merchandise. You can year’s Federal election. righ Futuretech has been a dream of the broad-based national A expect to see a new range of ETU gear The union has never silence, union for 20 years and with a great corruption commission, shortly. told its membership how lawyer of partnership with one of the state’s TheT DEA H toll from electrocution now stands at 75 as we outline on page 8. they should vote, but all your choice strongest TAFEs, Holmesglen, over the last decade. none of the recent deaths have The union has established a The Trade Unions members are urged to make U we’ve already trained 250 people, been of ETU members women’s committee in recognition of Royal Commission AND FINE YO the issues that have a greater impact an educated decision when R a number we intend to increase has been revealed as they go to the ballot box. $36,000 FO dramatically in the To address this situation and to on our many female members. We farcical in ignoring ING will ensure that our new merchandise The branch has debated att end coming years. remind all members of the absolute the construction range caters for our women members this issue and has come union Over the next 10 primacy of safety, we are launching a companies and their a and investigate options for sourcing to a clear decision. Put the g years the branch Don’t Work Live campaign. dodgy dealings. Troy Gray, meetin properly fitting work attire. Liberals last. If you value will be working See page 16 for details. And yet the corrupt State Secretary YOUR VOTE MATTERS! 4 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 5 UNI ON NEWS > Royal commission recommendations UNI ON NEWS > The setka REArdOn case Wa h t the anti-union taskforce is NOT doing: Laying more criminal charges over * What a surprise* T he Commission THEt Se ka the 187 workers killed at work in FOUND THAT Australia in 2015 alone. Trade Union Royal Andrew Zaf’S rREA dON CASE Commission ALLEGATIONS OF Calling for more criminal charges JOHN SETKA M asking against bosses who endanger WERE... workers’ lives by cutting corners on Recommendations legitimate workplace safety to increase profits. Are Word For TWIT Demanding that theft charges be Word Liberal HOU rights as laid against bosses who underpay NDATIFO U blackmail workers. Political Agenda. ON Charging a single boss with blackmail The laying of very over threatening to unfairly dismiss a The only surprise in accountable. But it will struggle to How low did the TURC go? serious criminal worker if he or she doesn’t do what the change corporate and competition Commissioner Heydon never spoke T hey are targeting only the charges against union company wants. the Trade Union Royal laws in a way that captures unions at to a single rank and file worker, or actions of workers and their union. Commission’s (TURC) the exclusion of employers. even to any of the main construction officials over alleged But there is so much more real Charging a single boss of a big company It is for this reason that many of the industry employers. industrial activity and dangerous wrongdoing that final report is that so TURC’s recommendations will not with blackmail over threatening to ditch He dismissed the dangerous and should be a matter of demands their attention. little effort went into become law any time soon. exploitative conduct of employers deep concern for every a contractor or supplier unless they lower their prices. concealing its bias. B reach of internationally- who were the star witnesses alleging union, every unionist, L ooking for excuses to turn recognised human rights, and union thuggery. and every democratic- back time The report’s primary workers’ rights Instead, the Royal recommendation is the return of The union movement has always Arresting a single boss on a Sunday Many of the Commission pursued minded Australian in the ABCC and its powers to detain T he Liberal said that the book should be thrown morning driving home from the market recommendations allegations from this country. construction workers without charges at any corrupt officials. But the anti- with his wife and small children. are in blatant bottom-feeder government for up to six months. union royal commission has referred breach of AN employers, like is clearly ost people think a number of officials to prosecution UM Lis-Con, who were It also recommended another Australia’s H unwilling blackmail is about alleging union authorities over allegations of run- regulator, in addition to the Fair commitments under TS someone seeking G misconduct, to make of-the-mill industrial disputation and Work Ombudsman and the ABCC, the United Nations’ RHI personal gain by despite knowingly corporate organising activity. to demand invasive personal International Labour CH Mthreatening someone else. In the ACT, we saw CFMEU organiser Organisation Treaty. RE and intentionally Australia From the 1800s, workers and unions information and threaten higher AB But the police do not allege that Johnny Lomax charged with blackmail This Treaty holds being in arrears of have fought to ensure that we have the penalties and bans for union more John Setka and Shaun Reardon were by the anti­ union police taskforce that all human beings over $500,000 owed to workers. right to join a union, to take industrial members and officials on petty accountable. seeking any personal gain. The because he sought higher wages have the right to belong to a union The TURC recommended perjury action, to bargain collectively, to work administrative grounds. prosecution’s case is based on alleged for his members during enterprise and to collectively negotiate with charges for two Cbus workers, But it will safely and for our representatives to be The folly of the final report is that industrial demands that the police bargaining. That case was dropped, their employer. who the TURC found responsible free to do their jobs. evidence doesn’t justify the ludicrous struggle say amounted to blackmail. for attempting to assist the union but it was a taste of things to come recommendations, many of which That doesn’t just mean workers can to change We will defend those rights, no matter to access the over $500k of non- If alleged industrial threats without under the Abbott­ Turnbull government. seek to simply criminalise legitimate join a union — the union needs to be how many times they are attacked. payment to workers. corporate any personal gain is blackmail, then This is all a case of back to the union activity. free from political interference that any threat of industrial action in future. The government wants to turn The whole union movement is would prevent it from Yet they did not recommend and any dispute is potentially blackmail the clock back to the 1800s when supporting John Setka and Shaun Oops, corporations could get using its collective perjury for their star witness, competition as well. If that’s right, it means that all workers’ industrial action, all Reardon, who have always stood caught too power to reach Andrew Zaf, whose allegations that laws in a strong for workplace safety, decent unionists working hard every workplace organising and all By initiating recommendations a balanced John Setka accepted kickbacks, way that day around Australia to defend and union activity were crimes. higher wages and better working to change laws and increase fines, outcome with and others threatening conduct for improve their members’ wages, conditions. n penalties and jail time for union employers. That ‘whistle blowing’ at the TURC, were captures conditions, workplace safety and conduct, the TURC started weaving includes the right proven to be without foundation. unions at the rights are potentially at risk. I f alleged industrial threats without any personal gain is blackmail, then a web that inadvertently captures to be organised The Commission never took issue exclusion of According to the Abbott-Turnbull any threat of industrial action in any dispute is potentially blackmail as the fact that some of the conduct they and strike. with Andrew Zaf for his poor safety are seeking to criminalise applies to employers. royal commission and their anti- well. If that’s right, it means that decent unionists working hard every record and the death of a worker on union police taskforce, that is the day around Australia to defend and improve their members’ wages, businesses too, such as secondary his site, or for threatening unionists world we’re living in. conditions, workplace safety and rights are potentially at risk. boycotts. with a gun. n The government is clearly unwilling to make corporate Australia more

6 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 7 union news > Contracting

Last year’s ‘stability pact’ with employers has been a great success. It not only delivered members a 4% *U pdate* wage increase with no trade- offs, it bought the entire industry some time while we had the twin threats of Co ntracting the reintroduction of the ABCC and the Building Code hanging over our heads. Industry A year on, both those threats remain. But with a Federal election looming, the entire game could be about to W e demand a change. The Turnbull government is sticking to Tony Abbott’s hard BargaininG line anti-worker agenda, trying to What is at stake T he Building national corruption push the ABCC and Building Code The Building Code, contained Code, contained legislation through a hostile Senate within the proposed legislation to within the — this time under threat of a double re-establish the ABCC, remains proposed dissolution election. the greatest threat to our ability to legislation to commission bargain fairly. An analysis of the re-establish A chance to change the game ETU’s standard construction EBA the ABCC, remains the Whatever the outcome of the found that 76 clauses would not In threatening a double What are they hiding? O rganised crime racket greatest threat manoeuvring taking place in comply with the Building Code. If they had nothing to hide, they In late March Fairfax Media and to our ability to dissolution election over Canberra, this year’s election Clauses deemed non-compliant would have nothing to fear from a the Huffington Post reported on the bargain fairly. the reintroduction of presents us with a chance to push include those that: national corruption commission. global Unaoil scandal. A massive leak An analysis back hard and change the agenda P revent unlimited ordinary hours the ABCC, the Turnbull But as we learned in March, of emails and documents confirmed of the ETU’s both politically and industrially — by worked per day cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos that billions of dollars of government standard Government has voting the Liberals out. and the NSW Liberal Party have contracts were awarded as a direct Guarantee the employee’s ability to construction demonstrated that it is been slammed by the Electoral result of bribes paid on behalf of We’ve campaigned hard on this have a day off work on Christmas EBA found that just as obsessed with Commission for concealing the companies including Rolls-Royce, issue each and every time it has Day, Easter Sunday, public 76 clauses identities of major donors to the Halliburton, Samsung, Hyundai and come before the Parliament, and holidays, etc. T he electoral would not unions as the Abbott party. The electoral commission has Australia’s own Leighton Holdings. thus far have successfully blocked commission Encourage the employment of comply with the Government before it. ? withheld $4.4 million in funding to This was followed in April by the and delayed its progress. However, apprentices Building Code. has withheld the Liberal Party until they comply success this time will trigger a $4.4 million biggest leak in history, the 11 million D iscourage discrimination against his focus on so-called union and name their donors. They have not double dissolution election. If the corruption is a blinding in funding to documents of the Panama Papers. mature workers complied. Why? This leak has exposed the hundreds Liberals win that election, the ABCC obsession for Turnbull and the Liberal and Building Code will be voted on Include agreed stable and secure his cronies. For it seems Party until Meanwhile the secret volume of the of companies and individuals who shift arrangements or rosters Trade Unions Royal Commission, the use offshore accounts in tax havens by a joint-sitting of both houses of Tto have obscured their vision of the they comply parliament — all but guaranteeing its Ensure construction workers’ endemic corruption in the corporate and name undisclosed contents of which have to avoid tax, to launder money and been used as justification for the re- to evade the laws of their home passage into law. conditions and entitlements cannot and political worlds, including within their donors. be eroded their own ranks. They have establishment of the ABCC, have been countries to engage in corrupt and not complied. exposed by Jacquie Lambie as an illegal activities. Provide for equality and fairness Barely a week goes by without empty vessel. onsite for construction workers yet another startling revelation of Why? The scale of the corruption revealed Impact on the rights of construction corruption, tax evasion or bribery. Yet And now we have banker-turned- is extraordinary and has implicated workers to have a safe workplace. the government continues to reject Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Australian companies Wilson calls from cross-bench Senators, the leading a protection racket on behalf Security, BHP and the owners of Our campaign will kick off later Greens and the public for the ABCC of Australia’s big banks, desperate to Citipower and Powercor, Cheung this year with mass meetings of to be broadened into an independent shield them from a Royal Commission Kong Infrastructure. all contracting members. We will corruption commission, out of hand. deemed “unnecessary” by the big end The picture being painted by these know soon enough whether we will of town themselves. leaks and revelations is that the be able to bargain freely or under financial services and corporate the oppressive conditions of the Building Code. Either way, we will The calls for a National Independent Commission Against Corruption will world is little more than an organised be bargaining in 2016 ... Fiercely and only grow stronger as these revelations continue. Add your voice to the calls crime racket. Yet they remain utterly MAD AS fearlessly. n for an independent corruption commission by signing the ACTU’s petition: untouchable because they have HELL? www.australianunions.org.au/national_icac bought and corrupted politics itself. n

8 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 9 po lITIcs > senators who oppose the abcc C BUS news > LUKE PETERSEN I n their L uke joins S enator Jacqui Cbus to own words Lambie

‘The Law Council of Australia got it right. The assist ETU crossbench ABCC is very bad legislation — which undermines some basic civil rights and freedoms. I will not vote for legislation which allows members public servants to put Australian Long-time ETU Shop Senators citizens in jail because those citizens T he team wish to exercise their right to silence. Steward and Branch of Cbus ‘More corruption occurs in banking, Executive member, coordinators finance, insurance and government Luke Petersen, recently is unique departments than in the civil joined CBUS as a Field within the construction industry. If you want Officer. For ETU members, to treat Australians equally with the construction same rule of law for all, then there there is nobody better industry as must be a Commonwealth anti- than Luke to speak to for they provide corruption body — a federal ICAC advice about your Super. THE ABCC which can target all corruption.’ face-to-face has a constituent approached me to “I am deeply uke has joined Cbus’s contact and complain that they were ripped off by concerned team of coordinators who their union, yet this seems to be the continue to are trained and trusted to this forms government’s exclusive focus. build and help Cbus members and part of a maintain broader ‘While I am all for stamping out Lemployers with any enquiries they illegal activities wherever they occur, have with superannuation. trust strategy the government’s approach has more Member coordinators make regular between to weaken than a whiff of ideology about it. visits to work sites to help explain members, the unions, ‘It is not just a happy coincidence leaving a Cbus products and services to employers and S enator for the coalition that Heydon’s Senator potential and existing members. second-term report appeared at the beginning the Fund. John Coordinators are also available to Coalition of an election year. This gives it Glenn help individual members with any government Madigan ammunition to firstly pressure the Lazarus specific questions they may have with well-placed Senate to pass anti-union laws it their Cbus accounts, such as filling ‘If the government were previously rejected, and secondly, to introduce in application forms, understanding to put up legislation to fight an election campaign on this ‘As I have already stated, I will only Workchoices- how Cbus invest their money and aimed at stamping out issue against an opponent it hopes support the ABCC bill if Malcolm like reforms.” investment return news. corruption and criminal conduct will be sullied through its association amends it to include corruption across the board I’d sign up tomorrow, with the union movement. across all industries, including Aside from the workplace visits, banking, finance and politics. member coordinators can also make but I continue to have serious ‘Nor is it coincidence that the after-hours visits to members’ homes reservations about the ABCC Bill in its timing of this report coincided ‘That banking sector is one of if requested. current form. with the release of the productivity Australia’s biggest industries and is ‘When constituents approach me commission’s Workplace Relations constantly on the front page of papers The team of Cbus coordinators complaining of corruption, unfair Framework report, which for corruption. Mums and dads are is unique within the construction practices and unconscionable recommends the abolition of Sunday losing money and their life savings industry as they provide face-to-face conduct, their complaints inevitably penalty rates, among other things. every day at the hands of corrupt contact and continue to build and relate to their treatment at the hands I am deeply concerned this forms advisers and rogue bankers. Why maintain trust between members, of banks, financial planners, lawyers, part of a broader strategy to weaken won’t Malcolm admit he needs to employers and the Fund. n accountants, valuers, doctors, the unions, leaving a second-term do the right thing and broaden the You can contact Luke on builders, major supermarket chains Coalition government well-placed to ABCC bill to deal with corruption 0448 895 199 or at n or government departments. Not once introduce Workchoices-like reforms.’ everywhere?’ [email protected].

10 THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 11 F EATURE STORY > Power campaign

R esults of ETU survey of Linesmen and Asset Inspectors Victoria’s T he Electrical Trades Union, Victorian Branch mailed a survey with the following questions to members who are registered Linesmen or Asset Inspectors currently employed in Victoria in the final quarter of 2015. In the last 5 years have you noticed a 83% 17% power assets reduction in overall maintenance spending? YES NO In the past 5 years have you noticed a reduction in preventative 86% 14% in A maintenance spending? YES NO In the past 5 years have public 74% 26% response times increased? YES NO

In the past 3 years have customer After years of neglect, a disconnections increased? 76% 24% lack of maintenance and YES NO widespread job losses, Victoria’s power industry In the last 3 years have field-based is in crisis. staff numbers increased? 27% 73% n the 20 years since privatisation, A ticking time-bomb: distribution businesses nonetheless Victoria’s power distribution making maintenance workers redundant YES NO companies have let the state’s With the sector sliding into crisis, We’ve also produced a video In the last 3 years have apprentice power assets run down to it is extraordinary to consider that documentary exposing the crisis in 33% 67% Ia dangerous level. Investment in Victoria’s distribution companies the industry and a suite of materials numbers increased? maintenance has been inadequate, have made up to 900 maintenance for a high profile public campaign. YES NO with a reactive maintenance regime workers redundant over the last year. having replaced the more prudent Watch this space. preventative approach to maintenance. Highly qualified members are being tossed out of work as the network Is your job safer now than it Priorities are regularly being was 5 years ago? 23% 77% downgraded, planned maintenance is crumbles. This is a personal tragedy for the workers involved and a Highly being held back, short-term band aid YES NO fixes are becoming the norm and poor critical issue for their union, but it is also a ticking time-bomb for the qualified quality equipment is being installed Would your industry be more secure across the network. Victorian community, few of whom are aware of the parlous state of our members and safer with licensing regulations? 92% 8% As a result, the number of fires power assets. caused by distribution assets is up, are being YES NO faults and failures have increased, the The ETU has established a campaign tossed out condition of assets has been assessed team to analyse the issues behind the Has the power industry carried out as poor and declining and the level of disgraceful neglect of the network. of work as the maintenance required to prevent 28% 72% customer satisfaction is low and falling. We’ve undertaken a detailed another ‘Black Saturday’? examination of the condition and the network YES NO state of Victoria’s electrical assets and their potential risk to the Victorian crumbles. Are you concerned by attacks on your trade? community. (for example, attempts to reduce skills 87% 13% standards and fewer apprentices) YES NO

12 THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 13 po lITIcs > Licensing – E-Oz abolished union news > Shop Stewards Conference Ch anges to the development of Electrical Training Packages Strategic will impact our trade and focus licensing: What does it all mean? Recent changes in the Industry Standards Australia Under the new model, the ETU BEYOND training sector have seen are required to work with the must fight and seek endorsement to Electrotechnology, Electricity Supply sit on any committees that require the introduction of a new Industry (ESI) and the Traction T his new representation for, and on behalf structure and system Industry Reference Committees (IRC) model has of, ETU members in the electrical for making amendments to develop four-year work plans, effectively trade. The IRCs are in the process of to Electrotechnology submit business cases, undertake torn up and being formed. However, as it stands, 2016 Shop training package development gutted the the ETU’s representation may be national training packages. previous This directly impacts on work, and finally, submit cases restricted, potentially leading to a Stewards for endorsement. Additionally, industry skills tearing up of the current electrical apprenticeships, training the Commonwealth Department councils that and ESI qualifications and delivery D amien Thomlinson conference standards and your electrical (currently the Liberal/National operated structures. licence. The training package government) are assessing all cases. under a Crown casino is made up of units of framework of If the ETU doesn’t sit on any P reviously, the ETU was co-operation committees to oversee new melbourne competency that make up guaranteed a seat at the table with unions training standards, do you trust your qualification. in developing our industry’s and training employer groups, or the Liberal June 28-29 training pages — not so now organisations. government, to fight for the -Oz Energy Skills Australia protection of your trade? (E-Oz) previously managed This new model has effectively torn this work. The ETU provided up and gutted the previous industry As it stands, the ETU has been BYRIAN O D input and feedback at the skills councils that operated under protecting the rights of workers, a framework of co-operation with including apprentices, from the EState and National levels via technical Once every two years, the union T opics covered will include: unions and training organisations. funding cuts to the national training advisory committees that we sat on. and its delegates gather to debate, Prior to 2015, skilled workers, system. We have seen off and fought • State of the Union E D G E The ETU supported E-Oz continuing discuss and strategize the future KNWLO unions, and other representatives the deregulation of standards to be the organisation to manage this direction of our union. • ETU State Secretaries in the vocational sector worked and vocational licensing by the R important work. • Union rights IS! POWE harmoniously in reflecting national Commonwealth Government for over This year’s theme, ‘Strategic Focus The Turnbull Government training needs and the protection 100 years, and we’re not about to stop Beyond’, builds upon our proud • Royal Commission recommendations has introduced a new body to of your trade and apprenticeship fighting now. history of success and highlights the • The future of membership future of our work, our industry and manage the Energy Sector’s system. It is imperative that the ETU has Belin da Moore • Health and Safety campaigns its technology. training packages industry input and a voice in the • Protecting the trade development of any new training The two days are designed to However, on 28 January 2016, the • 2016 Federal Election Turnbull Government announced packages. Our training packages provide you with as much information a new body — Industry Standards are fundamental to the future of our as possible to assist you at the Speakers will include: Australia (formally the Transport industry and we will not allow their workplace in your role as an elected • Damien Thomlinson, Australian veteran and Logistics Industry Skills Council) management to be placed in the delegate of the union. As a delegate of the war in Afghanistan — to manage the Energy Sector’s hands of short-sighted employers, and union member, you are an training packages, including those TU anti-union governments and dodgy important representative of the • ETU State Secretaries E Electrical Trades Union. in Electrotechnology, the Electricity t training providers. n Chris n ty Cai • Brian Boyd, former VTHC Secretary Supply Industry (ESI) and the • Christy Cain, Secretary MUA WA Traction Sector. THIS Sea A ll shop stewards have been mailed an invitation to • Luke Hilikari, VTHC Secretary There is now a new process IS Taken! • Belinda Moore, membership specialist underpinning any the conference. Make sure you changes to training return yours ASAP, or contact • More to come… packages for Zoe at the ETU on 03 8329 0000 Electrotechnology or [email protected] qualifications and licensing. Lu i ke Hilikar

14 THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 15 H EALTH & SAFETY > don’t work live H EALTH & SAFETY > don’t work live

134 workers died at work between 2003-2014 due to contact with electricity. In just three months (November 2015 – January 2016) there were 21 incidents that involved contact with electricity reported to WorkSafe Victoria, 4 of which resulted in a work-related fatality.* One death is too many: 134 T he risks of working live is an appalling tragedy we have a Working on live equipment may responsibility to address. result in electric shock or arc blast The tragedy of lives cut short is an and flash burn injuries. unacceptable price for electricians When working on, or near, to pay just for undertaking our trade. energised conductors of electrical We’ve lost too many colleagues in equipment, you should be aware recent years, and each leaves behind that fault currents of up to 20 times a grieving family. the rated current of the supply Your safety should always be the transformer can flow for short times first consideration, and as a licensed during arc fault conditions. electrician you have the right to unki derta ng Arcs that are produced under these refuse undertaking unsafe work, conditions have the energy to cause regardless of pressure from the boss live work? an explosion and/or melt metallic or customer. follow THESE switchboard cubicles and cause Don’t risk it — don’t work live. severe burns to the skin and/or cause principleS flash burns to the face and eyes. What is working live? Safety shall not be compromised Circuit protection may not operate in Working Live is working on, or near, such circumstances. live electrical equipment. Specifically, because of operational pressures to Elc e tricIANS it is defined as: carry out the work. A situation where an electrical worker is working on or near exposed energised conductors or All workers shall be made aware When you work with live conductive parts and there is electricity every a reasonable possibility that the of the hazards of the tasks and day it can be easy electrical worker’s body, or any the control measures required to conducting medium the electrical mitigate them, as detailed in the Safe to forget just how worker may be carrying or touching Work Method Statement (SWMS). dangerous it can be. during the course of the work, may What to do if you are asked to come closer to the exposed energized work live conductors or live conductive parts As a licensed electrician, you have than 500mm. No work is to be carried out on live the right to refuse unsafe work. In electrical conductors, except for almost all circumstances, working work on approved extra low voltage live is unsafe. If you are threatened, equipment. coerced or forced to undertake unsafe work, you can call on your ETU Organiser or OHS Officers for assistance. Rescheduling the work to a time Giving in to intimidation or bullying when power can be isolated must be when your safety is at risk is never considered first. worth it. For more detailed information about Your safety and working on, or near, live electrical the safety of your Working on live electrical equipment equipment, please refer to the ETU’s must only be considered as a last Safety Alert at www.etuvic.com.au/ colleagues should ohs-alerts resort and when an adequate risk always be the first *Worker-related traumatic injury and overriding process has been undertaken. fatalities 2014, Safe Work Australia. n consideration.

16 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 17 H EALTH & SAFETY > Drug and Alcohol rollout H EALTH & SAFETY > Yarra Trams asbestos Sgai ns th t your drug or alcohol use is In this particular case, the project was found on top of the cabinets and becoming a problem: YARRA to deliver these substations was split it certainly didn’t walk up the sides of D l rug & A cohol across two different suppliers. One Did the dust the cabinets to get there.’ T he more you have, the more TRAMS of these suppliers sourced building end up on you need materials from China. The other Not just the workers, but also clothes and go their families are at risk A couple of beers used to be enough but Chinese sourced them locally in Australia. home where Testing Rollout Did the dust end up on clothes and now you have to drink a lot more to get The Chinese-supplied cement sheet the Missus did the same buzz. This means you may have cement product came with a authentication the washing? go home where the Missus did the built up a tolerance. This can also occur certificate declaring it contained no Did the dust washing? Did the dust end up in the CONTINUES for illicit drugs. sheet asbestos; kind of like that Rolex I got car that I use to take the kids to footy end up in the practice? Is this something I should Cutting back hurts online for $15 that also came with an car that I use laced with authentication certificate. to take the worry about? When you try to stop it’s not as easy To put this in perspective, kids to footy These are the sorts of questions that as it used to be and the symptoms asbestos Transparency International ranks practice? a Slater & Gordon Asbestos lawyer of withdrawal are getting stronger. Australia as the 13th least corrupt Is this received when meeting our members These signs may include insomnia, part of country in the world. China ranks something I who were exposed. But, of course, no anxiety, mood swings, anger, aches and at equal number 83 alongside Benin should worry one will know the answer to these depression. a chronic and Liberia. about? questions for 20+ years. You get a head start problem This cement sheet The sad reality is: by You might be having a few before product was installed the time these blokes you go to the pub or to meet friends. know for sure Imagine you have been working into more than 50 Alternatively, you’re staying in and not substations that that they were going out because it’s easier to drink for weeks on a construction site were shipped to exposed, it will how you want at home. Perhaps you’re —a brand new building — and various places be too late. Any reaching for a drink in the morning. one morning your employer around Australia. asbestos that they We’re here to help produces a letter stating the may have breathed If you need help with drug and It impacts on your life Australian workers in is already there. All alcohol dependency issues, Work, relationships, family are all materials you’ve been cutting exposed to lethal you can do is hope for contact Protect Counselling beginning to suffer as a result of your with power tools for the last few the best, and demand dust throughout the drug or alcohol use. Are you being on 1300 725 881. weeks are not normal cement products’ use to see a certificate honest with yourself about this? Have sheet, but instead, a cement Once the substations of clearance by a you stopped doing activities you used to sheet laced with asbestos. arrived on sites, electricians hygienist on the next enjoy? and other tradesmen job. It impacts on your health cut holes into them to enable cables to reach the Trading in Some signs are obvious, others are less Building materials containing switchgear inside. asbestos for apparent, such as insomnia, headaches asbestos for a brand new economic gain U nder the policy: building? These workers used The rollout of the or injuries related to being intoxicated. With the Chinese • Employees can choose to grinders, sabre saws, hole Substance abuse can also contribute Unions had fought for, and finally Free Trade Building Industry undertake self-testing prior to saws and the like: tools to mental health problems such as won, a ban on the importation of Agreement being beginning work, anonymously that inevitably generated Group (BIG) of unions’ depression, anxiety or psychosis. asbestos over a decade ago. How signed by the Liberals and without fear of retribution. airborne dust that scattered Drug and Alcohol could brand new building materials and backed by Labor, it begs the This early intervention is aimed at You become dishonest around the substations. still be riddled with the cancerous question: Why are we trading on Management Program keeping the workplace safe and A re you being dishonest about your use dust of death that cut short the lives of One manager had the nerve equal terms with an undemocratic helping at-risk employees with to family and friends? Are you hiding (DAMP) has continued our fathers’ generation? to tell an ETU organiser: country racked with corruption and rehabilitation and treatment. your supply? Are you drinking by yourself Yet this is exactly the situation our ‘The air monitoring done whose environmental protections, on construction sites • Employers can request ‘for-cause’ to conceal how much you’re using? Are members recently experienced while showed no airborne workplace rights and human rights testing where an employee has feelings of shame beginning to influence across the state. installing new substations for the asbestos, we don’t are decades behind our own? your actions? been involved in an accident or tram network in Melbourne’s suburbs. believe anyone was AMP emphasises a As long as Australia continues to has had the potential to cause Your hackles are up exposed.’ collaborative approach damage or injury. import cheap, imported products How could this happen? To which our towards managing the If somebody questions your drinking or from third world countries, asbestos • A ‘reasonable-concern’ test can be Corrupt, substandard overseas Organiser replied, complex issues around drug use how do you react? Often people exposure will sadly remain a risk for conducted if an employee shows suppliers for a start ‘Well of course it drug and alcohol impairment on who are in denial about their substance Australians. D signs of being impaired, engages To understand how this is still showed that, the building sites and is founded on the use will react defensively when someone So remember, if you are working in unusual behaviour or there is happening — not only in Melbourne, monitoring had principles of education, support, tries to talk to them about it. on a job, ask the question: where did evidence of alcohol and/or drug but all around Australia — we need been done days counselling and rehabilitation. The this cement sheet come from? If it’s possession or use. The costs are mounting to follow these building materials after the work had policy strikes a balance between not Australian, it should be tested. • Regular testing will be conducted A ddiction costs money. How much are on their journey from their point of stopped. Swab ensuring a safe workplace and periodically, involving a selection you spending on drugs or alcohol? Where origin to Australian construction sites. tests had shown It may just save you from a protecting the privacy and rights of of employees on the project. else could that money be going? that asbestos dust horrible, premature death. n workers.

18 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 19 H EALTH & SAFETY > don’t work live H EALTH & SAFETY > APHEDA asbestos At sbes os We’ve got #NotHereNotAnywhere In Australia, asbestos is cheap cladding. In Indonesia, 26 factories, each with more than 100 totally banned. It was a workers, are producing products with your back. long, hard fight against asbestos. The industry in Indonesia U nion Aid directly exposes over 7,000 workers. a powerful industry, but Abroad- we got there. However, in APHEDA is These workers, and their building a communities, are largely unaware of other parts of the world movement the damage caused by exposure to asbestos continues to do of people in asbestos. its deadly damage. Australia T he Union movement — your to support union— is stepping up to ustralian movements eradicate the Asbestos killer unionists know in South East overseas what it takes to Asia to work Wa h t can you do? towards The World Health Organisation struggle and says that the only way to see an end win asbestos asbestos Join APHEDA. Your bans and to asbestos-related disease is to see contributions make a big bans. We also asbestos eradicated globally. know we have eradication. difference and APHEDA Slater and Gordon to be vigilant. Despite import bans, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is members are ready and willing asbestos is still getting into Australia building a movement of people in to take action to support global are proud supporters A Australia to support movements in — in construction materials, in asbestos bans. of ETU Victoria mechanical parts, in school science South East Asia to work towards kits. Recently, asbestos traces were asbestos bans and eradication. Make a solidarity sign even found in children’s crayons. We In Vietnam, we are continuing the and share it using know the fight for victims is ongoing. support VN-BAN, a local network #NotHereNotAnywhere of organisations joining forces to (you can download these at Widespread and killing in South 1800 134 835 see asbestos eradicated. Despite the www.apheda.org.au/asbestos) East Asia concerted efforts of the powerful slatergordon.com.au Hundreds of thousands of tonnes asbestos lobby, we now have Get resources and an action of raw asbestos are imported across government support for a ban by pack to spread the word at: South East Asia, where they are used 2020. www.apheda.org.au/asbestos to make building products, roof-tiles, In Cambodia, we are looking to scale machine parts and specialist fabrics up our involvement in campaigns Contact APHEDA Can you help? for clothing. and organising around asbestos. We for support to spread The workers in the factories are are also looking for opportunities to the word, build the + Did you work at Classic Cubicles in exposed, as are the communities support local unions and movements campaign or if you have surrounding the factories and the in Burma, Laos and wherever any questions Asbestos! Moorabbin between 1971 and 1984? workers’ families. The cost in human asbestos is used and people are [email protected]. life is incalculable. exposed. + Do you know someone who did? In Vietnam, there is progress And right now, in Indonesia, we towards a ban, but the work ahead to are supporting a new partner, LION. UnionAidAbroadAPHEDA The family of a former member needs your help. organise for eradication is extensive. LION’s vision is for all Indonesians to In Cambodia, as construction sites be able to work without fear of injury @apheda If you are able to assist, please contact pop up all over the place, lowly paid or illness from their jobs, because UnionAidAbroadAPHEDA building and construction workers workplace health and safety hazards Cassandra Read on (03) 9602 8629 or are exposed to asbestos dust from are understood and recognised by all. 1800 555 615.

20 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 21 h eALTh > looking after your lungs H EALTH & SAFETY > Early detection, better cure rate

In past decades, far too many workers in the power and construction industries have been ET U members ways to exposed to asbestos. For these workers, there have a new may be a significant risk of health problems look after later in life, including opportunity to mesothelioma and other cancers. help them beat hat is why the ETU has your lungs partnered with Melbourne’s Acclaim Health Group, Your lungs are balloon-like structures in your chest; they’re responsible for delivering which has developed an lung cancer oxygen5 to your blood and removing carbon dioxide from it. Oxygen is vital for every cell in Tonline risk calculator at lungscreen. acclaimhealth.com.au The calculator Deal offers ETU members hope against your body. Keep them healthy, and your lungs should work well for a lifetime. gives our members the opportunity asbestos-related lung cancers for early detection and effective treatment of these potentially deadly he says. ‘The patients that I’m able to minimal invasiveness, and much diseases. cure are the ones who fall and break reduced risks and recovery times. H ere are five ways to look after your lungs. The test is free and available to You cannot a rib, and get a chest x-ray that shows ‘Even if a lung or lobe of a lung anyone. Answers are correlated overstate the a nodule in their lungs that they had is removed, the patient is only in importance no idea was there. 1. Stub it out Second-hand smoke can also damage hair, mold, and even air fresheners with data from across the world hospital for about four days. And to calculate the person’s risk of of early Even for those asbestos-related within two weeks, they should be Smoking introduces thousands of your lungs and more studies are can be sources of pollution. developing a range of lung cancers. detection. If diseases that have the bleakest doing everything normally. We don’t damaging substances that stick to the showing that even third-hand smoke 4. When you’re outside we pick up a outlooks, like mesothelioma, there is divide any muscles, we don’t break cells in your lungs, preventing them – when you’re in an environment Free testing and discounted Many factors like dust and particles, cancer early, increased hope if detected early. any ribs.’ from functioning effectively. It also where people have been smoking – follow-up screening paint fumes, diesel exhaust and I can tell a increases your risk of serious and can be harmful. CT scans taken as a result of more can damage your lungs. If Those who might have a 1 in patient that A better future through life-threatening conditions such as referrals from the questionnaire will 2. Help your lungs with exercise your employer has given you safety 20 risk, or greater, of developing there’s an evidence lung cancer be sent to radiologists who specialise Exercise can make your lungs clothing and equipment, it’s important asbestos-related cancers in the next 80% chance Currently, the Federal Government and chronic in analysis of chest images, to ensure stronger and can boost circulation so to use it. five years are advised to undergo a we can cure does not offer Medicare rebates to obstructive that signs won’t be missed. that plenty of oxygen and nutrients precautionary low-dose CT scan. them. support lung cancer and asbestos- pulmonary ‘We make sure that only at-risk get to your heart and muscles. If you 5. Get vaccinated Our partnership means that the related diseases screening. disease (COPD). patients are ever sent to screening, have asthma and you’re exercising Infection can wreak havoc with your initial screening, which attracts no ‘The only way we can shift by expertly calculating the person’s in colder temperatures, use a scarf to lung health, so get a flu vaccination government Medicare rebate, can government attitudes to screening likelihood of developing these warm the air entering your lungs to if your GP recommends it. This helps be offered to ETU members at a 25% programs like this is by showing that cancers,’ Mr Pick said. help prevent the cold temperatures to build your immunity to the most discount. they work,’ says Mr Pick. common forms of flu viruses that from making asthma symptoms To take the questionnaire, go to: are expected around the country; it Early detection means a head worse. Make sure you check with lungscreen.acclaimhealth.com.au primes your body so that if it does start and a higher chance to be your GP if you have a medical And by the time people encounter those strains, your immune cured condition, are taking medicines with these cancers start system can go into action fast to repel Adrian Pick, a Melbourne or haven’t exercised for some showing symptoms, it’s A cclaim Health Group is committed the invaders and prevent infection. cardiothoracic surgeon who is one time. often too late for a cure. to reducing the harm caused of the world’s leading experts on Remember, if you have a cough that by smoking tobacco and invites 3. When you’re inside asbestos-related mesothelioma and lasts for more than a couple of weeks, anyone interested in quitting Pollution isn’t just an lung cancers, heads Acclaim have difficulty breathing, cough up to ring Acclaim’s Certified Quit outdoors problem. Health Group. blood or have chest pain, see your GP Medical advances Educator, Bill Wise, on When you’re inside, as soon as you can. n Mr Pick has experienced first- mean reduced 0400 812 384 to start the construction materials, hand the frustration and pain invasiveness, risks discussion. Acclaim offers this wood burning stoves, pet of being unable to help people and recovery times service in both Melbourne and with asbestos-related lung Mr Pick points out that Frankston. cancers because those cancers POH TO > advances in imaging This health information is brought to you by the health and weren’t picked up in time. Adrian Pick, technology and the way wellbeing team at rt health fund, Australia’s only dedicated health ‘By the time someone comes in Melbourne cardiothoracic biopsies and surgeries fund for transport and energy people. Call us on 1300 56 46 46. coughing up blood, it’s too late,’ surgeon are performed mean

22 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 23 CPI AM A GNS > UNIONS AGAINST Racism in Australia

Border control as racism And so it goes. Today, victims of Th e fear & brutal and oppressive governments continue to get on rickety boats and sail hazardous seas in the vain hope loathing of of finding somewhere safe for their families to thrive. Noo ro m More than one million people fled racism and Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq for Europe in 2015. Europe is struggling to cope, but it is trying. In the first month of 2016, another 150,000 made bigotry that journey. We are racists … ask your parents how they were As at November last year, Australia for racism Be proud of what is Australia. After We are racists when we slag off treated by the predominantly English had 1,852 asylum seekers imprisoned There is no room for To honour all the society. offshore and 558 in community all it is the best country in the world a group of people for the way they because of what we have all done. We And then came the Vietnamese. detention on the mainland. That’s racism. Our unions speak, dress, the food they eat or even Australians and made it this way. the way they drive. We are racists the generations Fleeing an oppressive communist all. Yet we put them in prisons that will not put up with when we start a joke with, ‘I’m not regime in the 1970s, they were offered pressure their endurance, their racism, bullying, And since you spend a third of your a racist, but…’ We are racists when of workers who sanctuary here by some, but abused health, their dignity and their sanity, life at work, so you might as well we boo champion footballer Adam joined these by many. every hour of every day. sexism or harassment. enjoy it and make friendships. Goodes because he stands up for We need to all stick together. pioneers to make While there have been Lebanese Are we all racists and bigots? ur industry is full of all his people. We are racists when we Be brothers and sisters. Australians here since the mid- sorts of people. Tall people, verbally or physically abuse people Australia what Dishonest governments use Fight together for our rights nineteenth century, the Lebanese short people, Chinese from other lands as they travel with it is today, we racism as a tool to cling to power. and liberties and stand Civil War saw a large influx of people, Europeans, us on public transport. We are racists Small-minded Australians who fear shoulder to shoulder in pledge to call Lebanese Muslims arrive in the mid- Afghans, Christians, Muslims, you strangers use racism and bigotry. O solidarity. Stand up against when we refer to someone as a out intolerance 1970s. It was that community which name it. Even those scum that chong, a gook, a towel head, a curry The bully, the mean-spirited and the the bullies and stand up became the subject of the Cronulla barrack for Collingwood. And we muncher, a monkey, a paddy or a frog. and prejudice envious use racism. And while we for the bullied. Let’s all riots in Sydney in 2005. should all be mates. wherever we don’t find much evidence here of the do that together. United They were followed by the Somalis We began racist … find it. hardcore white nationalism found I am just an average Aussie guy who under the Southern Cross. and Sudanese who were escaping in the USA or in pockets of Europe, it loves my family, eats pies and drinks The first act of racism was There is no room for brutal regimes in Africa, only to suffer would do us no harm to be mindful beer. committed when the English taunts and prejudice from fellow racism here. n colonisers arrived at Botany Bay of how we treat our new neighbours, But what is an average Aussie guy? Australians. and take a breath before we resort to in 1788 and took this land for Like many of us, my ancestors Yes, they are all Australians. old habits. themselves, while the first peoples migrated here from England and could only look on in horror. It took R acism as fear O ur Union: committed to being Ireland. I drive an American car and until 1967 before we recognised ride a Japanese motorbike. I hang Our political masters are not afraid racism-free Aboriginals as fellow citizens. That’s around Poms, Mexicans, Greeks and to use racism to frighten us. Witness The ETU badge is the Southern 179 years. Africans. I eat Chinese and Italian the Olong — a barely seaworthy Cross. Under this flag, our champions From 1901 until 1945, successive food. I’m told I look Croatian and my boat with 233 souls on board that of democracy said this: ‘Irrespective governments promoted a ‘white wife is from New Zealand. And I call sank near Christmas Island in 2001, of nationality, religion or colour, we Australia policy’ designed to keep out myself an average Australian. Am I from which the crew of the HMAS salute the Southern Cross as a refuge Asians, Africans, Pacific Islanders, right in doing so? Canberra set about rescuing terrified of all the oppressed from all countries W e are all and Southern and Eastern Europeans. asylum seekers. on earth.’ My point is this. Unless you are here for It was originally introduced a true Aboriginal, your parents or Then Immigration Minister Philip Our Union believes this the same because Chinese goldminers were grandparents migrated here from Ruddock, Defence Minister Peter wholeheartedly. reason: to doing much better than their white somewhere else. If we all hadn’t come Reith, and Prime Minister John earn a good counterparts. It took until 1973 before To honour all the Australians and here, we wouldn’t have the great, Howard told Australians that ‘these living and Gough Whitlam got rid of the policy the generations of workers who joined diverse culture and society that we people’ were throwing their children enjoy life. completely. these pioneers to make Australia have today. We wouldn’t have kebabs, into the sea to force rescue and a safe It doesn’t what it is today, we pledge to call out chicken parmas or black bean soup. We continue to be racist … passage to a new life in Australia. intolerance and prejudice wherever matter where We are all here for the same reason: If your family is Italian, or Greek, or That later proved to be a lie: a lie we find it. We will name it and we will you came to earn a good living and enjoy life. It from any of the dozens of European to exploit our fear of a torrent of shame it. Racism and bigotry have no from, what doesn’t matter where you came from, countries from which migrants unwelcome asylum seekers and place in 21st century Australia. n colour your what colour your skin is or what you arrived here in the mid-twentieth present the Howard Government as skin is or  Watch our video ‘Standing up to believe in. If you love Australia and century and set about building the a strong hand so that it could win the what you racism and bigotry’ at etuvic.com.au the way we live, you are an Aussie. PO H TO > Chris Patterson infrastructure that we enjoy today, 2004 election. It worked. believe in.

24 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 25 Auro nd the siteS PO H TO > Western Health

PO H TO > Collins Square development at 727 Collins Street

PO H TO > Members at Bosch in Clayton took industrial action in support of their workplace agreement campaign back in February. Members of the ETU, AWU, NUW and AMWU took stop work action, with more than 50 workers assembling outside the plant in protest at management’s intransigence.

PO H TO > Australis Tower, 601 Little Lonsdale Street

PO H TO > Upper West Side Stage 3

Got any photos of yourself on-site? Email them to us [email protected]

26 THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 27 F EATURE STORY > FUTURETECH OPENING newh tec nology > Insert batteries here Australia’s leading industry severance scheme R enewable energy IS here now The humble battery is about than 40 cents per kWh. Stand by to change everything. Not for a bit of red ink from your power company. the AAs that slip into your computer’s mouse, your Enter the battery Playstation controller or the Battery technology has come ahead remote for your television. in leaps and bounds in recent years. These are batteries on Early solar adapters, frustrated by having to buy back their careful steroids that will power power collection at four times the your home, your suburb and price, are installing very smart eventually, the whole country. lithium batteries, some of which can eliminate dependence on the grid completely. Inbuilt management software tells the system when to flow electricity from storage. For example, on a sunny day, when generation exceeds use, the power will go first to recharge the Y ou choose battery, and then any excess can be 1. Go completely off-grid. delivered to the grid. At night, when This appeals to those of us who are tired of power family demand spikes, the power flow companies rummaging through our wallets. It’s also great goes back to the house. for remote locations, especially where a reliable power On a recent ABC Catalyst television source is needed to fight fires. One disadvantage is that programme, one enthusiast you will need a brute of a battery to get you through at ithin five years, over demonstrated just how effective this least one cloudy week. a million Australian can be – 53% of their household’s homes are expected 2. Almost off-grid. electricity needs now come from the to have one. It will battery, 44% from the solar panels Here you generate most of your own power, but keep the Wprobably be sooner. wire for backup. This also allows you to earn a quid when during the day, and just 3% from the Why 28,540 electricians choose to With a bit of foresight, some grid. feeding your excess back into the grid. investment and some big thinkers, 3. Toe-in-the-water. Australia is uniquely positioned Investment cover their backs with Protect in the world to become the required Install a smaller battery and use your collected solar during the peak hours renewable energy lab. We have While that’s a really when electricity is expensive. This loads of sunshine, we have some of big change, there’s system is modular and allows you to the smartest tech-heads, and our quite a bit of upfront scale up when you are ready. Protect severance Protect Injury and Illness Insurance high electricity prices are driving cost that must be taken • choice of severance account type • up to $75,000 death benefit (plus at-work cover) a demand for change. The [less into account. 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In fact, some arrays can installed. he’s nailed it. collect nearly twice as much as one tax-free genuine redundancy claim limits support provided by independent professionals Up until early His version of the zinc-bromine flow household would need. Already, 1.4 2015, you couldn’t battery is a bit of a racehorse. It uses • plus access to Protect injury and illness insurance throughout Victoria million Australian homes are doing including superior Protect Extra Cover benefits for get a seven kilowatt a gel to transport the charged particles, this. which has a number of advantages, not the least of which union members battery, plus inverter, plus You then sell the excess back to installation, for under about $15,000. is superfast charging. This means you could potentially Visit www.protect.net.au the grid at a measley seven cents But in the last six months, prices have charge a phone, or even an electric car in just a few or call 1300 344 249 to protect per kilowatt hour [kWh]. But come suddenly dropped by a third or even minutes! the evening, when you flick on the more. And costs will continue their One of its biggest pluses is the gel – that makes it bendy your severance. lights and arc up the telly and put the downward trend. That knock at the and that means it won’t crack. It also means it could be save time and hassle. Go online or download the Protect dishwasher through, when typically door is probably a power company scaled up and included as part of the structure of new iPhone app to make a claim or access your account. about 60% of your power gets used, trying to flog you a ‘special battery buildings. Lendlease is one of a number of big construction you will have to buy it back at more deal’. companies exploring this potential right now. http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ protect/id427743458?mt=8 28 www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 29 uicom et v .c .au/member-benefits

Ae liftim of benefits A fter an accident Being a member of the ETU you not left him with only sign up to a union that can deliver paraplegia, industrial strength on the worksite, Stuart you join a community of like minded turned to individuals who are there for each THE ETU. other and our families. ‘I’m lucky that I was working for an employer that had an ETU agreement with a Protect Income Protection clause,’ says Stuart. Work helps define us and it’s critical we are protected and ‘The Protect Insurer, ATC, paid me a weekly wage for two years for my injury. looked after on the job but your family life is just as important. I also received a $75,000 lump sum for my disability. For 114 years the ETU has recognised this we’ve always been about being there for you no matter what life stage you’re in. The insurer paid for the modifications to my bathroom, installing access ramps and decking, and for reconstructing my driveway and an automatic Thanks to our collective strength and buying power of over front gate, so that I could get in and out of my car. The insurance was a huge 20,000 members, we can deliver you a range of benefits and help when I needed it most.’ services that enhance you and your families lives. By being paid up and proud, we can Stuart Brown, ETU member WHAU T ET FOR LIFE MEANT TO ENRICO continue to grow these services and make a difference everyday. It’s up to you to One day, quite out of the blue, I suddenly started to feel so unwell that I knew I make the most of them. Talk about them Y our Union membership pays for itself needed to call an ambulance. I was taken to hospital, where it turns out that I had with your family and if you need help, let suffered a minor heart attack. Receiving a bill for $4,000 for the trip to hospital Ambulance Cover for your family Value $82.60 us know. Remember the ETU is there was another nasty shock – until I discovered that I was covered by the ETU’s Funeral Cover for self and partner Value $450 with you for life. Ambulance Benefit. I was very grateful that I had the ETU to look after it for me. Free power bonus with Powershop Value $100 (+ $200 avg savings) Since that day, my ETU membership has brought me peace of mind... Because you Troy Gray Petrol or grocery voucher from rt health Value $100 (+ ongoing savings) never know when the unexpected might happen. Stecretaryta Se Enrico Santucci, ETU member Minimum annual savings $732.60 Average annual union fee $620.00

Fre e Baby Pack Future Tech training Legal Advice Fre e Will Mkia ng life We all know having a baby is one of Whether your starting out in the trade as an Sometimes life doesn’t go to plan service better the most rewarding experiences in apprentice or need to skill up, the ETU’s new and when things go wrong it’s good When you’ve worked hard to From ambulance cover, health life but it’s also one of the toughest. Training Centre, FutureTech, offers the best to know someone is on your side. The improve your life, you want insurance, income protection, Let’s us know when your child is born trade courses around. FutureTechs trainers ETU have teamed up with Slater and the things you love to go to the through to a $7000 funeral and we’ll send you out a fantastic new have worked with you out in the field and Gordon Lawyers and provide a range people you love. The ETU now benefit, no matter what your baby pack to help get you started. know the issues you face. From a Certificate of legal services to help you when offer a free will service for you life situation and stage the ETU III in Electrotechnology through to REC’s for you need it most. and your family. is there with you. Contractors, ETU training is there for you throughout your whole career.

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30 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 31 A PPRENTICES > national conference newh tec nology > Insert batteries here

suicide prevention and intervention. I strongly believe that this highlights the importance of being observant of each other and checking in on our Har vester N aation l mates. This may include standing up for safe work practices or linking our fellow trades men and women to counselling services offered though College Apprentice Protect. Women working in a male- dominated industry Apprentice A discussion led by Jess Rodgers, the industrial officer from CEPU SA, Conference shed light on women working in male- dominated industries. Currently, only Awards By Jason O’Halloran, Vocational Education and 2.5% of all national ETU apprentices 4th Year Apprentice Training (VET) are women. The bottom line is that we The Harvester Lance McCallum, the ETU’s National all need to play our part in boosting Technical College and Consultative Policy Officer, outlined the proposals these numbers to contribute to an Committee member from the latest discussion paper by equitable future. Awards night was the Department of Education and held on Thursday, 12 G enerating Conversation longside Apprentices Training. We deliberated over November 2015 at the Officer Omar Merhi the VET quality framework, Generating conversation is key and fellow apprentice standards for registered to shaping our future. Talk to your Harvester Technical Jackson McKee from training organisations and mates, check in on your mates; do College campus in AVictoria, I had the pleasure of proposed reforms to help you think that they could somehow attending the 2016 National shape the future for the next benefit from the ETU? If so, perhaps Sunshine North. Apprentice Conference hosted generation of electricians. generating conversation may help O mar Merhi in Adelaide at the CEPU office. them stay connected. Statistics show Looking out for your that many trades women and men ETU Apprentice The conference highlighted Organiser mates would consider enquiring into the various issues currently impacting An organisation called Mates benefits of the ETU if someone asked apprentices around the country NEW in Construction was discussed, them. Generating conversation The event was and was facilitated by National which is available in select states. I can lead to a louder voice and attended by a Apprentices Officer, Mark Burgess. personally think that this would be subsequently to bringing better significant number of We were lucky to be joined by hoodies great to have nationwide, as their aim outcomes for current and future industry players, the numerous state officials and guest is to combat the high level of suicide electricians. award recipients as speakers, including ETU National It was a great, informative amongst Australian construction It’s your trade; it’s your future. n well as all of the nominees. Secretary Allen Hicks. Coming evening, and an opportunity workers and they specifically target The ETU sponsored the award for the Best Certificate II in to reward and recognise Electrotechnology for a student. ETU those apprentices who excel soon Apprentice Officer Omar Merhi and in their chosen trade. teacher Roger Wells, himself an ETU member despite having moved off excel in their chosen trade ... A huge t o the the tools, presented the award to the congratulations to Aleksandar and all winner Aleksandar Maravic. the other award winners, as well as Aleksandar was delighted with the all those that were nominated.’ ET U ETU pack and cheque he received We recognise and appreciate the as the winner, and thanked the ETU respect that the teachers at this numerous times during his speech. shop College have for the ETU. An important opportunity to The ETU will continue to sponsor celebrate our apprentices and these awards at different campuses a special organisation that across the Victoria. Our apprentices Place your order supports them are the future of our trade and the etuvic.com.au Said Omar Merhi: ‘It was a movement. We hope to remain or over the phone great, informative evening, and sponsors of these important awards 03 8329 0000 an opportunity to reward and for many years to come. n recognise those apprentices who

32 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 33 A PPRENTICES > Casualisation A PPRENTICES > Casualisation

The younger guys wanted Becoming a change agent to know more about their meant becoming a target rights and conditions. Perhaps it was my parental union However, when offered the heritage, or perhaps it was the posters choice, most preferred the S Th e casual around our site urging us to stand up, L SOES N shortsighted option of casual speak out, come home, that inspired loading over a full-time job. me to try and make a change. D This was disappointing as it ELEA RN handed bosses their rights I noticed that my wages and and entitlements. Had they entitlements were inconsistent, and growing so I made enquiries. This was experienced a fair workplace, Talk to your workmates immediately met with fierce denials their choices may have been about the issues that concern different. and threats of termination. I was asked to attend a meeting where I you. was handed a list of fictitious over- attack on payments to me totalling several Stand together, ask your thousand dollars, and a threat that Union for advice. Nothing will more questions would lead to a change if you don’t change it. demand for reimbursement. workers’ When it became apparent that the Become an ETU member. The company-selected OH&S rep had left ETU EBA has a section that the company seven months prior, I allows employees to become decided to put my hand up for the job. full-time, with all the benefits, What I did was paint a huge target after eight weeks in a six- rights on my back. month period. Union rescue The ETU EBA also provides I was immediately victimised, isolated from my work group that subcontractors and and demoted to lesser duties, employees of contractors he casualization of our It was common practice for site all while being under the ever- must enjoy wages and workers is gathering managers to be subcontracted or watchful eye of the company conditions that are no less speed, and with it comes casual employees. Even the OH&S attack dog, the subcontractor favourable than those job insecurity, dangerous representative was a subbie chosen site manager. provided for in the ETU Tworkplaces, anxiety, bullying and by the boss, without consultation. I was lucky. I was an agreement. standover tactics. It means no holiday This allowed the company directors apprentice with a formal full-time pay and no paid sick leave. It ensures to palm worksite issues off on casual contract, and I was protected. a culture of distrust and division site managers who were under When it comes around to The ETU had my back from my first amongst workers. It exposes our pressure to keep management your new agreement, make phone call enquiring about my pay, to families to the whims of profit-hunters. onside, leaving employees’ the strong legal team that protected me. sure you have your Union in concerns out in the cold. Apprentice Cameron Hill joined us I could not have done it without my your corner — they will fight at ETU HQ as a Victorian Trades Hall Union. for what’s fair. Council [VTHC] summer intern, and A revolving door showing reported on his experience in such a casual workers in, and those Becoming a digital workplace. who speak up — out revolutionary to build public Workers more experienced in awareness of casual work Importing bad practice that fair workplaces would speak up pitfalls over pay, conditions and health brings unskilled labour and We must educate the public on why and safety to their cost. They were deliberately undermines casual employment over the long usually shown the door S worker leverage term is so much worse than full-time, THa nk by generally younger This foreign-owned, electrical union-protected work. As part of my (inexperienced), subcontracted, My time with the VTHC youth contracting company has a small research project I created a social or casual site managers program, and with my host Union, number of proud Union members. media post to begin the process by protecting their own jobs. ETU Vic, was extremely beneficial However, they [the workers] are blogging on current issues within our Management had successfully overwhelmed by unskilled, casual workforce, and posted it to the Union and educational. I would highly created a culture in which labourers doing the work of Australia Facebook group. recommend it to any young workers preferred to shut up, electricians. worker with a concern to ensure rather than speak up. My post received over 160 likes, This is doubly concerning as it over 115 shares and a reach of 50,000 all workers are protected. affects the safety of airports around in just over a week. Good start! n Australia.

34 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 35 SUE RV Y > Womens’ committee SUE RV Y > Womens’ committee

Iin The r Own Words ET U Women surveyed from the Women about their experience Surveyed Th e ETU female working in a male- W ould you recommend the trade to female family or friends? members’ survey: dominated trade “I think it’s a wonderful trade for women, and don’t understand why more women The ETU is proud to have excellent female members aren’t involved.” and dedicated, hard-working union delegates who “The diversity of career paths is vast and so in their own words provide vital support to our members and the union. there is a niche for everyone.” The following are Based on my experience of 33 years in I would like to see an acknowledgement the trade, I totally recommend it. Great from within the industry that women are However, we are conscious that a • An astonishing 85% indicated that “My dad was horrified I was going to be one verbatim responses from choice for women. There are an enormous not “stealing jobs from blokes”. We all wide range of issues impact more they have difficulty in obtaining of those rough women. Was so good when I the survey on female amount of career paths within the trade have different strengths and weaknesses. ” greatly on our female membership. appropriately fitting work attire. started earning more money than him. members’ experiences to choose from and I can see no reason It’s better if we work together.’ We would like to address these issues why a woman should not consider them.’ more directly and comprehensively. Positive feedback on an electrical C hanges you’d like to see? with working in the male- More women in the workforce would trade career and the union My company gave me the same help take away the novelty of having a Learning more about our women There was more positive news when “Better education of acceptable behaviour. dominated electrical opportunities they gave to my male women on site. Less attention so you can members: the survey and its results we asked about their views on the Better processes in place to deal with trade and the union. colleagues. Good industry, good money, just get on with your work.’ Early this year, we electrical trade and the union: harassment and bullying.” can learn a lot.’ A cceptance. We’re just trying to make a were lucky to have • 94% would recommend a career “Acceptance. We’re just trying to make a living W ould you recommend the There’s a sense of accomplishment that My company living too. Don’t feel threatened by us a young woman in the electrical trade to female too. Don’t feel threatened by us because that’s trade to female family or goes with the work. Men are less gave me because that’s not our intention.’ electrician working friends and family not our intention.” judgemental now or it could be because the same with us as part of the friends? Better education of acceptable • 79% felt that the ETU was I’ve been with this company for so long I opportunities Trades Hall’s Union “Support for mums with kids that require behaviour. Better processes in place to Laura Birch approachable on issues they If you are strong enough, there are have a good reputation that they judge they gave Summer Program. flexible working arrangements.” deal with harassment and bullying. More experienced at work. good career opportunities.’ less.’ to my male Laura Birch spent three weeks “Mandatory women’s and men’s colleagues. encouragement to stand up for what is working with the ETU, learning how A call for a women’s committee or bathrooms on site!” I think a woman can work in the The industry simply isn’t equipped to Good industry, right and what is fair rather than staying unions operate. network within the ETU electrical industry just as much as a man deal with harassment and bullying of good money, silent due to fear of retribution.’ For her Union Summer project, There was also strong support for can. If they are passionate about a career females in the trade. I spent more time can learn a lot.’ Laura was interested in exploring the establishment of an ETU Women’s in the industry and are eager to learn new dealing with constant issues related to I n general women’s experiences of working Committee, with agreeing skills and knowledge then they will being a female, then actually just being a 82% Even though I wasn’t prepared for what in the male-dominated electrical that it would be useful for sharing succeed at whatever they put their mind sparky and doing the work.’ I think it’s a I encountered as a female electrician, the trade. Laura developed a survey that views and providing support, and to.’ wonderful harassment, the rudeness and even the she was keen to put to our female indicating their interest in W hat changes affecting 76% I feel it is a wonderful trade but trade for anger, I still don’t regret it. It has been a members, and we jumped at the participating in an informal women’s unfortunately, unless they are a woman women would you like to see? women, rollercoaster over the years but even now suggestion. network. and don’t of very strong character, I feel that based Positive attitudes towards women. A I can’t imagine doing anything else.’ understand The ETU is committed to supporting on my experience I would not recommend support group to combat issues we face Women confront different issues why more I think it is all how we approach things deserving Union attention all of our members and will be the trade to female friends or family.’ as women.’ exploring ways we can improve women aren’t as women. You can’t expect to be treated The survey of female ETU members the working lives of our It a way to earn the same pay scale as A menities!!!!!’ involved.’ differently or be too precious. All I ask for provided us with some interesting men, find out not all men are bullies. Earn is respect, the same as I give and easily women members. Mandatory women’s and men’s insights into their experience at work: the respect of men for your own ability accessible toilets.’ n Watch this space. n bathrooms on site (mostly construction • 80% felt that they had work related- and not what you look like. To show I am issues that differ from their male not going to be intimidated by what other sites I have found won’t have a women’s colleagues people think. My dad was horrified I was toilet). Even if a toilet that can be used as going to be one of those rough women. unisex would be fine, but it’s not right • 69% have, at one time or another, that the only toilets on site all have urinals felt isolated or excluded in their Was so good when I started earning more money than him.’ along the walls, making it impossible for workplace because of their gender women and men to use these facilities at • 68% felt like they had been judged I think it’s a wonderful trade for the same time.’ by their appearance rather women, and don’t understand why more than their work abilities, either women aren’t involved.’ Be treated exactly the same as the occasionally or frequently guys. Not as a novelty, be taken seriously It’s a very accessible trade for females before having to prove you know what • 51% reported that they had been who are not ‘office’ oriented. The you are either doing or talking about.’ subjected to bullying or harassment diversity of career paths is vast and so that they believed was gender- there is a niche for everyone.’ Support for mums with kids that related require flexible working arrangements.’

36 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 37 precedents; 1 to dictate a letter; 1 to stipulate; 1 to write interrogatories; 2 BREK A ING to settle; and 36 to bill for professional services. Unless you’re an ETU lawyer, NEWS: in which case it’s just 1, to direct an SAFEGUARD YOUR organiser to do it. Lawyers are Emma: [too busy drafting formal people too notification of lightbulb dispute, pursuant to dispute resolution ETU completes The ETU has three in-house procedure in enterprise agreement, FAMILY WITH THE to answer question]. n lawyers who are here to help. transition to Geoff is from a fine pedigree ETU NEWS: What is your favourite Joe of lawyers. His parents are thing about working for the ETU? innovative Youssef ETU HEALTH PLAN lawyers, his sister is a lawyer Geoff: kicking a*** for the working and, as you can imagine, their class engagement family dinner conversations Lucy: that time I left my phone “ With a young family to look after, rt health fund’s hospital and extras cover gives me peace of mind. The tax are pretty dry. Geoff has been charger in the office overnight, and management when I got to work the next day it had advantages and Healthy Dollars program make it an affordable option. And, being a Members Own Health lawyering for the ETU since 2002. been tested and tagged. True story. system Fund and backed by the ETU means I’m confident I’ve made the right choice for my family’s health.” Emma: fighting the good fight against At the end of April the ETU completed Lucy is not from a family of lawyers. HR. *growls* the transition to a brand new member Her grandmother, a former union delegate, did not hide her disapproval ETU NEWS: And what have you three database and communications platform. done for us lately? upon learning that Lucy had decided The new database gives us a modern platform for the to go to law school. Lucy would The ETU has joined forces with rt health fund, Australia’s Geoff: Collectively recovered over $1 union’s growth. It will create efficiencies, allow us to like to think that she has now been million in unpaid wages, unfair and enhance member services and to continually improve. forgiven for her apparent error in unlawful dismissals, and through A small project team, led by Rod Dalglish (General only health fund for energy industry people. judgement. She is celebrating her 1 other industrial disputes since we Manager of Business Services), Jason Gibson year anniversary with the ETU in started counting last year. (Communications Manager) and Anju Sharma (IT April, having previously lawyered for [interview is briefly interrupted while EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS HEALTHY DOLLARS the AMWU and ACTU. Administrator), has been working away feverishly the lawyers high five each other] behind the scenes since mid-2015 on the transition. FOR ETU MEMBERS! Emma’s first lesson at her father’s REWARDS – Lucy: And so you see, lawyers Following an exhaustive evaluation and selection “More members knee was not to be a scab. Emma was are people too! I mean, they’re not ✔ A $100 petrol or grocery voucher EXCLUSIVE TO ETU a quick learner. Emma has been with process, the union chose iMIS by Advanced Solutions recommend rt health necessarily good people as a general International as our preferred platform for the future. (your choice) to thank you for Because you’re an ETU member, you’ll the ETU for a year and a half, and is rule, but I feel like ETU lawyers are fund to their friends about to be admitted to legal practice iMIS is the world’s number 1 Engagement Management coming on board! benefi t from a one-of-a-kind Healthy the exception to that particular rule. and family than members at a fancy ceremony in the Supreme System and has helped thousands of associations and ✔ An immediate waiver of all two and Dollars program that sets aside 5% of Court. Emma: And we’re available to not-for-profit organisations to grow, reduce expenses your annual contributions to help you of any major health assist ETU members for all types of and improve performance. three-month waiting periods Geoff, Lucy and Emma took some cover certain out-of-pocket health costs. workplace issues, free of charge! The cloud-based, unified system will enable the fund in Australia * time out of their busy schedules to try ✔ One month free cover when you’ve .” union’s staff to remain in contact with all of the office’s been with us for six months As your Healthy Dollars build you to answer the tough questions: can use the money to: resources, even when out on the road. ETU NEWS: How many lawyers does ✔ Special Healthy Dollars saving S et up to thrive in the digital age • pay your excess it take to change a lightbulb? program when you’ve been with In addition to database management, iMIS incorporates • cover out-of-pocket hospital expenses or I feel like this is a us for two years. Geoff: a web-publishing platform and integrated email • to pay your contributions. demarcation issue. The marketing suite. In the coming months you will see organisers should change Ask our team for more information a new face for the ETU online as we launch new the light bulbs. on this exclusive ETU benefi t. member and public web sites. The new email marketing Lucy: 54. 8 to argue; 1 to get a technology will allow us to keep you better informed Want to know more? continuance; 1 to object; 1 and to modernise our membership renewal processes. *Ipsos, ‘Healthcare and Insurance in Australia’, 2013. to demur; 2 to research Your ETU health plan consultant, Alison, can answer your questions. © RT Health Fund 2015. 0415/2986 The transition to iMIS is an exciting innovation that will transform the way our union operates. We are only the > Emma Barnes > Geoff Borenstein > Lucy Weber second Australian union to adopt the system and we’re confident that many others will follow our lead. The Call 0467 000 717 Keep them busy members; it’s better that way. ETU is committed to maintaining our position as one or 1300 767 388 We swear they are better at arguing the law than they are at writing articles of Australia’s most innovative and forward-looking unions. With the adoption of iMIS, we believe we Email [email protected] for the ETU news. They can be contacted at (03) 8329 0000 or at have set up the union to thrive in the digital age. n Visit www.rthealthfund.com.au/etu.html [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. n

38 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 39

2986_rt_etu_fp_autumn journal_275x235_final.indd 1 14/04/2015 8:22 am Pay early* for a cbus chance to win and insurance As a Cbus member you can access *Members on a recurring payment (Direct Debit) etc need only complete affordable insurance options, and return the member survey to be eligible for the prize draw. because workmates and hardhats this Nissan. will only protect you so far. Cbus insurance provides: • 24/7 death and disablement protection for workers* • Members and their families with peace of mind • Flexibility to increase your cover • Insurance premiums are paid out of your super, not your take home pay.

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‘Thanks to you staying paid up and proud, we can continue to Call Cbus on 1300 361 784 deliver great services and benefits that make a difference to or visit www.cbussuper.com.au you and your families lives. Pay up early and win this fantastic car and remember... the ETU is with you for life!’ Troy Gray State Secretary This information is about Cbus. It doesn’t take into account your specific needs so you should look at your own financial position, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide if Cbus is right for you. Contact 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au for a copy. 40 ETU VICTORIAT HE etu > AUTUM SINCEN 2016 1902 www.facebook.com/etuvic Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262 ETU FOR LIFE > COMMUNITY GRANTS

St Mary’s Football Community Netball Club The President and Committee of the St Mary’s Senior Football and Netball Grants have passed on their thanks to the ETU for our continued partnership with Club the club in 2016. The ETU have supported the club for a number of years through our Community Grants Fund. The St Mary’s Football Brad’s bash to Netball Club is a senior, ‘family Sbanst Al Saints M orwELL Junior oriented’ football club located in Greensborough, Victoria, Soccer Club help the kids The St Albans Saints have tweeted their thanks established to provide junior Sparkie Brad Nash and a group of mates will set off on a 10-day trip to Football Clubs footballers at the end of their to the ETU for sponsorship under the union’s Darwin in August as part of the 2016 Variety Club Bash. The ETU Branch junior playing days with an Community Grants Fund. The union sponsored the Executive has backed Brad and his team with a $5,000 donation and is Consolidate opportunity to continue their purchase of new ice baths for the club (pictured). encouraging members to get behind this inspiring event. The Morwell Eagles Junior Football Club was formed in late 2015 through the merger of the Morwell Tigers and football pursuits in a family- Croatian immigrants to the area established The team of seven, including two boiler makers, two truck drivers, a the Morwell Youth Club. friendly and fun environment. St Albans Saints Soccer Club. It is a regular concreter and a sparkie, have bought and renovated a bus for the trip that The club’s doors are open to all participant in the Australian-Croatian Soccer Club President Anthony Bloomfield says there has been they have christened ‘Good Vibrations’. Their aim is to raise $60,000 so they like-minded players and football Tournament and well known for having produced an enthusiastic response to the merger. ‘There’s a good, can buy a mini bus for the Officer Specialist School. fans alike. They currently field many great players over the years, including many positive vibe from the kids which is probably the key to ETU members got behind Brad and his team in 2013, helping them to raise Seniors, Reserves and U19’s who have gone on to play for its sister club, the future our growth.’ more than $63,000 for the Variety Club. For this year’s event they must raise teams that compete in the NFL. Melbourne Knights. The club currently competes in The ETU has supported the new club, providing $10,000 to enter, a figure they are confident they will exceed in the lead up to Find out more about St Mary’s the Victorian State League Division 1. sponsorship of $1,000 through our Community Grants the event. here: www.stmarysfc.org Fund. The sponsorship money will be used to finance new You can find out more about St Albans Saints here: The Variety Children’s Charity works with families stalbanssaints.com uniforms for the kids at low or no cost. n and organisations to support children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. ‘I’m very lucky to have three healthy kids who don’t need assistance, but it’s so important that we support kids who don’t,’ Brad said. n For information on how you can support Brad’s team in the 2016 Variety Bash, contact Brad on Australia’s best value trade 0413 842 237 or at [email protected] insurance just got better SAVE PO H TO > Plaque unveiling: Bill Tilley (MLA for UP To Benambra) and Dick Puttyfoot (Shed President) At ATC TradePack, we only insure ATC TradePack insurance 40% electrical contractors. So we really • From $360 for $5M public liability M ouNT Beauty Men’s Shed understand your business. • From $475 for $10M public liability After more than four years of hard work, the Call us now, answer a few short questions Mount • $160 for $2,500 tools of trade cover Beauty & District Men’s Shed opened its doors in about your insurance needs and we can send you an offer today. • From $22 per week for income protection February this year. The purpose of the Men’s Shed is to • Backed by Lloyd’s of London provide a place where men can work on private and Plus we offer exclusive discounts for ETU financial members. • No paperwork, no hassle community projects and mentor young people. Mention this ad and go in the draw to • Talk to a specialist, not a call centre ExCLUSIVE ‘During the process of working together, an invaluable win two Village Gold Class movie tickets. DISCoUnTS metamorphosis takes place. Members start to talk to each for ETU other, mateship develops and men may open up about mEmbErS health problems or pass on helpful information to each Telephone ATC TradePack on (03) 9258 1700 other,’ said President Dick Puttyfoot. The ETU is a proud supporter of the Men’s Shed, and has CALL made a financial contribution through our Community ATC Insurance Solutions for A “We saved over $500 Grants Fund that has assisted with the purchase of a Wet & Email: [email protected] with ATC TradePack” PO H TO > Sparkie Brad Nash (right) with INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Level 9, 499 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 3004 QUoTE the kids from the Officer Specialist Dry Pullman Vacuum Cleaner and two welding helmets. n Alex Hay AVH Electrical Contractors School, hopes to raise $60,00 driving You can find out more about the Mount Beauty Men’s Shed in this years Variety Club Bash. here: www.mountbeautymensshed.org.au ATC TradePack products are issued by ATC Insurance Solutions Pty Ltd (“ATC”) ABN 25 121 360 978 AFS Licence 305802 acting under a binder as an agent of various Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Terms and conditions apply. Before making a decision about any ATC insurance products, please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. Visit our website at www.atcis.com.au/TradePack or contact us for a copy. ADV044 | April 2014 www.atcis.com.au/TradePack 42 T HE etu > AUTUMN 2016 www.facebook.com/etuvic www.etuvic.com.au THE etu > AUTUMN 2016 43

OFF% SALE! Zip Hoodie Long Sleeve Polo 50 Designed in Australia. Designed in Australia. Made $20 $17.50 Made from 320gsm from 160gsm TruDry knitted 80% cotton/20% mesh. 60% cotton, 40% $10 polyester blend, with polyester. Contrast colour on fleece lining, two sides and sleeves with piping. front pockets, full Features embroidered ETU zipper and hood with logo on left breast. Flag Man T contrasting draw Shirt (Grey) string. Features ETU Victoria on front, ETU Australian made logo on back and print from 165gsm on each sleeve. Australian fabric. $17.50 100% cotton.

Hi Vis Hoodie Designed in Australia. Made from 300gsm. Polyester/ cotton blend, fleece lined with full zipper and hood. Features ETU logo print on left breast and back. Also features 3M Scotchlite reflective tape and pen pocket on left sleeve.

Dare To Struggle Touch One Touch Short Sleeve Polo $10 T Shirt (Navy) $10 All T Shirt $15 Made from 185gsm TruDry Australian made from Pique. 60% cotton, 40% Australian made from 165gsm Australian polyester. Breathable mesh 165gsm Australian fabric. 100% cotton. panels under arms and fabric. 100% cotton. on sides.

NEW $17.50 Beach Towel die 100% cotton terry jacquard hoo knit towel. 75cm x 150cm. Coming n! oso HURRY! E YTHIVER NG HA S TO GO!

The ETU has All hats,caps Place your order sourced clothing and beanies manufacturers ETU logo on front. etuvic.com.au/shop who ensure One size fits all. that Australian or over the phone workers receive fair wages and $5 03 8329 0000 work in decent conditions.