ETU National 2020

E2T0U20NYAETAIROBNOAOKL

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iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue 12
NATIONAL duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. 18
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, cons ectetuer adipiscing elit,
04 Gone too soon but never forgotten: Peter Simpson sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet.
10 Industrial Relations Reform Working Groups Dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam,
11 2020 Apprentice of the Year! quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip
40 ETU National Women's Committee goes from strength to strength ex ea commodo consequat.
50 Spotlight on our oldest and newest members Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit,
62 2020's top electrical FAILS
73 Contacts OUR BLACKseddiamnonummynibheuismodtinciduntutlaoreet

VIC dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam,
quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl
15 Protecting our trades: Victorian lineworkers to be licenced ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
16 The Centre for U celebrates a successful first year
21 2021: Bouncing back bigger and better SUMMER

COVID-19 in

VICTORIA

QLD & NT 26The ETU vows

23 Heading North to call out racism!
24 Renewable Energy Training Centre
28 The ETU QLD & NT Youth Crew take on the big issues in 2020

TAS 34Deadly☠toxic herbicide
legacy: use in the
31 Bank Robbery of the Nation power industry
32 Tassie border closed for family and funerals, but wide open for bosses
33 Australia Post members: It’s time to organise! 36thSeupranvdiveminigc

WA

43 New Greenfield EBAs in WA’s North West
44 Win for ECM workers' right to redundancy payments
46 Getting apprentices into the workforce during COVID-19
47 Digital organising wins big for offshore workers
48 ETU stands up against the exploitation of foreign workers at Austal
49 Negotiating government EBAs during a pandemic

NSW & ACT 45

54 Combined power campaign unites 5,000 around common goals 56‘It’s Time’
58 Union action on two sites against asbestos
58 Canberra water workers keep eight-day fortnight campaign locks in
59 ETU cracks down on dodgy job ads in COVID-hit construction sector 22 pay-boosting union EBAs
61 ETU calls on NSW electricity sector to fund MATES suicide prevention
2020 67
SA
Emergency 1
66 Transmission projects go ahead in South Australia Services Summit
68 Choose union-endorsed income protection and industry severance funds
70 The importance of industry funds and income protection
71 An update on defence and shipbuilding in South Australia
72 National and state Union Branches collaborate

The ETU acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia
and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this document
contains the names and images of people who have since passed away.

NATIONA
Allen Hicks
ETU National Secretary

From the By Allen Hicks, ETU National Secretary

NATIONAL SECRETARY

2020 has been a year to test us. We started off battling the biggest
bushfires in living memory, to then face a global pandemic and recession.
Our ETU members were there all the way, whether it was restoring
power to communities after bushfire damage, developing COVID-safe
work plans to keep our industries open or calling out governments
and businesses for exploiting workers during the pandemic.
We worked hard to ensure threats to our members’ employment
and to health and safety were mitigated as much as possible.

Read about our fellow members’ efforts This year we stood up around the country We were involved in two of the industrial
during the bushfires on page 6 and how against wage theft, returning over $2.2M relations working groups with employer
we stayed strong during the COVID-19 to members who were underpaid or groups and the federal government this
pandemic on page 36. exploited. If anything, the pandemic has year, including greenfields agreements
reinforced how important it is to stay and enterprise agreement-making. The
In September we said farewell to a true vigilant against these practices which are working groups were established in June
hero of our movement, Peter ‘Simmo’ far too common. I’m pleased to note that in response to COVID-19 with the aim of
Simpson. Simmo passed away after a wage theft has now been criminalised in creating jobs post-pandemic. We fought
long battle with melanoma cancer, but Queensland, and I hope that other states to ensure that any outcomes from the
he leaves behind an incredible legacy of follow suit. working groups strengthened workers’
fighting for workers’ rights. He was the rights, grew the Union movement, and
former State Secretary of the QLD & NT Automatic mutual recognition of licensing wouldn’t send workers backwards. As
Branch of the ETU, a former Divisional is planned to start in January 2021. We anticipated, the working groups were used
Councillor, National Councillor, Divisional continue to campaign against this until by employer groups as a stalking horse
Executive member, and former President the electrical safety legislation is to try and drive down hard-fought wages
of the ETU Nationally. He was also a consistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. and conditions. Read more on page 10.
good friend and mentor to me. If members are not familiar with the
conduct rules that apply in the state/ As 2020 comes (finally!) to a close I
Simmo had a long career improving territory in which they are working they want to acknowledge the union spirit and
the lives of electrical workers, their expose themselves to unnecessary risks strength of all of you reading this. You’ve
families and their communities not and fines. Please ensure you do your shown what you’re made of, and it’s
only in Australia but internationally as research and are aware of all relevant strong stuff.
well. He was a fierce campaigner and legislation if working in a new area.
showed amazing strength, courage,
and conviction at times when so many Thank you for
others would look for an easier way. He all of your efforts.
was feared but also respected by many
employers and politicians. Many learnt Stay safe.
their lesson early on in negotiations with
Simmo; if he said he was going to do
something, he did it. Our thoughts are
with Simmo’s wife Penny who is a true
Union leader in her own right, and his
family during this difficult time. Read
more about his legacy on page 4.

2













































Money talks as ALP state government QLD & NT
injects funding into

RENEWABLE ENERGY
TRAINING CENTRE

The Labor State Government’s TAFE AND OTHER CURRENT GUARANTEES POST-ELECTION
announcement that it will pour $17 VET PROVIDERS
million into securing a state-of-the- With a Queensland state election due at
art renewable energy training facility All three submissions for funding the end of October, it is important that
in Brisbane is a massive win for our (written by ETU, Electro Group Training any commitments are kept by whoever
industries. The Brisbane based facility and Master Electricians) indicate the wins government. As at 8 September,
will provide world-class training in purpose of the state-of-the-art facility we are confident the contracts that have
electrical, solar and telecommunications is to partner with TAFE and existing been signed will withstand any change
for thousands of Queenslanders each providers to fill the identified gaps in of government or change of focus away
year while creating more than 40 jobs renewables training. The training facility from investment into renewables. The
during construction. The facility will be is intended to complement rather than current trajectory for job demands in the
operated by Electro Group Training, and replace or replicate any current or renewable energy sector show strong
will provide training for 750 apprentices intended electrotechnology training growth going forward and we think it will
a year, along with ongoing training for delivered by TAFE Queensland or any stay that way.
licensed electricians, including skills in other service provider.
solar power installation, operation, and
management. Queensland is the second- ARTIST’S IMPRESSION SHOWS
largest employer of renewable energy THE PROPOSED LAYOUT OF THE FACILITY
workers in Australia, with employment in
the sector almost doubling over the last 958
two years, driven by significant growth 4 76
in the state’s solar sector. There were
more than 6,300 people employed in 12 3
Queensland’s renewable energy sector
in 2018-19. Recent renewable energy
funding announcements show the
Queensland Government is committed to
achieving a renewable energy future.

Your Union has been on the front foot
lobbying for this type of facility for years
and we can now announce it will become
a reality.

As at September 2020 the location for
the centre will be in the Brisbane suburb
of Pinkenba, close to the Gateway Bridge
near Brisbane’s CBD with great access
for people commuting from the north,

south, and west.

1 5kW wind turbine 6 10kW roof-mounted solar array (2)
2 3kW solar PV dual-axis tracker 5kW roof PV applications
3 54kW ground-mounted, fixed-tilt solar 7 PV/battery storage control room
PV array 8 35m cell tower
4 18kW solar car port with 4 level 11 EVSE 9 school
5 20m climbing tower

25

Five years after ETU QLD & NT launched the effective Stand Up Against Racism
campaign in 2015, the scourge of hate and white supremacy is again rearing
its ugly head as we slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. This time it is
mainstream, online, and relentless.

The ETU vows to c

ETU QLD & NT State Secretary Peter “Throughout my life as a person with “It is important to share our stories.
Ong (Ongy) suggested a video to share European and Aboriginal ancestry I’ve My family history includes the story of
real stories from our diverse membership. faced the usual comments like ‘ah but my great grandad who fled Nazi death
The result is a video that showcases our you don’t look Aboriginal’ and my share camps and settled in Australia. I have
Union’s strength and diversity. of shit jokes and racial innuendo about an understanding of what racial hatred
getting free stuff. Much of what people becomes and I will do everything I can
“As a Union we have a proud history of say is just based on ignorance, they don’t to call it out and ensure people of all
standing up for social justice issues and know it’s unacceptable until someone cultures know they are welcome in our
we will continue to do so. I’m proud of tells them. This project gives me the Union,” he said.
our Union which is made up of every colour, opportunity to share my story and
creed and religion. It is a place where you educate people,” he said. For Mace Ngata being involved in the
are welcome no matter where you come project was a proud moment.
from or what you look like,” he said. For ETU organiser Jimmy Little the video
project is an important step in calling out “I agreed to be involved because the
In late August we caught up with the racist elements while also showing the Union’s values align with my personal
members involved for their take on the fantastic diversity of voices our Union has values around social justice. One of the
importance of the video, the process and in its ranks. things I value most about the ETU is
why they agreed to take part. how it deals with social issues such as
“Being part of the video project was an calling out racism and I appreciate the
For proud Quandamooka man Thor honour for me, I have always seen being opportunity to be involved.
Anderson the project embodied what ETU as being amongst like-minded people
he believes trade unionism is all about. standing up for what is right, at work and “My partner and I have been on the
He described it in the language of the in the community. Not only protecting receiving end of systemic racism, and
Quandamooka Jandai dialect as ‘Ngiyara workers' rights, wages, and conditions while we feel strong enough to call
ngaja jil-lila’ which loosely translates to through pursuing decent IR laws, but also it out, we know many people don’t
English as ‘you mob, me, standing together’. being part of and driving a progressive feel supported in doing so, I hope the
social justice agenda. This project is an outcome of this video is that it breaks
“It’s not just about what happens on site, extension of that,” Jimmy said. down the barriers,” he said.
it’s also about caring about what’s going
on in the community as well. The topic It’s not just about Jason Constable is a proud Aussie,
of racism and prejudice has always been what happens on site, but for some people his ethnicity is a
an issue I feel passionate about. To be it’s also about caring about problem they can’t get over.
given the opportunity to advocate for what’s going on in the
change is really important to me. It was “I’m hoping that by standing up and being
a bit daunting, getting up in front of the community as well. proud, we send a message that it’s okay
camera but knowing I’m doing this for to come forward and share our stories
the right reason I was able to settle the and be supported by our Union, because
nerves and get it done,” Thor said. diversity makes us stronger.

26

QLD & NT

Peter Ong, Jimmy Little,
Jason Constable, Mace Ngata,
Thor Anderson and Shellie Mbiza

call out racism!

“I’d never been on such a huge worksite I am proud of our Union’s history of confronting and
or in front of a camera so I was a bit calling out racism and prejudice, but it has not gone away.
nervous, but it is important for me to
stand up and give a voice to others who I want to get the message out that discrimination and
might need support,” Jason said. racism is real, it is happening as we speak and it is
continual. As Unionists we have an obligation to
Shellie Mbiza has experienced racism call it out whenever and wherever it occurs.
firsthand. She is a proud black African
Australian woman who is determined to
make a difference.

“It is really important to remember that A recent experience Tommy had was His story highlights the insidious nature
our Union represents a very diverse driving home from work. Despite being in of prejudice based on nothing less
range of people from many backgrounds. a work vehicle with work clothes on, he than racist profiling. For Tommy it is
In doing so we do not discriminate and if was pulled over by the police within view symptomatic of Australian society.
we see racism, we call it out. Our Union of his workplace and asked questions
takes health and safety rights very loaded with bias and innuendo. ‘Is this “I am proud of our Union’s history of
seriously and part of that is ensuring that your vehicle?’, ‘Have you been drinking?’ confronting and calling out racism
all our members can participate in all and prejudice, but it has not gone
aspects of our Union including decision- “The whole thing made me so angry away. I want to get the message out
making processes in a culturally safe way. and then sad. I work in an essential that discrimination and racism is real,
service and I was returning home from it is happening as we speak and it is
“I’m a worker, mother and active union a call out, keeping my community safe. continual. As Unionists we have an
member. There is no place for racism in They had seen me leaving in the work obligation to call it out whenever and
our Union or our society so I am asking vehicle with the lights on just 400m wherever it occurs.”
my fellow ETU members to stand with away, but still they assumed I had done
me to call out racism at work and in our something wrong. The power imbalance Since the video launched we’ve had a
communities. There is no place for it. was massive. I am a proud man and massive response with over 100,000
We all belong,” Shellie said. extremely proud of my culture, but in views on social media. It’s also
that moment, it felt like they expected available on our website. The second
ETU stalwart and Indigenous me to justify my existence,” Tommy said. stage of the campaign where we delve
representative on the Union’s State into individual stories will be released
Council Thowie (Tommy) Sebasio was before Christmas.
unable to attend the filming in Brisbane
due to COVID-19 restrictions, but his
experiences show that racism is alive
and well today.

27

FOOD DRIVE Living Incomes The key demands of the campaign are:
for Everyone:
on the road again 1. Keep the rate:
Time to have We campaigned for JobSeeker
Following on from last year’s massive a LIFE and JobKeeper rates to remain
success, the Youth Crew will once again at the same levels as they were
collect food, toiletries and treats for By Scott Kitchener at the start of the COVID-19
some of Brisbane’s most vulnerable. response. Also, JobKeeper
Last year the Crew collected more The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted payments should be made
than 20 boxes of much needed supplies many of the issues that unions have directly to workers not to
from worksites across the south east acknowledged as systemic failures employers.
over a six-week period. The donations such as insecure employment, sub-par
were distributed by NGO Brisbane Youth minimum wage increases and the 2. No one left behind:
Service to at-risk young people, just in failures of government to ensure that Raise all other pensions and
time for Christmas. all Australians can lead modest and allowances to the minimum
dignified lives no matter what of $1100 per fortnight. Extend
Food drive coordinator Shellie Mbiza their situation. JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments
said the decision to reach out and lend to all workers including migrant
a helping hand was based on the desire The Living Incomes For Everyone (L.I.F.E) workers and international students.
to become more involved and visible campaign aims to take action making Increase the minimum wage to
in the local community. For Shellie it sure that workers, pensioners and the a living wage. Invest in public
also showcased a different aspect of unemployed are supported in meaningful housing and provide free childcare.
unionism. ways. It is a broad campaign that allows
us to be a part of something that not 3. End harassment and champion
“Unionism is more than an organiser only improves our lot but contributes to social security with dignity:
turning up to a worksite and holding making sure that the broader social and Abolish mutual obligation.
meetings. This initiative will once again economic issues are addressed. End the Community Development
give members a real opportunity to Program (remote Work for
showcase our values of generosity Why should anyone the Dole) and forced income
and compassion and it also provides working in this country management provisions such
opportunities to have conversations full time on minimum wage as the Cashless Welfare Card
about the impacts of inequality and the still struggle to put food on and Basics Card. No return to
struggles suffered by real people,” the table? It doesn’t need Robodebts. Stop harassment by
she said. dodgy job providers. Advocate
to be this way. for public ownership and
With the social impacts of COVID-19 control of social security and
reported to be hitting young people hard, employment services.
the Youth Crew are hoping to double
their efforts this year. For all details go to To get involved and keep up to date with the campaign head to:
etu.org.au livingincomes.org.au or facebook.com/LifeAustralia

Hayden Vanderkruk, Shelley Mbiza,
Sarah from Brisbane Youth Service
and Jimmy Little at the food drive

28

While many ETU members have QLD & NT
been protected by strong EBAs and
solid representation enabling them Human Rights are The Youth Crew protesting for
to weather the pandemic storm union business: the rights of people seeking
reasonably well, we still probably all asylum in Brisbane
know someone who is currently being
supported by JobKeeper or JobSeeker Taking a stand and walking the walk
payments. Statistics show 55% of with the KP120
mortgages are currently supported
by either scheme. Furthermore, why In May 120 men seeking asylum who “Throughout the world Union organisers
should anyone working in this country were living in a makeshift suburban are constantly arrested for standing up
full time on minimum wage still prison just kilometers from Brisbane for workers and their communities, so
struggle to put food on the table? It started a balcony protest. They wanted when we saw the organisers of peaceful
doesn’t need to be this way. to tell the public that they had been pickets fighting for fairness being
imprisoned without basic human rights arrested we knew we needed to show our
As of September 2020, Australia for more than seven years. Locals began support. An injustice to one is an injustice
is officially in a deep recession. to show their support for the men by to all,” Hayden said.
This declaration by an economically walking around the hotel’s perimeter.
rudderless government will Then, without warning one of the more “We at the ETU Youth Crew stand
undoubtedly result in the usual class vocal refugees was smuggled out of proudly in support of the fair treatment
warfare tactics the LNP are famous the complex by police to a high security for people whose only crime is seeking
for. However, we can make a stand for facility. Enraged by the police’s actions, a better life for themselves and their
fairness and equality. By supporting a 24/7 community picket was organised families. Human rights are union
and being active in the L.I.F.E to ensure further refugees would not be business and always will be. When
campaign, ETU members will once smuggled away to shut them up. As the human rights are under attack, what do
again be able to stand with others to police presence grew, tensions flared and we do? Fight back,” he said.
not just hold the line but to advance, organisers of the picket were routinely
as we have always done and should arrested. For Shellie who has also spoken at rallies
always do. Because an injury to one, the attack on human rights is very real.
is an injury to all! In June the campaign ramped up with Being a migrant from Africa she has seen
a call out for trade unions to lend the devastation Apartheid and similar
Some oyfetahre’ssfuoopdpldiersivceollected support to the cause. The ETU Youth policies have had on her people.
at last Crew answered the call, attending and
speaking at rallies, lending a hand on the The Youth Crew continue to be regular
picket and being part of the re-formed participants at rallies and meetings. At
Unions for Refugees group. Youth Crew time of going to print, the Unions for
member Hayden Vanderkruk summed up Refugees network is continuing to work
the concern when he spoke at a support and meet with Hayden and Shellie to
rally in July. provide updates to members. Great work
comrades.

An injustice to one

is an injustice to all!

TAS From the By Mick Anderson, CEPU TAS State Secretary

STATE SECRETARY

There is plenty to be thankful ► t elling the public that borders were
for in Tassie. At the time of closed but allowing over 5,000
writing we have dodged a bullet interstate workers to travel to
with COVID-19 which is a huge Tassie since the pandemic began
relief for us and our families for without testing or quarantine
the time being.
► u sing our Government Business
Having a moat around your island state Enterprises to subsidise
is pretty handy when you’re tackling a businesses, not the shareholding
viral pandemic, but you’ll read about how public
our border restrictions were massively
undermined with political weasel words, ► allowing 1,000 construction
shocking double standards and business workers’ employment to be at risk
profits prioritised over worker and and doing next to nothing to bridge
community safety. the gap for private construction
projects

Recently something that has come up a ► c ausing health and safety
lot in conversations with workers is what regulators to be politicised and so
is considered ‘essential work’. badly underfunded that they are
complicit in bosses running unsafe
Previously scorned, demeaned, or workplaces.
neglected occupations have taken their
rightful place as ‘frontline’ workers. Any As the economic cost of COVID-19 will
workers who remained at work through fall as usual to the working class to bear,
social restrictions should be recognised we’ll be encouraging members and their
for their importance in keeping our families to stand up and fight any notion
communities and country functioning. of austerity. It should be painfully obvious
that in both good and bad times bosses
We hope all workers remind their do not return favours and cry poor at
employers that production or service EBA time. We need to be wise to the
only continued because they continued fact that, despite reports of COVID-19
to perform essential work despite the damaging all businesses, the stock
COVID-19 risks. market says otherwise.

The pandemic By way of update, we hoped to be in a
has highlighted what position to report back on all the fun
we’ve always known. that is the A1 Trees dispute where the
Bosses rely on workers to boss locked workers out then tried to
achieve their goals, fight and run over organisers doing a
not the other way round. BBQ for members. Due to multiple legal
proceedings, we will have to hold off on
the full details.

Mick Anderson It’s time to say goodbye to bullshit Lastly, a huge thanks to all our rank
CEPU TAS State Secretary trickle-down economic theory when and file and honorary members, and
we reflect on who has kept our country particularly members who sit on State
30 running through a pandemic. As we Council and Executive for making sure
have consistently said, the economic good governance never stops.
effects of the pandemic will be deep
and lasting. Although it’s normal for As always, to any members who need
incumbent leaders’ popularity to increase our assistance on or off the job, please
in times of crisis, the Tassie State Liberal contact us immediately. Your Union is
Government has shown absolute disdain with you.
for workers all the way, including:

TAS

Meadowbank power station HEC Clark Dam 1949

The CEPU is concerned Australia used to have an energy system What could have been an incredible
that plans to expand power that worked in the interests of the opportunity for Tasmanians became a
generation in Tasmania Australian public. It was well-funded and failure and a broken promise. Allowing
won’t heed lessons from the reliable and it was publicly owned. Then private interests into essential services
past about the failures of as Liberal governments moved in, they NEVER benefits the community.
privatisation. sold our energy and other public assets,
and made regulatory changes that Now the Battery of the Nation project is
The plan, known as ‘Battery of the allowed lower service standards. For the daring to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Nation’, includes developing renewables privately owned energy companies the
like wind, solar and hydrogen and profits kept increasing. The state government remains silent on
expanding the undersea interconnector who will fund and own these projects,
between the Tasmanian and Victorian In 2005, the Tassie State Government refusing to commit to public ownership
grids. The scheme has the potential to oversaw the building of the Basslink of this golden Tasmanian opportunity.
unlock thousands of megawatts of new undersea interconnector cable linking
reliable clean energy capacity in the Tasmania to Victoria. At the time it was Meanwhile, private investors are frothing
National Electricity Market and keep marketed to the public as a jobs bonanza, at the mouth to pay the multi-billion-
prices low. with cheaper power and energy security. dollar costs of this and the Marinus link
It meant clean green hydro energy for project because they know the value of
However, major questions about who will Victorians and other states. However, these assets.
own and operate the expanded scheme when it came to funding it, the Tassie
remain unanswered. If the expansion is State Government said they couldn’t Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link
privatised, the opportunity to run a cheap afford the $1BN required to own and must be publicly owned to make sure
reliable system that creates hundreds of operate the cable. Instead they sold it to there is control over pricing, jobs and
jobs and keeps profits within our country a Singaporean pension fund and agreed maintenance. Opening this asset up
will be lost. to pay rent to use it. to private ownership will mean giving
up jobs, low costs, and high standards
Bank Privatising the Basslink cable meant very for the profits of overseas companies.
few local jobs in the end and no reduction Marinus should only have public money
in power bills. The State Government has put into it if there will be a measurable,
also been paying $60M-90M per year real benefit to the consumers who fork
to rent the cable since 2005, which far out for it.
exceeds the $1B cost price.
More importantly we need publicly
robbery owned surplus power generation which
»O»F»T»H»ENATION we could put to better use than lining the
pockets of CEOs and shareholders.
By Mick Anderson, CEPU TAS State Secretary
Simply, we’ll be saying:
No detail? No public funding.

No public ownership?
No public funding.

Private interests in any essential service
has never worked and never will.

31

Tassie border closed
for family and funerals,

BUT WIDE OPEN
FOR BOSSES By Chris Clark, organiser, TAS

With COVID-19 changing the This loophole meant that employers Victoria during their second wave of
world as we know it, managing could seek exemptions from quarantine infection and went to the Royal Hobart
the risk properly in workplaces for ‘essential’ interstate workers, Hospital to fix a leaking flashing.
was always going to fall on the claiming they couldn’t find a local
shoulders of union members in in Tassie to do the job. Over 5,000 Profit has been put before safety in
Tasmania. interstate workers came into Tassie these instances, and the State Liberal
without quarantining or testing since Government are complicit in providing
Not long after the Tasmanian borders March. avenues for their business mates to
closed, unions received reports that access cheaper interstate labour or bring
interstate workers from known COVID-19 Meanwhile many local workers were their pals into the state unnecessarily.
hotspots were entering the state and looking for work as the pandemic slowed
were exempt from quarantining. The the industry down. While the interstate In the worst case of this corrupt process,
only risk control measure in place was workers may have been skilled, it’s unlikely a new hotel development named ‘the
a paper declaration stating the worker that no one in the Tasmanian workforce Crowne’, which was built by a prominent
hadn’t been in contact with anyone was available to do the job. One Liberal Party donor, got an exemption for
known to have COVID-19 (as far as interstate worker’s ‘essential’ ability a third party consultant to enter the state
they knew), and that their work was was to use a silicon gun. He flew in from so he could attend the opening of the
specialised in nature. new hotel in Hobart and get on the piss
with Premier Peter Gutwein.

Members attend a An exemption letter received
construction wiring course by an interstate worker

Organiser Chris Clark spoke to
workers and the media about
COVID-19 exemptions

32

Australia Post members: TAS

It’s time to

organise!

By Paul Sutton, organiser, TAS

Organiser Chris Clark spoke to 2020 has been a difficult year In the face of these challenges our
workers about COVID-19 exemptions for our members working for members have worked doubly hard,
Australia Post. continuing to transport, sort and deliver
The CEPU and the CFMEU called mail and parcels as well as providing
out this corruption publicly and the The Australia Post Enterprise Bargaining banking, identity services and postal
community was rightly outraged. Most Agreement (EBA) was up for renewal, services throughout the retail network.
people believed that the borders were presenting huge opportunities to improve However they are still struggling to cope
closed so it was a shock for them to wages and conditions using strategies with demand in many areas of operation.
learn that 5,000 tradies and political and tactics learned from the Electrical
pals came in without quarantining or Trades Union. Then the COVID-19 Australia Post then went further. Using
testing. pandemic hit and things quickly changed. the pandemic as an excuse and despite
increased wealth created by this surge
After we called out this corruption, Australia Post knee-jerked in a dramatic in work, they secured an arrangement
the state government tightened some fashion and ripped all casual staff out with the Communications Workers Union
quarantine requirements but it still of retail, changed shifts and removed to push the EBA out by twelve months.
hasn’t gone far enough to protect overtime in most locations. There weren’t During this interim they promised not to
workers and community. enough workers so the service dropped cut staff numbers but also froze wages,
and many customers were let down. ignoring inflation.
Despite the horrendous neglect
of workers and community safety Eventually the supply of hand sanitiser Australian postal workers now have
by Worksafe and the State Liberal and protective screens arrived, allowing the next four months to prepare for the
Government, the Unions have been retail workers to work again, but instead EBA that they deserve. Members and
the driving force for better safety in of employing additional staff to meet delegates need to get organised and
Tasmanian workplaces. Thank you to the increased demand, they asked the take action with organisers to demand
all our members for taking a stand and government for a relaxation of delivery a real improvement. The experience
fighting for each other’s safety. standards providing a substandard and knowledge of the ETU will be with
service to the Australian public. They them all the way. It’s time to show
If you have concerns about how your also tried to cut metro postie numbers by management just how essential our
employer has managed ‘essential’ 25% but dropped this idea after severe members’ work is and the appropriate
workers, let us know immediately. backlash from the public. wage they deserve for doing it.

Paul Sutton with CEPU members
in Australia Post

33

Deadly☠ Decades ago, certain herbicides were
legacy: used along these corridors by the Hydro
Electric Commission (HEC) that were
toxic herbicide highly effective but were later discovered
use in the to be extremely toxic with major health
implications. Not only that, like asbestos,
power industry the exposure to these substances could
be horrific to families if brought home on
Among our membership are power workers all over the clothing from work.
country who set up our electricity network, making sure
the lights stay on. Part of maintaining that system of The main culprits were 2,4,5-T and
transmission lines involves controlling vegetation and 2,4-D which contains dioxins called
weeds around electricity poles and wires. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(TCDD). This is the toxic component
of Agent Orange, which was used in
chemical warfare by the United States
during the Vietnam War.

Ailments from exposure to these
chemicals range from minor to gravely
serious, with dozens of former workers
succumbing to Cancer Related Illnesses
(CRIs), or other debilitating conditions.

Other dangerous herbicides included
powders, liquids and crystals - all in
large supply at power authority depots.
Even when they were ‘phased’ out, the
inherent danger wasn’t conveyed to the
workforce, so large amounts went home
into garden sheds and are still present in
the community. We strongly encourage
any workers, friends or family of power
industry workers with unmarked or
unknown herbicides that may have
come from the workplace to dispose
of them safely.

34

State-owned electricity provider The CEPU is currently supporting dozens TAS
TasNetworks took some steps to bring of members and their families with
the matter to a head, but their approach legal assistance to help their worker’s Organiser Lee Archer with
has been confusing and too confined. compensation claims. We’re working with CEPU members at Tasnetworks
current and former workers who have
Some of the issues include: come forward, but we know there are
many more out there who are put off by
► b ringing in an industry toxicologist the difficult process and need our help.
who has a history of working for We won’t stop fighting for them.
companies that ignore concerns
about unsafe workplace practices Too often throughout
working-class history have
► publicly confining the scope of the
issue to a small proportion of toxic we had to learn painful
substances used and a smaller lessons about dangerous
period of time
workplace practices or
► making the process of recording substances through the
and assessing medical concerns sacrifice of members.
unnecessarily difficult Improvements to health
and safety have usually
► ‘losing’ paperwork, employee occurred only after workers,
records and records of enquiry and their families have
endured suffering or paid
► p ublicly stating that settlements the ultimate price at work.
have been reached with victims
when those people haven’t been – Lee Archer, organiser, CEPU TAS
told and are receiving letters from
the company’s lawyers.

If you know of any workers in
Tasmania affected by these toxic
herbicides between the years of
1960 and early 1990s, please
contact the CEPU.

35

NATIONAL

The last time our Union lived thSeupranvdiveminigc
through a pandemic was in 1919.
Over a century has gone by, but the
mighty ETU is still standing and is
stronger than ever. This year we have
all shown our humanity in looking out
for each other and our quick thinking
in overcoming many challenges to
keep our industries open. For the ETU,
the pandemic has shown us what
we are made of, and we’re proud
to stand alongside every man and
woman who is part of our Union
and our communities.

HOW WE KEPT “We have our own washing areas, our As Victoria faced its second wave, the
THE INDUSTRY OPEN own hygiene areas, even our own areas ETU faced huge challenges in keeping
where we walk. Half the sparkies go the construction industry open. Overall,
The construction industry led the way down one stairwell and half go down it was a success story with very few
early in the pandemic. In Queensland another. It’s even to the point where if positive cases on construction sites, and
on a Brisbane Multiplex worksite, ETU you’re waiting for the lift and you see little to no transmission. They introduced
health and safety representative Tommy a guy from the other crib room is in it a whole raft of safety rules including
Campbell was ahead of the game in going down, you won’t get in, you’ll stop social distancing, COVID-friendly
introducing a comprehensive plan to and wait for the next one. If you were common areas, improved hygiene
reduce or eliminate transmission of the ever asked, you’d know with complete and PPE, daily temperature checks,
virus on site. certainty who you’ve been in contact mandatory masks and more. Read more
with, because tracking is the most about their journey on pages 18-20.
Tommy’s quick thinking strategies to stop important thing right now,”
any potential spread of the virus resulted said Tommy.
in a new policy for electrical workers
including a 50/50 split of the workforce
through every step of the day: split staffing
times, split smoko breaks, and split usage
of the lifts versus external hoists.

If you were ever asked, Signs on the Queensland
you’d know with complete site indicating different
certainty who you’ve been rooms for workers
in contact with, because

tracking is the most
important thing right now.

ETU Victoria members
proudly adapted to new
COVID-19 safety regulations

36

Businesses tried to sneak in

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

CHANGES Employer groups applied for JOBKEEPER AND JOBSEEKER
authorisation to:
In April, the Australian union movement
As soon as the pandemic hit we ► stop paying penalty rates for stood together to demand support for
saw business after business Saturday work workers and businesses facing down a
cry poor and try to water down pandemic. Eventually the government
workers’ rights or wages. While ► cut workers’ days or hours of work introduced JobKeeper and JobSeeker.
some companies were hard hit, and minimum hours of work
many weren’t. They showed their We recognised that the program left out
true colours in attacking workers ► cut redundancy casuals, migrant workers, and others
during these tough times. so we have been advocating alongside
► f orce workers to perform different other unions to widen the eligibility for
The National Electrical Contractors duties, and work in different this scheme. JobKeeper and JobSeeker
Association (NECA) made an application locations were both extended until March 2021 but
to vary the national award for the at reduced rates. We think this is unfair
electrical contracting industry. They ► force workers to take annual leave and we’ll continue to fight for support for
wanted to extend working hours, abolish or RDOs. those facing hard times.
weekend penalty rates and allow
shutdowns with no notice. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU), ETU National legal team
Construction Forestry Maritime
The ETU National legal team worked Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU),
hard to ensure these draconian changes Australian Workers’ Union (AWU)
were not introduced into our industry. and Australian Manufacturing
Our quick response worked and NECA Workers’ Union (AMWU) stood firm
withdrew their application. This was before the Fair Work Commission
good news, but we will continue to stay (FWC) in August against these
vigilant in case NECA reattempts to outrageous demands.
reduce workers’ wages and conditions.
The FWC agreed with the Unions
In the building and construction and rejected most of the employer
industries we again stood up to employer groups’ requests but did allow
groups including Master Builders their request for unpaid pandemic
Australia (MBA), the Housing Industry leave and doubled annual leave
Association (HIA) and the Australian paid at half rate. (These changes
Industry Group (AiG). They applied to only affected workers covered
vary the key industry awards, claiming by an award, not an Enterprise
that the construction industry was Agreement, and expired on
severely impacted by the COVID-19 30 September 2020.)
pandemic and it was necessary to
slash workers’ take-home pay and “We are proud to stand up for our
entitlements. members and fight attempts to
undercut workers’ entitlements
This was despite the enormous efforts from callous employer groups.
of unions and workers in the industry to This attack on rights was no way
incorporate hygiene and social distancing to reward the very workers who
methods into their work practices that have kept our nation going,” said
largely kept the industry open. National Assistant Secretary,
Michael Wright.

This attack on rights

was no way to reward the very workers
who have kept our nation going.

37

NATIONAL

Breath
tests
From left, ETU members Bryce Quay and Joe
on worksites Pang, ETU Delegate Michael Lockington and
members Joe Deluca and Adam Pascoe

In NSW, workers on a job “SafeWork NSW should prioritise worker Our airlines will never look the same
site in the Sydney CBD were safety and enforce a suspension for the again, but we’ve stayed right in the
forced to use a wall-mounted duration of the pandemic." middle of the decision-making to ensure
breathalyser before starting our members’ rights and entitlements in
work each day, despite the Because of the ETU’s campaigning, the industry are protected.
health risks of COVID-19. SafeWork NSW then prohibited the use of
stationary wall-mounted breathalysers Qantas was hit hard by the pandemic as
This was during the period when even during the COVID-19 pandemic for the borders closed and international travel
police had stopped random breath testing entire state. was restricted. 60% of operational staff
on roads because of the infection risks. were stood down, with most flights
The St Marys water treatment plant cancelled. The ETU intervened early
ETU NSW & ACT Secretary Justin Page was also forcing employees to use the and secured an acknowledgement of
slammed the project’s builder Laing breathalysers until SafeWork NSW a secure future for the Brisbane Heavy
O’Rourke for insisting on the test despite stepped in and stopped them. Maintenance facility.
the risks of exposure to COVID-19.
In June, 6,000 workers were made
“Laing O’Rourke needs to fall in line redundant, including some of our
with the rest of the industry. Other members in engineering. On top of this,
major builders have recognised the Qantas pushed for more people to be
risk and suspended use of this type of allowed to take voluntary redundancies,
breathalyser,” he said. but we opposed this. Instead, we argued
for a staged controlled process to match
voluntary redundancy applicants to
existing work requirements, which would
accommodate a ramp up of activity
once airlines can fly freely again. This
approach mitigates the risk of Qantas
outsourcing and offshoring its workforce
post-pandemic.

While the company received help from
the federal government, Qantas still
attempted to exploit the remaining
workers during this crisis. They aimed to
reduce secure employment and union-
won conditions such as RDOs while CEOs
and senior executives had no reduction in
pay or conditions.

38

The Pandemic has

CHANGED

Qantas senior management has now OUR AIRLINES
FOREVER
announced a ‘property review’, which is
By Matt Murphy, National Industry Coordinator
designed to pressure state governments

to provide increased funding and

incentives to retain Qantas’ presence

in Brisbane and Sydney and Jetstar

in Melbourne.

Virgin Airways went into voluntary Our airlines will never We are concerned that newly announced
administration in April. The ETU moved look the same again, ‘One AirServices Program’ is a sneaky
quickly to be part of the voluntary but we’ve stayed right way to exploit the pandemic by seeking
administration process to ensure that in the middle of the redundancies and outsourcing aviation
workers received their entitlements, and decision-making to safety-critical work such as electrical,
we also got involved in the process to ensure our members’ radio and radar systems installation,
engage with potential buyers. A decision rights and entitlements in maintenance, and operation. Rest
was made to seek a new buyer, instead of the industry are protected. assured we are fighting for your rights,
selling off the assets. We supported this so watch this space.
because it was the best way to maximise
jobs and protect entitlements. We have
also lobbied to bring more Virgin Airways
maintenance onshore which we will
continue to pursue.

The new owners of Virgin, Bain Capital,
were the best resourced and funded
choice. We supported them because they
were most likely to provide security for
the most jobs and all entitlements.

The national Air Traffic Control Agency EaTnUddEeTlaeUtghamateenmgMabirceh1ra0Ae1dlMaLmoeclbPkoianusgrctnooeen
AirServices Australia was hard hit just
like the airline companies with a big loss
in revenue. The ETU supported additional
government funding for the company and
we worked with our members to avoid
most negative impacts with new working
arrangements. We continue to engage
with them and monitor the situation.

39

NATIONAL

ETU National

Women’s Committee “Many women have had to manage the
goes strength »TO» strength struggles of COVID-19, stand downs,
from home-schooling, and increased domestic
violence risks. They face the pressures
The Electrical Trades Union is changing Highlights from the committee’s first and inequalities of balancing it all,
with the times and welcoming more year of action include: particularly with study - even for women
women than ever before. The ETU in non-traditional roles and industries.
National Women’s Committee is ► S peaking in panel discussions In 2020 we have had the Human Rights
proud to have played a massive role in around the country for events such Commission hand down landmark
encouraging more women to take up a as International Women’s Day and recommendations into sexual harassment
trade and join our Union. They are the topics like power industry EBAs in the workplace and recent Workplace
driving force behind improving conditions Gender Equality Agency reporting
for women across the Union and the ► an increase in female membership showing an increased gender pay gap in
industry, advocating for action on issues every month in NSW to 3.5%, up some industries, but none of it has been
like gender bias, sex discrimination and from 2% a year ago acknowledged this year,” she said.
breaking down employment barriers
for women. They’ve taken a seat at the ► a pledge for diversity and equality Who are our
executive table giving all women in the in the NSW Branch Affirmative Action
Union and the electrical trades a voice. Officers (AAO’s) and
► 5 0 women attending the first ETU Committee
Affirmative action officer Ellen McNally Women’s Information and Training Day Representatives?
from the NSW Branch leads the
committee and is proud of the progress ► SA welcoming two new members NSW & ACT Ellen McNally (AAO)
they are making and the message of and a new female state councillor and Jill Raynes
inclusion that it sends to Union members
and women in the electrical trades. ► c ollaboration with SA shipbuilding QLD & NT Ezra Finch (AAO) and
company BAE Systems with an aim Hannah Watts
“Women want to feel that their voices to recruit 30% women
are being heard. Having female SA Bridget Hallion (AAO)
representation on committees helps ► a position secured at the BWI Global Rachel Lawley
ensure that their perspectives don’t go Women in Trades Conference
unnoticed and gives them someone to VIC Laura Birch (AAO) and
reach out to about issues that affect Despite various wins, Ellen acknowledges Patsy Clark
them,” she said. that this year has been a tough one
for women. WA Jessica Ellis (AAO)
and Kyna Mason

TAS vacant pending election

40

SPOTLIGHT ON EZRA FINCH

ETU QLD & NT affirmative action officer

The ETU QLD & NT Branch’s affirmative “I am more than happy to talk with Affirmative action officer,
action officer Ezra Finch has been an members and raise topics with the Ezra Finch
ETU member since 2015. She joined committee.”
the Union to ensure her workplace had
the numbers in EBA negotiations to With COVID-19 still very much a thing,
protect and enhance hard-won pay and planning ahead can be tricky, but Ezra is
conditions. She currently works for the determined to continue setting goals for
Department of Housing and Public the future.
Works (QBuild).
“For me in my role as an AAO I hope to
Ezra sees her role as an affirmative continue participating in the National
action officer and its position within the Women’s Committee and our QLD &
wider Union as an important conduit NT Branch’s Women’s Committee. I aim
to encourage female members to be to gather information from our rank
involved at all levels of the Union. and file members to identify how the
Union can better support women in their
“The purpose of the AAO role is three- everyday working lives. We hope to hold
fold: to encourage women to enter the our annual women’s conference in 2021,
trades, increase women’s membership which will give us an opportunity to meet
within the ETU and to encourage women’s our members face to face.”
participation within the ETU.
The ETU Women’s Committee is passionate
The ETU Women’s Committee is about women being involved in the decision
passionate about women being involved -making process to ensure that the concerns of
in the decision-making process to our women members are taken into consideration.
ensure that the concerns of our female
members are taken into consideration.”

Ezra and the QLD & NT Women’s 2020 PLANNING DAY
Committee meet on average around six
times a year depending on the agendas In August 2020 the National The following actions items were
up for discussion. Ezra and her fellow Women’s Committee held its endorsed by the committee:
committee members have emailed inaugural planning day over
their contact details to all rank and file Zoom teleconferencing. The 1. Develop an initiative and aims
women members and encourage their committee was ‘united but document for discussion and
participation. apart’, with representatives endorsement at future
from all states invited to committee meetings.
Affirmative action officer, attend. The turnout was solid
Ellen McNallly with only Tasmania and WA 2. Develop a draft membership
unable to participate. survey to help understand female
members’ expectations and
The day included discussion about: experiences, the good and the bad,
both within the Union and at work.
► t he aims and purpose of the AAO
positions and the National Women’s 3. Promote the AAO position through
Committee social media and other networks.

► h ow the AAO positions and the 4. Develop criteria for some ETU
committee will function within Recognition Awards specifically for
the Union female ETU members.

► h ow the AAO positions and the The committee looks forward to a big
committee could enhance the year ahead welcoming more women
Union experience for existing on board. Keep your eyes peeled for a
female members and encourage national women’s survey kicking off soon
non-members to join. where the committee aims to find out
more about our female members.

41

WA From the By Peter Carter, ETU WA State Secretary

STATE SECRETARY

The economic impact of of apprentices from Electrical Group
Covid-19 will hit hard for Training (EGT) to various government
a while yet, but Western sectors (which gave the members
Australia has mostly been permanency as well as substantial wage
lucky. A combination of increases from the paltry EGT pay);
good management by the the win for ECM members’ redundancy
WA ALP State Government, payments after they were told FEG
geographical isolation and not wouldn’t cover them; Matera members
having major transit hubs in the North West winning their public
meant that WA suffered holiday battle and our work convincing
relatively little during the NECA WA that their national body’s
restrictions from March to June. attack on award conditions was not a
good idea, as they sought to reduce
Plaudits must be given to the WA State historical employment rights in the
Government who granted COVID-19 electrical contracting industry.
special leave and no redundancies to all
public sector workers during the crisis. We also employed a new young
It didn’t happen in a vacuum though, as organiser, Ash ‘Moose’ Bamford, in the
the Electrical Trades Union and other ECI patch and he’s taken to the job well,
unions had numerous meetings, Zoom invigorating our apprentice officer’s role
conferences and phone calls lobbying in particular.
them continually on those points.
All organisers, as well as our office
The electrical contracting industry, being staff, have together done an outstanding
the crux of our private sector, was hit the job all year (but specifically during
hardest, but it didn’t prevent any of our the unprecedented COVID-19 storm).
organisers from banging on the doors Their hard work has given us a strong
of businesses and government at every foundation to continue the struggle as
turn. In fact, the consequences for ETU we look forward to the challenging times
members could have been a lot worse if ahead next year.
it wasn’t for the efforts of our organisers
across the resource, mining, contracting
and lift sectors.

Aside from the pandemic, this year has
given us some major wins throughout all
sectors. You can read about them further
on. Highlights include the employment

Peter Carter
ETU WA State Secretary

42

WA

Perdaman’s fertiliser plant on
the Burrup Peninsula, WA

Since the resources boom Another project in the North-West is
finished large construction the Woodside’s Pluto Train 2 Project.
projects have been scarce, so A final investment decision has been
when multinational company delayed due to COVID-19 but a Union
Perdaman got the green light to greenfield agreement was negotiated
build a $4 billion fertiliser plant earlier this year if the
in the Burrup we were pleased project goes ahead.
they wanted to talk about a
greenfield agreement. Workers’ wages are an
important catalyst for
After months of negotiations we economic growth. We
registered a very good agreement - the urge the state and federal
first union EBA in many years. As well as governments to follow
progressive family-friendly and mental suit on all infrastructure
health clauses in the agreement, it also projects, so WA taxpayers
included decent wages. This is a marked get the best return from
departure from the wage race to the their taxes.
bottom over the last several years in the
construction industry and should be a
guide for all projects in the state. The
project has been delayed but is expected
to commence Q1 of 2021.

New

greenfield
EBAS in WA’s North West

43

Workers at ECM

Win
for ECM workers’
RIGHT TO

REDUNDANCY
PAYMENTS

By Ian Gill, organiser, WA

ECM, one of the largest monies were paid, but when it came to Many people are struggling financially
electrical contracting redundancy payments, FEG tried to claim so having a bit of extra money in their
companies in WA, went that the ECM workers weren’t eligible. pockets to help tide them over is a great
bankrupt in August 2019, outcome,” said Mr Wright.
leaving 400 workers, including This didn’t seem right, so I teamed up
many ETU members, with with legal expert and National Assistant ETU State Secretary, Peter Carter, said it
unpaid wages and entitlements. Secretary Michael Wright to investigate. shows how vital unions are.
We discovered that the ECM workers
When businesses go bankrupt, workers were eligible for a redundancy payment. “Unions are so important because they
can find themselves at the mercy of know your rights and they will always
the Fair Entitlement Guarantee (FEG) The ETU took on the legal work defend them. If you know others in your
scheme to claim unpaid wages and other challenging the FEG decision as far as workplace that aren’t part of a union,
entitlements such as outstanding annual the Attorney General’s Office and won! please encourage them to join,” he said.
leave, notice in lieu of termination, stand
down time, redundancy and long service In the end hundreds of workers were
leave. paid their notice in lieu of termination
and their redundancy with the total bill
adding up to more than a million dollars.

WA Branch lead organiser Ian Gill kept “This is particularly important while
on top of administrators and a senior we’re in the middle of a pandemic.
FEG officer to ensure that all owed

Unions are so important because

THey know your rights and
they will always defend them.

44

In early 2019 we experienced We continued to push for the loss of The workers refused to pay and the ETU WA
cyclone Veronica in the Pilbara wages, and eventually Matera Electrical National legal team got involved and
region. During this period many offered the workers payment - but for tore apart these claims from Matera
companies stood their workers ordinary hours only. All of the workers Electrical. The legal team also fought
down without pay. One of rejected this, and together with the ETU for eight members who took voluntary
these companies was Matera National legal team demanded the full redundancy and had not been paid
Electrical, which many ETU amount of 12 hours per day for the stand their promised amount. In one case our
members work for. down period. Eventually, after receiving member was owed $13,500.
advice that the ETU position was correct,
When a company stands its workers Matera Electrical agreed to pay workers In total, The ETU
down they must prove there is no the full amount they were owed. All 28 returned roughly
alternate work for them to do. Many ETU members were due to receive over $400K to workers.
enterprise agreements (EAs) also four thousand dollars.
account for things like inclement In total, The ETU returned roughly $400K
weather, meaning workers still get paid However before they paid up, Matera to workers. Justice prevailed but this
when extreme events like cyclones occur. Electrical then tried to claim that all story shows just how willing companies
of these workers had been overpaid on are to steal wages from workers and the
Our members contacted the ETU who public holidays since 2016 and that they importance of staying vigilant.
discovered that they should have been owed the company money, in some cases
paid during the cyclone event, based on up to $7,500 each. Instead of paying A huge thanks to all our members and
their EA. what they owed they were trying to find a delegates who stood up for each other
sneaky way out of it. and pushed this one all the way!
The ETU informed Matera Electrical that
they owed these workers their wages but
the company tried to deny this, saying
that their employees weren’t entitled to
anything.

45

Getting

apprentices into

the workforce

The ETU was able to help its during COVID-19
apprentices secure reliable
employment through its By Ash Bamford, organiser, and Andy Giddens, organiser, WA
networks during a difficult year.

Around 25 years ago the Richard Court Several apprentices got in touch Minister for Water David Kelly MLA, he
State Liberal Government privatised the with us to see if we could help them quickly made arrangements to bring
wastewater and groundwater facilities find somewhere to complete their these apprentices in as direct indentured
in the Metro area of Perth. The two main apprenticeships. Most of these apprentices. These apprentices at
alliance partners were Perth Region apprentices came from Group Training WaterCorp came on as direct employees
Alliance and Aroona Alliance and they Organisations (GTOs) that are little at the end of August and will be trained
employed around 60 electrical workers more than labour hire apprentice farms. as dual trade HA instrumentation
to carry out essential works. Although The GTOs were quick to stand down electricians by the time they complete
these members were in the private or suspend apprentices and put them their apprenticeships.
market the ETU still maintained good on JobKeeper payments rather than
Enterprise Bargaining Agreements do their job and find these apprentices We also reached out to Minister for Mines
(EBAs). placements where they could continue and Petroleum, Energy and Industrial
their training. Relations Bill Johnstone MLA, and
In 2020 the ALP State Government Western Power to see if they could assist.
announced that these workers would Fortunately, with a State Labor They were able to place five apprentices
transition back into government Government and the Water Corporation as direct indentured apprentices within
hands and work directly for the Water back in public hands along with Western Power in May this year. Through
Corporation. other publicly owned utilities such as
Western Power, we were soon able to
Meanwhile, 2020 was dealing a difficult secure a number of positions within
hand for some of our apprentices. Some these departments for some of those
employers were using COVID-19 as an apprentices from the GTOs.
excuse to suspend or stand them down,
leaving them wondering how they would We also identified a $22 per hour pay gap Perth Region Alliance workers
complete their apprenticeships. At between the GTO apprentices covered were transitioned back into the
one point in WA there were over 2,000 by the modern award and apprentices of now publicly owned WaterCorp
apprentices and trainees facing this the same experience working alongside
uncertainty. them covered by the Water Corporation
EBA. Once this was pointed out to the

46

DIGITAL WA
ORGANISING

wins big for
offshore workers

By Damian Clancey, organiser, WA

This year workers for offshore company
M Maintenance had a massive win working
with ETU organisers to restore good wages,
permanent jobs and good conditions.

Minister for Water David Kelly MLA with Baseline Enterprise Agreements (EAs) All of the rates and most conditions that
the new ETU apprentices at WaterCorp formulated behind closed doors, and Monadelphous (and several other grubby
then signed off by employees who will companies) had ripped out of the industry
a collaborative approach between never work under them have become through baseline EAs were brought back.
the ETU and Western Power these commonplace across many industries At the start of negotiations 100% of the
apprentices were able to be brought in Australia. Monadelphous personnel were on casual
on in half the usual time. They have all contracts. By February 2020, two weeks
received additional training to better One such example was the M Maintenance after the new Union-negotiated EBA
equip them for their new roles with the 2017 EA (owned by company Monadelphous) came into effect, 80% of the crew were
network operator. which slashed wages by 40% on offshore given permanency. With permanency
This has been a life changing facilities and got rid of a raft of top-quality came leave entitlements and a weekly
opportunity for all involved, conditions that had been hard won over redundancy/severance payment into
particularly those that came from previous years. Protect - quite a change from what the
the GTOs. A secure apprenticeship, crew were used to.
quality training, and the perks of a fully Last year, workers and their unions
Union EBA are all things that these were determined to turn things around. The whole process was
apprentices had yet to experience. We Negotiations between the ETU, AMWU, a tremendous learning
wish them all the best with their future the Offshore Alliance, and Monadelphous
in the electrical industry. management began in March 2019. experience for me.
Early on, Monadelphous showed they It showed how effective
weren’t happy about being forced to the ‘digital age’ organising can be.
bargaining table. In typically manipulative
and disruptive fashion, Monadelphous The whole process was a tremendous
insisted that negotiations take place in learning experience for me. It showed
Broome in order to ‘maximise employee how effective ‘digital age’ organising
involvement’ despite the company, can be. Engagement with the workforce
relevant unions and most employees was carried out almost exclusively via
being based in Perth. We opposed this email, and it was the combined Unions’
but it was a taste of things to come. The ability to engage with and recruit
negotiation took fourteen meetings over potential membership over the course
eight months to finalise, and eventually of negotiations that was the key to a
involved protected industrial action. successful outcome.

Over the months of The overall result for workers will be a
negotiation, the ETU 40% pay increase over four years which
membership rose from is a fantastic result, and a credit to a
50% to 95% density by the motivated and committed workforce who
time protected industrial listened to their leadership. I’m proud to
have been a part of it.
action took place.
The flow on effect of this win has been
Over the months of negotiation, the ETU successful Majority Support Determinations
membership rose from 50% to 95% with other companies such as Inpex,
density by the time protected industrial Shell and Chevron core operations
action took place in September 2019. It personnel, as well as a contractor called
was the first industrial action on a West Legeneering. We have made serious gains
Australian offshore facility in 25 years, in offshore membership, and now we are
and it was a success. well placed to take on the contractors as
well as the major players. Power in a Union!

47

ETU national industry coordinator Matt Murphy
and ETU WA organiser, Mark Mocerino at Austal

ETU STANDS UP With all three government
enterprise bargaining
against the exploitation of agreements (EBAs) in
foreign workers at Austal generation and distribution
lined up to expire within six
By Mark Mocerino, organiser, WA months of the 2021 state
election, 2020 was looking
This year the ETU exposed shipping When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, like a good year for bargaining.
company Austal for exploiting a group Austal applied to extend their visas as it Then COVID-19 came along.
of Filipino workers. These workers was unsafe for them to travel home.
were brought to Australia for a training The WA State Government and their
contract but were in fact performing We exposed what they were doing in the trading entities tried to request one-
qualified electrical and other work. media and wrote to politicians asking year rollover agreements in March,
Despite living and working in Australia them to step in and stop these workers supposedly to ‘get us through the
they were only being paid their from being exploited. We demanded pandemic’ but more importantly the next
Philippines’ salaries (about $15 AUD that the company pay these workers state election. We decided not to and
a day) plus a daily allowance of $90. what they were owed. instead waited to negotiate.
Workers in Australia are covered by
relevant awards with minimum working As soon as we went public with the Luckily the WA border slammed shut
conditions and this type of arrangement is news, Austal announced on Twitter ensuring no community transmission of
illegal under Australian workplace laws. that the ‘trainees’ had completed COVID-19.
their program and were going back to
The Filipino workers were brought out Cebu in the Phillippines, despite the We have so far managed to successfully
here on sub-class 400 visas, meant aforementioned risk of COVID-19. negotiate an outcome for electricity
for highly specialised skilled workers generator Synergy, and are currently in
that cannot be sourced locally. They The federal Industrial Relations Minister negotiations with Western Power, the
were doing 10-hour days, Monday to Christian Porter referred the matter main distribution entity, for a new three-
Thursday and sometimes Friday and to the Fair Work Ombudsman, who year deal.
Saturday without any pay at all. are currently investigating. We are
continuing to liaise with the Filipino Negotiating
Austal said that the Filipinos were in workers and Fair Work to try to recover
Australia to learn skills needed for their the wages these workers are legally government
Philippines site, but they weren’t being entitled to. EBAs during a p
trained. Some were doing complex
electrical work that legally requires a Furthermore, after seeing the ETU By Brendan Reeve, organiser, WA
license which none of them held. take action, and after three decades
of low wages and poor conditions,
As soon as we went electrical workers at Austal Ships are
public with the news, standing up with the ETU to demand a
Austal announced on Twitter new enterprise agreement with decent
that the ‘trainees’ had wages and conditions. Here’s to a
completed their program brighter future for our newest members
and were going back to at Austal!
Cebu in the Phillippines,
despite the aforementioned
risk of COVID-19.

48