The Australian Worker Magazine Issue 4 2009

AWU21_p1_CoverFINAL.indd 1 1/12/2009 4:19:03 PM

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AWU21_p1_CoverFINAL.indd 1 27/11/2009 11:00:23 AM

AWU21_p3_Contents.indd 3 1/12/2009 4:21:00 PM

AWU21_p4-5_Bill & Paul.indd 4 1/12/2009 4:22:38 PM

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6 theaustralianworker www.awu.net.au

FAIR WORK ACT

6 theaustralianworker

❯ ❯

The major changes

The safety net conditions

The Fair Work Act is now part of working life. But what does it all mean? Cate Carrigan looks at “The

Act” and demystifies some of its key elements. WRITTEN BY CATE CARRIGAN PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

What’s what in the new system

What does it all mean for unions like the AWU?

part ofIT’S ALL

THE ACT

OPPOSITE: Under the Howard regime’s

WorkChoices, workers and their Unions were on the

brink of losing the “tug-of-war” over working

rights and conditions of employment. The election

of the Rudd Labor Government has heralded

a new era in workplace fairness and justice.

AWU21_p06-8_FairWork.indd 6 1/12/2009 4:24:15 PM

www.awu.net.au theaustralianworker 7

“Workers will no longer be forced into AWAs, which were used to attack

collective bargaining in the workplace and to erode wages and conditions.”

AWU21_p06-8_FairWork.indd 7 1/12/2009 4:24:44 PM


“We have seen a remarkable number of people who have taken

the new opportunities available to join the Union.”

Union rights and responsibilities

So, when can workers strike?

Unfair dismissal

◆

FAIR WORK ACT

AWU21_p06-8_FairWork.indd 8 3/12/2009 8:30:02 AM


WORKPLACE SAFETY


safetyIN TUNE WITH

AWU21_p10-13_OCCHealth.indd 10 1/12/2009 4:25:45 PM



WORKPLACE SAFETY

“There should be an unqualifi ed obligation on

employers to provide a safe

and healthy workplace and

when something goes wrong,

employers must prove they did not

break the law.”

Identifying key concerns

Giving workers a say

Making employers responsible



“Employers have really gone to town on this issue and run a bit of a scare campaign around it, saying unions will abuse it. Since 1943, there have been less than 20 prosecutions, so it hasn’t really been abused.”

◆

Empowering occupational health and safety representatives

Respecting the role of unions

The right to take court action


AWU21_p14-19_Postcard.indd 14 1/12/2009 4:29:49 PM






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GOVERNMENT REVIEW

“Captain Kev and his team still

show a more humane approach

than did their predecesors.”

◆

Kev’s Team swept on to the fi eld and is conducting

a well-rounded innings.


AWU21_p024-26_Aboriginal.indd 24 2/12/2009 8:27:36 AM



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AWU21_p28-41_Frontline.indd 28 2/12/2009 1:26:04 PM


A country that makes things

TULIP launches Palestine-Israel solidarity fund

❯ ❯

A national manufacturing roundtable

discussion in Canberra has seen key

company, government and union leaders

come together to map out a future for

Australian manufacturing.

The meeting was a key step forward in

the Manufacturing Alliance campaign

organised by Australia’s biggest manufacturing

unions, the AMWU and the AWU.

The roundtable was opened by Federal

Industry Minister Kim Carr, chaired by the

Dean of the Faculty of Business at the

University of Technology Sydney, Professor

Roy Green, and attended by over 30 senior

company executives from some of Australia’s

largest manufacturing fi rms.

The meeting demonstrated a shift to

a more collaborative approach between

workers, government and business.

“This is a meeting that would not have

been possible two years ago,” AMWU

National Secretary Dave Oliver said. “Today,

we have seen how much more can be

achieved by working together in comparison

to the confrontational, hostile environment

encouraged by the last Liberal government.”

Participants discussed major areas

of co-operation to form the basis of

a new strategy for manufacturing in the

years ahead, and seven key success factors

were identifi ed to sustain a high-growth

strategy for Australian manufacturing:● Building better manufacturing

businesses; ● Better macro-economic policy and

management; ● Successful global engagement; ● Boosting key industries;

● New-generation manufacturing; ● Growing productivity through collaboration;

and ● A manufacturing industry Australia

believes in.

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said

the forum had opened up a dialogue which

would be good for workers and industry.

“We need to also focus on the industries

of the future, and strategies that will build

on our manufacturing base and which exploit

our know-how and wealth of innovation,”

Paul said.

The meeting concluded with a strong

consensus that bringing business, unions and

the government together would improve the

sector’s ability to focus on achieving

productivity based on innovation, co-operation,

open engagement and exports.

■ Let’s bust the dustThe AWU is calling for “prioritised

removal” of all asbestos-containing

materials from Australia by 2030.

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes has called

for the creation of a federal national asbestos

taskforce to manage this process.

“The AWU is advocating a ‘dangerous

product’ recall as this slow-moving catastrophe

has destroyed the lives of thousands of workers,

and will kill and maim thousands more over the

next 20 years,” Paul said.

Paul said the federal government must

establish a national body with a regulatory

mandate to map priority areas – such as

schools and public places – for asbestos, and

oversee its careful and complete removal.

“A national asbestos taskforce could

facilitate and resource an asbestos summit to

bring together industry leaders, regulatory

bodies and the nation’s top medical asbestos

disease experts,” Paul said. “Together with

governments – state, federal and local – such a

summit could identify urgent priority areas for

asbestos removal and develop a national

strategy to deal with this ‘slow-burn’ national

emergency once and for all.”

Paul believes the prioritised removal of all

asbestos products from Australia by 2030 is

achievable, if the federal government makes it a

priority. Tasmania, for example, is already considering

the prioritised removal of asbestos products from the

state. He has also called for the establishment of a

national asbestos register for all Australians ill from,

or exposed to, asbestos and for the establishment of

a register of all priority areas linked to a national

register of asbestos present in buildings

“This would streamline compensation payments

for asbestos victims and, in time, help to establish a

uniform national level of both compensation and

medical care,” Paul said.

In addition, he said the government should

commission an actuarial study to cost the resources

necessary to start to remove asbestos in a

systematic way.

“We believe that an actuarial study will show it

is cheaper to remove asbestos materials from

Australia than to fund the medical cost of treating

Australians contracting asbestos-related diseases

over some decades to come,” Paul said.

The inaugural executive meeting

of Trade Unions Linking Israel

and Palestine in October saw the

launch of the TULIP Solidarity Fund

to support Israeli and Palestinian

unions undertaking projects of

mutual interest.

Chairing the inaugural TULIP executive

meeting in London, AWU National

Secretary Paul Howes said, “The

opportunity to provide practical support

to working people in Israel and Palestine

should not be missed. We aim to

support projects developed by Israeli

and Palestinian trade unions to bring

progress to a region in need of more

action rather than words.”

TULIP has determined to work

towards objectives which help to create

greater opportunities for positive relations

between Israeli and Palestinian workers.



FRONTLINE NEWS QLD

L- R AWU Organiser Wayne Mills, retiring AWU Member Charlie Spiteri and AWU Bandag Delegate Matt Hunter.

Queensland Branch NewsRead about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU...

The AWU’s Queensland Branch is pleased to be

a successful applicant to the Q150 celebrations,

which commemorate Queensland’s

independence from NSW as a colony.

The Union has a proud history in Queensland, dating back to

1886, and its library has many historically signifi cant

and important artefacts dating back to the 1890s. It

has received a $10,000 grant from the Queensland

government to preserve its membership rolls.

The rolls are the most important items in the

library and date back to 1913. The Union often

■ AWU wins grant to preserve historyreceives telephone calls inquiring about past AWU

Members, and the rolls enable family members to

research as far back as 95 years for information

about their predecessors.

The rolls provide an invaluable resource for

historians researching Queensland’s past, and the

AWU is pleased to be able to assist family members

and friends with information about their forebears.

The Union takes its role in Queensland’s history

seriously and thanks the state government for its

assistance in preserving it.

Goodbye and good luck, CharlieRetiring AWU Member Charlie Spiteri started

work at Bandag Australia on February 1,

1972, and he’s been an AWU Member the

whole time. Charlie will retire at Christmas

after a lifetime of hard work.

Married with three boys, who are now aged 34,

32, and 30, Charlie came with his parents to

Australia from Malta in 1963, when he was 15.

They landed at the Port of Brisbane, and moved to

Bundamba, and Charlie’s been working pretty

much ever since he arrived in Australia.

Why had Charlie stayed at Bandag so long?

“If I wasn’t here, I’d just be somewhere else,

mate!” he said. And of the best thing about

working for Bandag? “I work, they pay me.”

Charlie’s been on the afternoon shift for

25 years and said one of the big advantages is

that you can get up early and go fi shing, then

get back in time to start your shift.

He owns seven boats of all shapes and sizes,

and his sons have inherited their father’s love of

fi shing, but that’s not always a good thing.

When Charlie’s son borrowed his boat once

he came home and said, “Dad, we [slipped] up

today. We lost your [boat’s] motor in 80 feet of

water.” It had come off after they’d turned too

sharply in the dam.

“They always bring me home a feed of fi sh,

though.” Charlie said.

He used to enjoy pig hunting before his

knees gave out, and in retirement plans to spend

his time breeding budgies. At some point, he

wants to visit the Whitsundays.

But there will be one aspect of Charlie’s work

that he won’t be sad to leave behind: carbon

black. “It gets in your pores,” he said. “If I’m lying

on a white sheet and I sweat a bit, the sheet turns

back where I’ve been lying. Saltwater gets rid of a

bit of it, but I’m never completely clean.

AWU delegate Matt Hunter admits things will

be a bit quieter without Charlie around. “He’s a

barrel of laughs. He’s got some good stories.”

And Charlie knows they’ll struggle without

him. “They’re bloody hopeless, this lot!” he said.

■ Vale Brian Hutchings(09/09/39 – 12/08/09)Brian Hutchings’ working life

started out when he became a

telegram delivery boy at the age

of 14. He then started work on the

family cane farm on Klondyke Road

in Ayr, Queensland. From there, he

then went on to work at Pioneer

Sugar Mill for 11 years.

For about seven of those years, Brian

was the AWU Delegate at the mill, a

role in which his efforts were highly

regarded. In 1979, as a result of his

efforts on behalf of the Union, Brian

was offered the job of AWU Organiser,

where he remained until he retired on

July 4, 1997. Brian will be sadly missed

by all those who knew him.



❯ ❯

Working for the love of the job – yeah, right!

■ AWU wins landmark wage decision A landmark decision by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission

to increase wages by up to 27 per cent, or more than $160 per week, for

disability-support workers will provide safer and more secure services

for Queenslanders with a disability.

■ Star gazerAWU member Jean Falconer has been working at the Sir Thomas Brisbane

Planetarium for more than 21 years. Originally a member of the Australian

Theatrical and Amusement Union of Employees, she became an AWU Member

when the unions merged in 1992.

Since March 2009, Laguna Whitsunday Resort, located

20 minutes south of Proserpine in the Whitsundays,

has been delaying employee wages from three days

out to two weeks after its scheduled payday.

These delays were fi rst brought to the notice of the Union in

May and even after many calls and letters to the resort’s

management, a successful and regrettably continuing media

campaign was launched mid-September to seek redress.

The resort’s owner, David Marriner, who also owns the

Marriner Theatres in Melbourne, has from day one blamed

the problem on Queensland government’s decision not to

proceed with building the Whitsunday Coast Airport and its

effect on the number of visitors to the region.

The situation under which workers now fi nd themselves

is best summarised by a letter that was received by the AWU

Whitsunday offi ce.

“After 22 years in the workforce, I had always accepted

that my pay would be there for me on payday. It never

occurred to me that in this country my employer of more than

10 years could put his workers in such a predicament that

they were weeks behind with their pay, and that the situation

would drag on for months.

“It was very confusing and worrying for all of us and our

families, especially for couples who both depended on the

same employer for their total income. Amongst my fellow

workers, it was very distressing to see how it affected

everyone.

“There were many without any savings, people being hit

with heavy dishonoured bank fees and one poor lady who lost

her home when the bank ran out of patience. Over the last

six months, approximately 30 people have had to leave,

being unable to survive on ‘fresh air’.

“At fi rst, everyone thought it would be okay – but as the

weeks dragged on and management had no answers – apart

from ‘[we] should be grateful to have a job’ to ‘you should

learn to budget your money’, it was obvious we would need

to take a stand.

“That would never have been possible without the good

advice and strong support from local AWU Organiser Paul

Robertson. He really understood and kept trying to get

answers for us and gave us updates. He was at the front line

and never gave up until he got results and as it happens he is

still on the case because our pays are still not regular.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!”

AWU Queensland Branch President Garry

Ryan said the decision by the independent

umpire granted a raise for support workers

working in the non-government sector

by between 22 per cent and 27 per cent

over 22 months (from September 2009

to July 2011).

“We sought the increase on behalf of

our Members and on behalf of the families

and their clients. The commission’s

decision is a just outcome for the workers,

but it also a welcome outcome for

Queenslanders with a disability, and their

families,” he said.

“The decision is a good outcome for

the AWU and provides people with a

disability and their families with safe and

secure support that meets their needs.

“The wage increase applies to

thousands of workers in the non-

government organisations. Base wages of

disability support workers in the non-

government sector had not kept up with

their colleagues working in the community

sector. They will now.”

“These workers are committed to

assisting people with a disability to live as

independently as possible through more

fl exible choices, as well as support options

to enable them to stay living within their

own communities.

“Our Members are dedicated to their

jobs. However, it has been diffi cult to

attract and retain staff to an industry that

has a high staff turnover rate.” Garry said.

The AWU commended the Bligh

Government and Minister for Disability

Services Annastacia Palaszczuk for

allocating $414 million over four years in

the June state budget for non-government

organisations that provide direct services

to highly dependent clients.

But it’s not too hard for the nearly 80-

year-old Jean to make it to work. “I don’t

feel like I’m nearly 80. Sometimes I think

I’ve got my numbers wrong. It’s a privilege

to have an incentive to go to work.”

Working as a good team, the staff

at the Planetarium are proud of the

job they do. “We like to think we make

people welcome. Astronomy can be a

little overwhelming.” And, she said, “The

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium has

a wonderful reputation. There’s nothing

like it in Sydney.”

When she was four years old, she

said, her mother used to take her for

walks and talk about the constellations.

“It’s amazing that this is where I’ve

ended up.”

Jean worked for a legal fi rm before

she started at the Planetarium. Her

brother was the caretaker and her sister-

in-law worked in the booking offi ce.

After the rigours of legal research, she

thought she’d be kind to herself and just

do part-time work.

A big supporter of unions, Jean

believes it is thanks to the hard work of

the workers who came before that she

could enjoy the favourable conditions

she works under.



FRONTLINE NEWS NSW

NSW NewsRead about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU...

■ Bushfire season loomsAWU Members engaged as fire fighters at Forests NSW

and the National Parks and Wildlife Service not only have

to contend with the dangers of fighting a bushfire but also

have to watch their backs over bureaucratic interference.

Forests NSW has cut close to 90 positions over the past

three years and now wonders why it can’t keep up with

hazard-reduction burns.

The bureaucratic solution is to contract out parts of the fi re

operations. AWU Greater NSW State Secretary Russ Collison

said, “Contracting out fi re fi ghting is completely insane.

Contractors get paid to keep fi ghting fi res, so what incentive

is there to put out the fi res quickly? Contracting out of fi re

operations has failed in the US, and it won’t work here.”

Russ notifi ed a dispute with then primary industries

minister, Ian MacDonald. The delegation also included AWU

Greater New South Wales Branch Assistant Secretary Stephen

Bali, AWU Port Kembla Branch Assistant Secretary Wayne

Phillips and Delegates Jamie Churchill and Greg Murphy.

The meeting with MacDonald proved a success, as

he declared that no trial with contractors will take place

without proper consultation with the AWU. All options will be

considered, including the AWU’s position that the best way to

secure the safety of the local community and forestry assets is

by having a well resourced and a suffi cient workforce employed

by the NSW state government.

With the fi re season upon us, the AWU requests everybody

to ensure their homes and valuables are secure and safe from

any threats of bushfi res. Human life is far more important

than any possession. Please ensure that you have a fi re safety

management plan if you are living in bushfi re-prone areas. And

good luck to all fi re fi ghters.

■ Let’s stay ‘stronger together’: Swan to AWUAustralia’s economic performance is the envy of the world, thanks in

part to its unions. And union members across the country have played

a big part in this success, federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said when

he addressed a crowd of about 300 at the AWU Greater NSW Branch

Delegates’ Conference in Sydney last month.

“Our economic performance is the envy

of the developed world, and that’s partly

because of your actions, because of

your leadership, and because of your

commitment,” the Treasurer told the

conference.

“Despite all the diffi culties and all the

challenges imposed on us, we begin the

long road to recovery with the strongest

growth of the advanced economies and

with the lowest debt and defi cits,” he said.

Treasurer Swan told delegates he

has always admired the AWU’s motto of

“stronger together”.

“It is a timeless sentiment and

during the white-knuckle ride of the last

18 months, it has taken on even greater

meaning, because nothing in my political

life has demonstrated it as well as our

response to the global recession has,”

he said.

The AWU has been fully behind

the Rudd Government’s infrastructure

spending as a strategy to help the country

get through the global fi nancial crisis.

And the fi ndings of October’s

AWU-Auspoll survey backs government

commitment to continued stimulus

spending (see out Auspoll report on page

28). The recently released poll results

showed clearly that workers want the

government to maintain its commitment

to spending taxpayer dollars on backing

Aussie jobs.

The Treasurer revealed stunning facts

and fi gures behind the stimulus and

infrastructure spending which has

delivered such extraordinary results for

the country:● The Australian economy is expected to

grow 1.5 per cent this fi nancial year

when other advanced countries are

struggling to grow at all;● All of that growth in 2008-09 and

2009-10 will come from stimulus

spending – without it, there’d have

been no growth in either year;● The stimulus has saved 200,000

Australians from joblessness; and● Australia’s unemployment rate of 5.7

per cent is the second-lowest in the

developed world.

The Treasurer said he didn’t want

Delegates to go away with the

impression that the tough times are

already behind us but he felt Australia

and the Rudd government were up to the

task of protecting the nation from a

worse downturn.

“Our economy has shown it is

stronger than other countries because

our workers are stronger, our unions

are stronger, and our resolve is stronger

as well,” he said. “I’m going to try and

ensure that these are now the things we

focus on because it will best encapsulate

what it means to be, as the AWU says all

the time, “stronger together”.

Treasurer Wayne Swan with AWU Delegate Daniela Koneska.

NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service employees.



❯ ❯

● Hunting in national parks – no way

The Shooters Party in the NSW Upper House

is trying to hold the government to ransom

by voting against its proposed legislation

until it permits recreational shooting of feral

animals in all national parks. Yet, there has

been no discussion with affected

stakeholders about the consequences of any

such action. Should such changes take

effect, however, workers would have cause

to fear being shot accidentally whilst

undertaking their duties. Tourism would also

likely drop once families think twice about

camping on account of fears of a stray bullet

hitting a child playing in the bushlands. AWU

Greater NSW Branch Secretary Russ Collison

said, “This is an ill-conceived, poorly

thought-out idea by a minor political party.

There was no consultation with anyone, and

we call on the NSW Labor government and

every sane politician to reject this legislation.”

● Ripen for success Tomato Exchange,

located in Guyra on the NSW North Coast,

has embarked on establishing a collective

agreement for its workforce. The AWU has

commenced a campaign within the

organisation, the nation’s largest tomato

producer, to build strength in the workplace so

as to begin negotiations for pay and conditions.

AWU Greater NSW Branch Vice-President

Glenn Seton said, “We have doubled the

AWU Membership over the last two months,

with many non-members also expressing

interest in joining and having a say.”

● Piggery workers prevail Union members

in the piggeries at Riverlea (formerly known

as QAF) have agreed to a 12-month

agreement resulting in a wage increase

of four per cent. Located in Corowa, the

outcome at Riverlea is a remarkable

achievement given the pressures caused

by the drought over the last fi ve years, as

well as a lack of steady supply of stock feed.

Hopefully, conditions will improve over the

next 12 months, allowing for a better

atmosphere in which to conduct the next

round of negotiations.

● You know what I mean Workers at

Valvoline Australia are in the fi nal stages of

negotiating a new 2009-11 enterprise

agreement. Delegates Peter Cragg, Darren

Anderson and Adam Perry have represented

the Members during the often tense

negotiations with the company in seeking

a range of changes. The Members at the

site have put forward a strong case for

maintaining their present decent conditions.

It is likely that an in-principle agreement will

go out for a full vote of the Membership in

the coming weeks.

● Cross City Tunnel agreement AWU

Members employed as motorway patrolmen

at Sydney’s Cross City Tunnel-Eastern

Distributor have fi nalised negotiations for

a three-year agreement with Leighton

Services, securing a four per cent wage

increase per annum. AWU Greater NSW

Branch Secretary Russ Collison

congratulated workers on a great negotiated

outcome and also on achieving 100 per cent

AWU membership among its workforce.

● Environmentally friendly and fi nancially

benefi cial Sims E-Recycling has recently

negotiated a successful enterprise agreement.

The company specialises in recycling

computer equipment, mobile phones, TVs

and any other electronic material and had to

move to a new location to Villawood due to

expansion. It has become one of the world’s

largest electronics-recycling organisations.

All workers on the Sims E-Recycling site are

Union Members, and the AWU thanks them

for their support and loyalty to the Union cause.

● Hot water at Rheem Things were getting

terribly heated around water-heater

manufacturer Rheem Australia after six

months of lengthy and diffi cult workplace

negotiations. Its workers were engaged

in protected industrial action. Rheem

retracted its so-called “fl exible working

arrangements” and the workers have voted

to accept a three-year agreement which

secures a 10.5 per cent increase over the

life of the agreement.

● ACT now Workers at the ACT Department

of Territory Municipal Services are

undertaking discussions about the needs of

its workers prior to negotiations now beginning

formally that will replace the agreement

which expires in March. This is a great time

for workers to

join the AWU

to maximise

their say and

involvement in

the negotiations.

Interested

workers should

contact Robert

O’Neill in the

AWU’s ACT

offi ce on 02

6285 3068.

Around the shops

Piggery workers have achieved a four per cent wage increase.

❯ ❯PHOT

O GE

TTY

IMAG

ES



FRONTLINE NEWS NEWCASTLE / VICTORIA

Newcastle News Port Kembla NewsRead about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU...

■ Newcastle Delegates’ conference goes off without a hitchIn October, the AWU Newcastle Branch hosted its first Delegates’ conference

in over a decade and the event was declared a great success. One hundred

Delegates attended the two-day conference at the Waratah Mayfield RSL Club.

A wide range of industries was

represented, including aluminium

smelting, steel, metal manufacturing,

construction, green-keeping and nursery,

RTA, Forests NSW, Department of Land

and Resources, horse racing, and food

and manufacturing industry.

“The main aims of the conference

were to bring our Delegates up to

speed on the new Fair Work Act, union

growth campaigns and strategies, and

occupational health and safety. I think

the Delegates got a lot out of this

conference,” AWU Newcastle Branch

Secretary Richard Downie said.

The conference boasted an

impressive list of speakers to address

the main topics. Mark Bray, Professor

of Employment Studies, Faculty of

Business of Law at the University of

Newcastle, addressed the new Fair

Work Act in detail from an academic

perspective. He focused on the intentions

of the legislation, contrasting them with

those of the old WorkChoices regime.

Senior Deputy President Rod

Harrison discussed the impact and

benefi ts of FWA against WorkChoices

from a social and community

perspective, and AWU Senior Legal

Offi cer Zoe Angus gave a revised

summary of the key points contained

within the new laws.

Delegates got involved in several

workshops over the two days. On day

one, workshops covered the new

award-modernisation process, while

day two’s investigated union growth and

strategy through workplace-mapping

exercises and roll-play.

MRM Lawyers partner Wayne Dever

spoke to Delegates about major issues

concerning workers’ compensation

using case studies in which workers

had incurred workplace injuries and

depicting their physical, mental and

fi nancial tolls.

AWU National OH&S Director Dr Yossi

Berger spoke about what has changed

with OH&S in workplaces and what has

not and demonstrated how employers

speak of OH&S being a priority when the

reality is often quite different.

With the audience participating,

he took the Delegates through

a one-on-one interview process in

which delegates roll-played employee-

employer interactions.

Delegates were challenged to

consider how they would have handled

things differently after an accident

and how to avoid accidents in the

future. This exercise engaged those

present by taking them beyond their

comfort zones.

“The guest speakers were all of

the highest calibre and of great interest

to our delegates. I would like to give

special thanks to MRM Lawyers,

Australian Super, ME Bank and IUS for

the role that they played over the two

days,” Richard said.

■ AWU Members Sacrifice Saves CompanyThe recent change of ownership of the Metal Manufacturers

called for the company to relocate its billet castor. The billet

castor is used to melt copper to form billets used in the

manufacture of metal tubing. The billet castor operations

account for 190 Tube Division jobs in Port Kembla.

The relocation project was estimated to cost Metal Manufacturers

approximately 13 million dollars. According the company’s senior

management, most of this capital would need to come from its

parent company located in the US.

However, management believed it likely that such a capital

investment would be approved by the Board. Therefore,

management felt that it was necessary for the workforce to show

some sacrifi ce and solidarity to convince the Board that it was a

worthwhile investment for the long term.

“Of course we wanted to cooperate in making sure the

company remained viable, but we were a bit wary when

management asked the workforce to make substantial sacrifi ces to

secure the approved capital investment needed to relocate the billet

castor.” AWU Port Kembla Branch Secretary Andy Gillespie said.

As many companies have tried to use the Global Financial

Crisis as an excuse to cut entitlements, the Union was cautious

about supporting the company’s requests and insisted that the

company produce evidence that the measures were necessary to

ensure the relocation project’s approval.

The Union found the evidence to be accurate so negotiated

with the company (and other unions involved) to achieve a

satisfactory solution. It was resolved that the workforce would

sacrifi ce some of their annual leave and long service leave

entitlements over an eight month period. Employees would take

two days’ annual leave or long service leave each month and after

the eight months the situation will be reviewed.

“The employees at Metal Manufacturers should be

commended for the sacrifi ces they have made to make sure this

company remains competitive and viable. Without their sacrifi ce

the company and the wider community would be at risk.”

In late October, management informed unions and employees

that funding had been approved. This would not have been possible

without the sacrifi ce and commitment of the employees at Metal

Manufacturer. The billot caster will be moved in early 2010.



❯ ❯

ABOVE: Branch Secretary Cesar Melhem (left) with ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence, ACTU President Sharan Burrow and AWU National Secretary Paul Howes.

Victoria NewsRead about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU...

The ball is one of the main highlights

of the year and gives rank and fi le

Members the chance to mingle with

others from the across the Union

movement and the ALP.

Victorian Secretary Cesar Melhem

paid tribute to the hard work of the

AWU Delegates and OH&S Reps

across all sites. He made particular

mention of the Members involved in

fi ghting the Black Saturday bushfi res.

“I don’t think anything in this world

can repay these people,” he said.

Cesar also reminded the audience

that protecting jobs was a top priority

for the Union during the economic

downturn.

“We will not stand by and allow

workers, who did not cause the crisis,

Partying with praise, the AWU wayThe AWU knows how to throw a good party – with a few rousing speeches

thrown in – and the 11th Victorian Branch annual Members’ ball was no

exception to this rule. This “legendary” event on the Union calendar saw

1200 finely dressed comrades gathering at Crown for a night of eating,

dancing and celebration.

to become its main victims. This will be

an ongoing fi ght for us in the year ahead.

“We are resisting pressures for

reduced hours, pay freezes, redundancies

and roster changes that cut take-home

pay. And in too many of these cases, we

see employers using the fi nancial crisis as

an excuse to cut costs, regardless of

ongoing production or profi t levels.

“We will not accept it. We cannot

allow workers to be forced to do more

with less, and at the expense of their

workmates’ jobs.”

In keeping with the upbeat

atmosphere of the night, Cesar also

delivered a positive message about

union growth.

“Despite the downturn, despite the

opportunism of some employers, despite

the doomsayers forever predicting the

demise of unions, we are growing –

from 23,000 Members last fi nancial

year to over 24,000. And we have

delivered real wage growth. And our

Delegates and Organisers can all be

proud of that.”

National union leaders at the ball

included AWU National Secretary Paul

Howes, National President Bill Ludwig,

ACTU President Sharan Burrow and

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence. They

were joined by ALP State and Federal

MPs, and AWU supporters.

Guests were entertained by

master of ceremonies comedian Paul

Martell and the Darryl Cotton Band,

featuring Wendy Stapleton.

■ Home grown trams back on trackVictoria’s position as a future leader

in manufacturing public transport

infrastructure has moved a step

closer with the announcement that

two Melbourne companies are on the

short list to build 50 new trams.

AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Cesar

Melhem said he was delighted with the

Brumby Government’s decision to

shortlist Alstom and Bombardier.

“The Union has lobbied hard for

changes to the State Government’s

procurement policy and our hard work has

TRAM TIMETABLE March 2010 Tenders to be submitted

September 2010 Successful bidder selected and trams ordered

2012-13 New low fl oor trams start rolling off production line

paid dividends,” he said. “It makes sense

and value for money to provide a level

playing fi eld for local fi rms when they have

to compete with overseas companies.”

Cesar, who is on the Victorian Industry

Manufacturing Council added: “Building

trams in Melbourne for use in our city will

create around 150 jobs and gives certainty

to many workers who have the skills and

experience to deliver a high quality product.”

“Once we have a critical mass of

manufacturing, we will be well placed to

become a centre of excellence for other

public transport infrastructure projects,” he said. “We have the

people here, the fi rms here, to build the best trams in the world.”

The value of the initial tender of 50 trams is $250 million.

The Preston depot will also be redeveloped as part of the $38

billion Victorian Transport Plan.

The tram contract has been declared a “Strategic Project” under

the Victorian Industry Participation Policy which means at least

25 per cent of the manufacturing contract has to be local content.

The local content provision is expected to raises the total

local content over the life of the contract to more than 50 per cent.

“We congratulate Minister Pakula for the Victorian Industry

Participation Policy. There will be multiple fl ow-on benefi ts for the

local economy and for workers,” Cesar said.

He also said it was heartening to see that jobs would be

created because the State Government will be using Australian

steel and locally produced piping for the Desalination Project.




But nine months later what’s making him

more nervous than anything else is the

prospect of wearing black tie at a posh

Sydney star-studded awards dinner.

“Give me my yellow uniform any

day,” he said, laughing.

Yorin is an engineer at Qantas and

an AWU Delegate and has been an

active CFA member for four years. He

and fellow CFA fi refi ghter John Kendrick

are fi nalists in the national “Pride of

Australia” awards for bravery.

They were nominated for their

successful rescue of a bulldozer operator

who was creating a fi rebreak near

Wandong, north-east of Melbourne, on

Black Saturday.

“My wife Yvette is in the CFA

too, and we were working away on

■ AWU Delegate wins bravery award for Black Saturday effortAs a CFA volunteer firefighter on Black Saturday, February 8, 2009, Yorin Miller

faced many moments of danger that would have rattled even the bravest.

different vehicles putting out spot fi res.

Our crew got a call to escort a dozer

who had to put in a fi re break – it’s

standard practice for crew to accompany

machinery.”

In the early afternoon, Yorin went

with fellow CFA volunteer John Kendrick,

leaving Yvette behind. They were driving

a Landcruiser ute with a water tank on

the back.

“When we got to the meeting point,

we found the dozer operator had already

left, so we only had a rough idea where

he was, because we were following the

dozer tracks,” Yorin said.

“We started going up a dirt track

between farmland and pine forest, we

had to stop a few times as we were

being ‘fl ashed over’ quite a bit and we

were unable to see past the bonnet

due to the smoke and embers.”

The men were in the thick of the

deadly Kilmore East fi re, before its

catastrophic wind change. That fi re

later killed 121 people.

After about 15 minutes the

pair could not fi nd the bulldozer

operator and the extreme conditions

drove them back to the main road

where they learned from others that

he had not appeared.

Undeterred, Yorin and John went

back to look and found the man near

his fi re-damaged dozer under a blanket

with a water fi re extinguisher wetting

himself down. The dozer was later found

completely burnt out.

“He was pretty relieved to see us,

but he said he wanted to get his fi re

extinguisher and esky. We said ‘no way’.”

“The GPS was not working properly

and the Wandong tanker was trying to

organise air support but the helicopter

couldn’t see us and were not able to

offer assistance. The heat and smoke

was awful.”

They drove out with a fog of water

spraying the ute from the tank. The day

was not over for Yorin and John either.

They continued fi ghting fi res until 4am.

Yorin and John won state awards

for bravery and are now in the running

for a national award which was to be

announced in Sydney on November 30.

Yorin said many CFA volunteers have

undertaken extra training this year and

admits the weather signs are “ominous”

so far. “You have to take it day by day

and see what happens,” he said.

AWU Victorian Secretary Cesar

Melhem said Yorin was one of many

Members who did valuable volunteer

work for emergency services such as the

CFA and the State Emergency Services.

“The AWU is proud to have people like

Yorin as part of our Union.”

“The men were in the thick of the

deadly Kilmore East fi re, before its catastrophic

wind change.”

AWU Qantas Delegate and CFA volunteer Yorin Miller with the bravery award

he earned for his rescue efforts in the Victorian bushfi re tragedy.

❯ ❯



FRONTLINE NEWS SOUTH AUSTRALIA / WEST AUSTRALIA

South Australian News

■ AWU speaks loud at ALP state convention

■ Saved by the lunch bell at Roxby DownsWorkers at the BHP Billion Roxby Downs mine in South

Australia were spared what could have been a tragic

workplace accident because they happened to be on their

lunch break.

Had they not been, there is a strong possibility that as many as

10 may have been injured or killed when a skip, a large container

that hauls ore from the bowels of the mine in its Clark shaft, tore

loose from its cable and went crashing 600–700 meters down

the shaft. Eighty per cent of the ore that comes out of the Roxby

Downs site travels up the Clark shaft.

According to internal Union intelligence, the skip and its

associated machinery was designed to haul 6–7 million tonnes of

ore per year. BHP Billiton had however increased the haulage on

the equipment to 10 million tonnes per year, despite warnings

from designers of the equipment that such an increase would

surely lead to excessive and premature wear and tear, putting the

equipment under additional levels of stress. Sure enough, the

equipment succumbed to it.

In eight months, BHP Billiton has seen 11 workers killed on

its international mining leases, seven of which were in Australia.

The AWU has been pressuring BHP Billiton to address its safety

practices, with no co-operation from the company to date. AWU

South Australian Branch Secretary Wayne Hanson sits on the

Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

“When the committee undertook research into the mining

industry to establish the frequency of manual-handling injuries,

BHP Billiton responded negatively,” Wayne said. “They refused to

participate by stating that they were happy with their OH&S

practices and they did not require the assistance of any third

party. We were frustrated and disgusted with this lack of

co-operation from the company.”

Those employed on BHP Billiton mining leases are reticent

about raising safety concerns because the company’s workplace

culture discourages it.

“Their employees are frightened to say anything for fear that

their contracts will not be renewed or extended.” Wayne said.

The AWU is confi dent, however, that with the new industrial

relations regime coming into effect, that it will be in a better

position to break this code of silence and will be seated at the

negotiation table in the future, whether BHP Billiton likes it or not.

“When the ITEAs [individual transitional employment

agreements] expire, workers in the mining industry will be looking

for the Union to negotiate industrial instruments to protect their

terms and conditions of employment. The AWU will be ready to sit

down with BHP Billiton and negotiate. In doing so, we will address

the code of silence that can be so fatal for workers.” Wayne said.

At this year’s South Australian

ALP state convention in Adelaide,

passionate addresses by AWU South

Australian Branch Secretary Wayne

Hanson about manufacturing and

metalliferous mining saw two key

motions carried.

“We must grow our manufacturing base

so we can secure future job opportunities

for our kids and their kids and generate

the wealth for their future,” Wayne said.

Following the Manufacturing Alliance

regional tour to South Australia in

September, Wayne made sure to use the

convention as an opportunity to beat the

drum for manufacturing and to continue

to put pressure on the state government.

He moved a procurement motion at

conference, which was seconded by the

AMWU’s South Australian Branch

Secretary, John Camillo. This type of

co-operation is a fi rst for the two unions in

South Australia and is an example of how

the Manufacturing Alliance is alive and

thriving at the state level.

Speaking on the motion, Wayne said,

“The Manufacturing Alliance unions met

recently with our Members here in

Adelaide at the Australian Submarine

Corporation. Our Members gave us the

same message that manufacturing

workers are giving to us in union meetings

right across the Australian continent.

Workers are sick of seeing government-

funded projects being given to an overseas

tender. Our Members cannot accept that

our tax dollars are being used to line the

pockets of offshore interests.”

The convention was reminded of the

importance of manufacturing to local

communities in SA, and especially in

regional centres. Although surprised to

see the two unions working so closely

together, the convention was

nonetheless impressed by their

co-operation and the motion was carried.

In another motion, the AWU

addressed the lack of value South

Australia is gaining from mining the

state’s resources, party because of the

lack of value added in the manufacturing

sectors to them but also because of the

low rate of return collected by the state

government.

“Delegates we want to see that

South Australians get our fair share of

our fabulous mineral wealth and the

ripple effect that fl ows from it,” Wayne

said.

In South Australia, royalties on

metals mined in the state currently

account for just 3.5 per cent of profi ts

made by the mining companies. When

compared to Western Australia and

Queensland, where royalties amount to

7.5 per cent and 10 per cent

respectively, there is reason to be

concerned that the state is allowing its

resources to be extracted without

enough profi t fl owing back into the state.

“These precious metals are ours.

They don’t belong to mining developers,

they belong to the people of South

Australia, the taxpayers of South

Australia, who fund the infrastructure

and in return we want, and we have

every right to expect, a bigger bang for

our buck,” Wayne said.

Read about what YOUR Union is doing for YOU...



■ Capral campaign at Canning Vale movesfrom strength to strength

Western Australia News

■ Rest in peace Paul FryOn September 2, AWU West

Australian Branch Member Paul

Fry was killed at work. The letter,

below, from Paul’s family thanks

Union members for their support at

throughout their ordeal. We would like to express our gratitude to the men and women from the unions on sites around Australia who have so generously supported us, at the worst time of our lives. Paul’s untimely death shocked us to the core. Knowing too well what a tough year this has been fi nancially makes us even more appreciative that his fellow workers and fellow union members have dug deeply into their own pockets to provide us with the everyday essentials. We had no life insurance, no mortgage insurance, no wills and no savings left.

September was a bittersweet month for us. Paul was killed on September 2nd, his eldest son Jackson turned 17 on the 5th, Fathers Day was on the 6th, Paul’s birthday was on the 7th and his youngest son, Jethro, turned eight on the 14th. Paul’s middle son Taylor turned 14 in July. How wonderful for his three brave boys to witness fi rst-hand the type of man he was through your eyes. A hardworking, honest man, with a generous spirit and the ability to make everyone feel better about themselves. A man who took pride in a job well done, enjoyed the challenge of getting a team to work well together and appreciated relaxing with a well earned VB and some great music.

Time moves on, but we are left shattered. Paul is relegated from the handsome, charismatic man he was to a number, an incident, a safety regulation and we as his family are treated by some just as badly. We are disappointed that promises made in newspapers and to the family have not been honoured but it makes the generosity of you hard working men and women even more precious. Thank you. You’ve given us support and the ability to continue on. Paul’s death will not be in vain, please remember to be safe and go home to those who love you.

From Donna, Jackson, Melody,

Taylor, Jethro, Brick and Delilah.

“Our Delegates at Capral are great. They are always trying to fi gure out new ways which can improve

conditions.”

Construction Organiser Terry Paterson (left), with AWU Member David Wilcox and Capral Organiser Craig Beveridge.

Capral Aluminium as been the

target of a recent growth campaign

by the AWU WA Branch and

Organiser Craig Beveridge.

Over the past few weeks, through

intensive site visits, the distribution of

information material on rights in relation

to union membership and pay rates has

seen the current membership jump to

over twenty, despite starting out with

only a couple of Members at the Capral

Canning Vale shop.

Capral Organiser Craig Beveridge

puts the success of the campaign down

to maintaining regular contact with

activists and delegates, some of whom

will be completing a shop steward

training course in early December.

“Our Delegates at Capral are great.

They are always in touch and trying to

fi gure out new ways which can improve

conditions for the blokes out there.”

Craig’s strategy for the site has

been to visit often and with a number of

Organisers to demonstrate a strong and

visible presence for the Union,

with Organisers speaking to workers

in multiple locations in weekly blitzes.

“For a site like Capral there are

many lunchrooms and, smoking areas all

over the site, which makes it hard to get

around and see the guys. But with other

Organisers coming out we are seeing

a good response.”

The campaign targeted the site fi rst

after a tip-off from current members on

poor work and pay conditions. The focus

for Craig and the Western Australia AWU

is to build a strong membership base

before EBA negotiations next year.

AWU WA Branch Secretary Stephen

Price said the success could also be

attributed to contact with other AWU

Branches across Australia.

“We have been in regular

contact with the other Branches that

also deal with Capral Aluminium. This

information has been vital for our

one-to-one conversations and mapping

activities,” he said.

❯ ❯




FRONTLINE NEWS WEST AUSTRALIA / TASMANIA

■ Dampier-to-Bunbury natural gas pipeline

“I’ve been working in

this industry for over 30 years and

these dongas are a bloody disgrace.”

■ AWU non-propelled dredging conference 2009In November, the AWU WA Branch

was represented at the Union’s

Non-propelled Dredging Conference

by AWU West Australian Branch

Assistant Secretary Paul Asplin.

In the weeks before, Paul had travelled

the north-west of the state to speak with

Members about changes they would like

to see made in the industry.

“These conferences are a great way

to address the shortcomings of the

dredging industry, and the feedback from

our Members goes straight to employers

and industry groups so that they can begin

to address the problems we encounter.”

One of the large wins came in the

form of a 15 per cent pay increase over

two years for all classifi cations in the

non-propelled industry.

WA Branch Secretary Stephen Price

said with projects under construction in

the near future such as the Gorgon gas

project off Barrow Island, west of Karratha

in the state’s north, it was important to get

such issues addressed now.

“Gorgon will employ around 10,000

workers during the construction phase.

With Barrow Island and its isolated

location and environmental provisions

that are in place, non-propelled barges

will be an essential part of the

construction project, and that’s why we

wanted to address the concerns of the

industry on behalf of our AWU Members

before projects like this start.”

RIGHT: Inspection of non-propelled

dredge in Port Hedland harbour.

LEFT: West Australian Branch assistant Secretary Paul Asplin speaking with workers about the state of the DBNGP camp.

Over the past fortnight, AWU WA

Branch officials have been catching

up with Members throughout the

Pilbara region.

These men and women work in some

of the most arid and isolated places in

Western Australia, and none more so

than those constructing the Dampier-to-

Bunbury natural gas pipeline, which

extends almost 1600 kilometres from

the Pilbara region to the south-west of

Western Australia.

The DBNGP is one of the longest and

largest-capacity natural gas pipelines in

Australia, supplying natural gas to

industrial, commercial and residential

customers in Perth and major regional

centres along its route.

However, despite the billions of dollars

invested into the projects, one thing that

has seen to be left at the bottom of the

agenda is the quality of their makeshift

camp accommodation.

“I’ve been working in this industry for

over 30 years and as an AWU Offi cial for

another 12 and these dongas are a bloody

disgrace,” AWU WA Branch Assistant

Secretary Paul Asplin said.

“The camps on stage fi ve of the

pipeline are only in place for an average

six to eight weeks before they are moved

down the line. The workers on DBNGP

who are currently working in 40°C

temperatures are unable to settle into

rooms before they are moved on, have

to share bathroom facilities and don’t

have drinking water in their rooms.

“With the heat out here, the workers

need to stay hydrated. Having no drinking

water in their rooms is a serious OH&S

issue that the Union has repeatedly been

on the back of [pipeline constructor]

McConnell Dowell to get addressed.”

Only the persistence of the Union has

seen the current set of dongas and

temporary accommodation retired at the

next rotation and sent to Papua New

Guinea. The AWU West Australian Branch

has been advocating on behalf of its

Members that the next camps contain en

suite bathrooms for workers and the

provision for drinking water in rooms.

“I fi nd it amusing that the Liberal State

Government plan to house hundreds of

prisoners in this type of donga-style

accommodation as crisis management for

the overcrowding of our jails. The ones

they’re using for convicted criminals are

probably better than the ones that these

workers have out here,” Paul said.



■ Jockeys won’t be taken for a ride

Tasmanian News■ Tasmanian Delegates’ conferenceThis year’s Tasmanian AWU

Delegates’ conference focused

primarily on the new Fair Work Act,

which will deliver a better deal for

workers in Tasmania.

AWU Tasmania Branch Secretary Ian

Wakefi eld opened the event by thanking

the Delegates, Offi cials and Executive.

“Without all your hard work, we wouldn’t

be in the better industrial position we fi nd

ourselves in today under the new Fair

Work Act,” he said.

In addressing the transition to the

new legislative framework, the Tasmanian

Branch conducted two training sessions

for the Delegates. It represented a

preliminary step as the Union evolves

and applies the new Act to the bargaining

process, and the Union provided an

explanation of the steps necessary to

empower it to deliver best-practice

outcomes in the workplace.

The training was provided by AWU

National Organising and Campaigns

Co-ordinator, Daniel Walton and National

Training and Education Co-ordinator

Kathleen Galvin.

Where an employer consents,

the Union is also conducting information

sessions for workers about the new

laws. Recently unionised Renison tin

mine workers received briefi ngs on

site about how the new laws change

the bargaining process.

The conference also received a

briefi ng from the Minister for Workplace

Relations, Lisa Singh, about the Bartlett

Government’s commitment to strengthen

health and safety laws and its strategy for

dealing with asbestos issues in Tasmania.

“Under the new laws, where workers

organise and act collectively, they will

be able to ensure greater protection and

improvements in the agreements they

bargain with their employers,” Ian said.

The Tasmanian government recently

proposed amendments to laws

concerning disciplinary provisions

in the thoroughbred racing industry

that could dramatically affect actions

taken against jockeys.

The government said its amendments

were necessary to improve corporate

governance in the industry but both the

AWU and Tasmanian Jockeys’ Association

have expressed concerns about them.

Both the Union and the TJA said they

lacked adequate arrangements in appeal

processes for jockeys and that industry

expertise to hand would be inadequate in

dealing with such appeals. The two

groups’ lobbying included a two-hour

meeting with the full sitting of the state

Legislative Council.

The upshot was that the council voted

in favour of AWU and TJA amendments

which ensure that when a jockey

challenges a decision of a steward with

the racing appeal board, that jockey will

be able to introduce new evidence not

considered by the steward at the time

of the incident in question.

On their success, AWU Tasmanian

Branch Secretary Ian Wakefi eld said, “The

partnership between the AWU and TJA

continues to deliver real and tangible

benefi ts for jockeys in Tasmania and

I applaud the contribution of Kevin Ring

of the Jockeys’ Association.”

The parties were also successful in

ensuring that an advisor with technical

expertise in the thoroughbred racing

industry is appointed in order to ensure

that appropriate advice is given to the

appeals board when considering

disciplinary decisions by stewards.

“These are sensible amendments

which recognise the intense workload

of both jockeys and stewards on

race days and ensure that jockeys

receive procedural fairness when issues

of a disciplinary nature are proposed,”

Ian said.

“These are sensible

amendments which

recognise the intense

workload of both jockeys and stewards

on race days.”

ABOVE: The partnership between the AWU and the TJA continues to deliver real and tangible benefi ts for jockeys.



AWU21_p42-43_Meet the Dels-Offs.indd 42 2/12/2009 8:30:26 AM

AWU21_p42-43_Meet the Dels-Offs.indd 43 2/12/2009 9:12:56 AM

AWU21_p44-45_Catch of Day.indd 44 2/12/2009 8:32:43 AM


“The salmon industry in Tasmania employs hundreds of locals, and the AWU looks after the interests of some 300 Members.”

“I bunged him back in the water to wash him off,

and gave him a bit of a fl ick at the end. The next

moment he was off. That was it,

I’d lost him.”

Ian’s Barbecued Tasmanian Atlantic salmon in a Thai marinade1 Tasmanian salmon portion per person

Marinade:2 sticks of lemongrass2 tablespoons of soy sauce2 cloves of crushed garlic2 cm peeled and chopped ginger1 red chilli fi nely choppedJuice of 2 limes; remove the pith and grate the rind150ml olive oilFresh coriander leaves

Method: Combine the marinade ingredients (including the grated lime rind). Coat fi sh pieces with marinade, place in a bowl and leave in the fridge for one to two hours. Cook the salmon on a hot barbecue, and serve with jasmine rice and salad.

◆

AWU21_p44-45_Catch of Day.indd 45 2/12/2009 8:36:03 AM

46 theaustralianworker www.awu.net.au46 theaustralianworker

FAMILY LIFE

AWU21_p46-49_Dad.indd 46 2/12/2009 8:38:03 AM

AWU21_p46-49_Dad.indd 47 2/12/2009 8:38:29 AM

AWU21_p46-49_Dad.indd 48 2/12/2009 8:38:57 AM

AWU21_p46-49_Dad.indd 49 2/12/2009 8:39:22 AM


FINANCE


H

Upfront fees

Loan feesDO THE SUMS

The dreaded mortgage. The very word is enough to turn the toughest to jelly! Our resident money man, Tom Scahill, looks at home loans and how you can make the pathway to your

Great Australian Dream a little less rocky. WRITTEN BY TOM SCAHILL PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

Ongoing fees – the equivalent of a higher rate

Comparison rate – a useful benchmark

What is a package loan?Package loans fold a mortgage, everyday bank account and often a credit card into a single product, providing convenience with big savings. Often the card fee is waived, there are fee savings on everyday banking and the home loan rate is discounted. Most packages provide a discount of 0.5-0.7 per cent, which is a great way to minimise higher interest rate charges.

The proof of the growing popularity of these loans is in the pudding, with around half of all home loans now written as part of a package.

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Parting ways can be costly

When do package loans work best?➜ For package loans, the annual fee is fi xed. This means the larger the mortgage, the lower the impact of the fee on overall cost. ➜ If you are borrowing more than $250,000, upgrading to a package with a fully-featured home loan could save you from being locked into a restrictive contract that might not suit your changing needs in a few years’ time.Put simply, the more you borrow, the more worthwhile a package loan becomes. ➜ As an example, the Canstar Cannex website provides a star rating on home loans and compared a $350,000 loan taken as a package against a standard variable and basic no-frills loan. Credit card and transaction account costs were added to the basic and no-frills loans to make the comparison fair. ➜ Based on the average rates from the major banks, the saving on a package loan was up to $2310 annually. Even without the transaction account and credit card, a standard variable loan still cost $2200 more annually than a package with the lot.

When is a basic loan the way to go?The major downside of a no-frills or basic home loan option is its lack of fl exibility. For instance, home owners will not have access to many of the benefi ts included in a package deal. That said, borrowers might not want the credit card or savings account that are commonly attached to a package.

If you are borrowing a small amount and are sure your circumstances aren’t going to change over the term of the loan, you might decide you are happy to keep your banking products separate.

Be aware that if you pay extra into a cheap no-frills loan and want access to that money, you may have

to pay a fee each time. This can quickly add up.For instance, fees could be charged for:➜ Depositing lump sums (like your tax return) into the loan.➜ Switching from a variable to a fi xed interest rate.➜ Paying your loan out early.

“With a range of packages and various fees to consider, it’s often diffi cult to come to

an informed decision.”

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W TWITTER LINK AT http://twitter.com/AWUnion

TWITTER LINK AT http://twitter.com/AWUnion

“Even our Prime Minister is on Twitter. So, could this emerging online technology become core to our political process? Can it make for more accountable Government? The answer is yes!”



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TECHNOLOGY

TWITTER LINK AT http://twitter.com/AWUnion

also legal. But business wants the practice outlawed and is taking its case to Germany’s highest court. However, this particular action came just days after Germany’s Federal Labour Court ruled fl ash mobs were a legitimate form of industrial action.

In Australia, many unions have a presence on Facebook and Twitter although a recent report stated that over 50 per cent of Australian workplaces had banned the use of social networking sites at their workplaces.

Having said that, Twitter is less “gated” than email, meaning you can share information with more people and ones you wouldn’t ordinarily email. And let’s be honest, do we as workers – and companies – really need more emails and spam cluttering up inboxes?

TOP: Chairman of Germany’s Ver.di trade union Frank Bsirske addresses protestors during a rally in February in Nuremberg, Germany. LEFT: Ver.di called on public sector workers to strike over a demand for better wages and conditions.

Mob rules“Flash mobs” have become a benign – and occasionally wacky – act of public expression. Flash-mobbers organise using online social media like Twitter, quickly assemble in a public place, do something bizarre, and then disperse.

Now, the same instantaneous internet technology is being used to help workers publicise a pay and conditions dispute. Ver.di, which represents almost 2.5 million German employees, used online technology in an innovative way to organise about 150 workers to load up shopping carts before leaving them standing in supermarket aisles.

Instead of paying, the fl ash mob handed over cards with slogans like “Fair Wages” and “Fair Means More”. Business came to a standstill it apparently took staff all day to put the goods back. “We wanted to draw attention to our problems,” the union’s secretary said.

The protest was a peaceful and was


© Copyright 2009 OneSteel Limited ABN 63 004 410 833. Published Sep 2009. BS0303

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56 theaustralianworker www.awu.net.au56 theaustralianworker

21st centuryROCKING INTO THE

Australian rock has come a long way since Johnny O’Keefe wailed into a microphone more than 50 years ago. Now, as the New Millenium approaches the end of it’s fi rst decade, Glenn A Baker, our rock guru, looks at the current music scene.WRITTEN BY GLENN A BAKER PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES/ACP LIBRARY/GLENN A BAKER

MUSIC

Powderfi nger

John Butler Trio

Killing Heidi

AWU21_p56-59_Music.indd 56 2/12/2009 8:45:11 AM


❯ ❯

WBrave new world

Young and on fire

Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave in concert in 1995 Ben Gilles from

Silverchair

The global icons INXS





PARTY


sceneSTREET Yes, life can be a party! A great way to meet your neighbours, make friends

and build your community is to hold a street party. Here’s how its done...

WRITTEN BY AIDAN ORMOND PHOTOS ANTHEA WILLIAMSON

AWU21_p60-61_Street Party.indd 60 2/12/2009 8:48:08 AM


I

“I’d only moved there recently so I thought everyone knew each other. But some who’d been there for four or fi ve years said they hadn’t met before. It was fabulous! What’s more, a week later at the debrief I got to meet everyone again.”

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Want your own street party?Sounds like fun, but there are often insurance, traffi c management and logistics issues to consider. But one council actively promoting the idea is Melbourne’s Maribyrnong City Council.Councillor Michael Clarke, its mayor, tells The Australian Worker his team wants to make it as painless as possible to arrange. “Council has developed a street party assistance kit outlining 10 easy steps residents need to undertake to organise a street party. The kit is essentially a ‘how to’ of street parties,” he explains.

“It includes important information about the road-closure process, public liability insurance, sample invitations, an event checklist and other useful tips and advice.”

As a further incentive, residents can also apply to have the cost of public liability insurance reimbursed from the council after their event.If you’re planning a street party, on your checklist you might include letter-boxing the street(s) to drum up interest and feedback on best days, times and themes or skills. And if it rains, consideration might be given to a back-up plan as well as, of course, who’s rostered on to clean up.➜ www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/streetparty has more info. But if you are planning a street party, you must fi rst ask your own local council about their regulations.

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Low feesAt Sunsuper, it’s super simple. Low fees. No commissions. Our profi ts go back to our members. Phone 13 11 84 or visit www.sunsuper.com.au

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Documents

The Australian Worker Magazine Issue 4 2009