SAFETY FIRST

In recent times this Union has been highlighting the importance of safety and the importance of employers and workers applying good safety standards at the workplace. Until now we have tried to accomplish this without attacking individual company sites. This has failed to get through to some employers and workers, so as of the next issue we will highlight companies and sites that ignore worker safety. Below are some examples of bad practice from site management that appears to compromise safety for progress and profit.

On one site our organiser advised a site manager to put handrails on a working platform, our organiser returned later - no handrail. He then phoned the Regional Manager who told us he had previously requested that site manager to erect a handrail. After more pushing from the Union the handrail was erected.

On another site a crew were erecting a Tower Crane in heavy rain. Don’t these people know the dangers of working on wet painted steel?

Across the road some steel erectors were working on open bare steel in the same wet conditions.

NOTE: In both these instances the excuse was "we were just making the job safe". It had been raining for at least 3 hours.

On another site that our organiser visited he described the condition of the site as "being hit by a bomb." It was a hazard of major proportion.

We will be revisiting these and other sites and will in the future give information to identify these irresponsible people.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR OUR "CHANCERS OF THE MONTH" COLUMN.

REPORT BAD SAFETY TO THE UNION BEFORE YOU BECOME AN ACCIDENT STATISTIC.

Good Faith

What is it?

It is about listening to each other and respecting each others view point and implementing change that can improve relationships. It is about trust and respect for each other, however trust and respect has to be earned. It is not about one side creating a position that allows unfair dominance and control. Employers who refuse their employees a Collective Agreement are not acting in good faith. They seek control by retaining individual dominance of their employees. The AWU will support any workers who seek the fairness of collective agreements. After all we all know workers who are covered by collective agreements are better off than workers on individual agreements.

COLLECTIVE IS GOOD.

Filibuster Phil Reports

Unionising the construction industry has definitely been a challenge from all aspects, but situations I have encountered so far point in a very positive direction. From the days of semi-hopeful employees, through signs of negativity and fear, to a more enthusiastic and determined workforce who are showing signs of having had enough of being dictated to through the Employment Contracts Act.

Naturally we have only scratched the surface of better things to come, as you can see by the companies this union is now involved with. The membership numbers at companies we have membership with are growing steadily. Downers 44; Allied workforce 180; Dominion Constructors 20; just to mention a few.

We also still have to arrange meetings with approximately 12-14 new companies which have come about through either site visits or phone enquiries. Negotiations for collective agreements have been drawn out processes but that was expected.

The main factor being that all agreements now in place between AWUNZ and companies have had improvements such as minimum rates, Collective Agreements, separation of leave entitlements, site facilities, redundancies, rate increases, clothing, PPE gear supplied and overtime clauses. We currently have 3 companies who are refusing to change from Individual Contracts to Collectives; however we are working on this problem.

Our union is also taking a firm stance in regards to Health and Safety. Over the last 2 months we have sent a number of reports to OSH about concerns of workers who are employed by companies who seem to put H&S as a lower priority on their list, with good results coming through.

AUSSIE NEWS

Sent to us by the CFMEU in Australia.

Hundreds of Fletcher Construction workers marched in Sydney City on Friday 15th March in protest at the bastardry of their company, recently sold to John Holland’s Constructions.

A month ago the CFMEU was given assurances that Holland’s would look after its workforce and that the $100 million worth of work Fletcher’s currently have would keep building workers busy into the future.

Now, through corporate sleight of hand the $100 million worth of work has magically turned into only $16 million worth and Holland’s have told the industrial Commission that they are only prepared to take on Fletcher’s white collar workers, leaving its blue collar workforce in a cherry picker shell company and facing an uncertain future.

At a fiery mass meeting on the massive Fletcher’s Global Switch Site workers resolved to march on another Fletcher’s Site, David Jones in the city. Workers there will also strike and picket the job.

CFMEU State Assistant Secretary Brian Parker says Fletcher’s workers will do whatever it takes to get some guarantees from their new employer. "These guys are furious and set for a long battle" "The Union will back its members 100%. These are decent hardworking Australians"

Take the case of building worker, Tony Stone. 25 years with the company, his marriage went bust through the long hours he worked. He has ruined both his knees in industrial accidents. He was promised secure employment and now he is on the scrap heap.

New Organiser

Recently Michael Wood joined the Union under a Trainee Organiser Programme introduced by the CTU. So if you see Michael say hello and let him know that you are an AWUNZ member. He is currently assisting Phil in the Construction Industry which we are hoping will expand our coverage.

SO MAKE HIM FEEL WELCOME ON YOUR SITES.

MAY DAY 2002

On 1st May 2002 as all workers should know, it’s our day – it’s MAY DAY

This day is historically known as the time when workers and their unions congregate and do their annual march up Queen St to Aotea Square. Other centres in New Zealand do other things but we all celebrate INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY.

We have been given the opportunity to make our presence felt, and to show NZ and our bewildered workforce that you can make a difference and that is by

We ask all members and their families to come along and march proudly behind the banner of your union.

MAY DAY - 1ST MAY 2002

Assemble at FORT ST at 5.00pm to March up Queen St to Aotea Square

BBQ at Trades Hall Building 147 Great North Rd, after the March, ALL WELCOME.

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG SO LETS PROVE IT…

LABOUR-ONLY

The Northern Amalgamated Workers Union recently took a case to the Employment Relations Authority for a member who never got paid. The employers defence was that the Authority never had jurisdiction because the worker was a Labour-only Contractor. The Union argued that although the employment was based on a Labour-only pay arrangement the worker was still an employee and therefore the Authority did have jurisdiction. The Authority agreed with the union that the worker was an employee and ordered the employer to pay the outstanding wages plus costs.