Page 5 - ETU Journal Autumn 2017

E GOES FAR TOO FAST
We have a duty to highlight the politicians who did the deal to give the Turnbull Government their tools of control – the ABCC and Building Code.
Whether we like it or not, all of
us have to stand up to defend our rights in the workplace, and if any government or politician wants to remove those rights then we have to call them out too. Senator Xenophon, Senator Hinch and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation all went beyond the call
to gift the Turnbull Government these laws that will hurt trades workers and their families across the country.
Agreement terminations
Termination of agreements is a new corporate tactic that members are increasingly facing. It is a loophole
in the Fair Work Act that needs to be closed. Parmalat is the latest dispute that shows how a union agreement that encapsulates the living standards and conditions of workers can be terminated overnight. Not only is that outrageous, it should be unlawful.
The upcoming Senate inquiry that the ETU triggered into the corporate evasion of the Fair Work Act should strongly oppose the use of this tactic. See page 8.
Powering up the power sector
The 2016 Shop Stewards Conference was attended by the largest turnout
of shop stewards in the ETU’s history. The conference endorsed the State
of Crisis campaign, which called for a review into the power industry
to look at the lack of accountability and regulation of the industry.
This has seen our members being made unnecessarily redundant
and turned the power assets in this state into a ticking time bomb from
a lack of preventative maintenance and foresight. Following the Shop Stewards Conference, we are pleased to announce that the review has been called by the Andrews Government.
The review will be headed by independent chairperson Paul Grimes, who is a former head of
We have a duty to pay back the politicians who rolled over to give the Turnbull Government their ideological
tools of control – the ABCC and Building Code.
government departments but is entirely independent of the power industry conglomerates that profit from the under-regulation of the network. The union will be working closely with this review to overhaul the regulation of the power assets in this state.
One of the positive things happening, and we take our hat off to Premier Andrews who addressed the Shop Stewards Conference regarding this, is major investments into the rail
This year sees Futuretech offering
a range of new training packages including an A Grade refresher course to keep you up to date and employable across the industries.
To stay in touch and updated on available courses, access our monthly e-newsletter.
Union dues and new and improved benefits in 2017
In May the union dues invoices will be sent out for payment in June. The ETU has among the lowest union fees for workers in the country, still lower than the Plumbers, Metals and CFMEU, while delivering among the highest rates of pay and conditions with a fantastic track record on health and safety.
Keep an eye out in May for our
new range of benefits, adding to the existing valued benefits including ambulance and funeral cover. As an ETU member you can save thousands of dollars accessing these benefits. Also, once again this year the ETU will be drawing a raffle for a new car for any member who pays early or on time. So be in it to win it, and let’s all work together to make 2017 the year of the worker.
Rail industry – on track for job openings
When you can see the impact politics can have on network. our
The only growth industry for our members at this stage is the rail industry, and there is some fantastic work being done. This includes 50 rail upgrades and the underground extension, which will begin in 2018 and run up to 2024.
I personally met with one of the major contractors Lend Lease recently and, in their words, “money won’t buy you an electrician in Victoria from 2018 to 2024”. This is great news for our members given we have had relatively quiet times since the desalination plant finished in 2012.
The minister for the rail industry, Jacinta Allen, has done a Q&A on the rail sector on page 18.
Futuretech – future proofing members
Futuretech, which the union opened last year, is overflowing with ETU members and young people being trained in many different courses. Even our own meeting rooms have to be booked now because
of the huge demand for these courses.
members’ living standards and rights we do need to take a stand.
Touch one, touch all.
Troy Gray,
State Secretary
www.etuvic.com.au
THE ETU > AUTUMN 2017
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