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BLF defends traffic control leave
After much back and forth from QLeave, BLF member Peter Guerin will have his portable long service leave reinstated. This is the first instance of court action after QLeave decided to strip traffic controllers of their portable leave.
After the BLF initiated legal action, QLeave’s board of directors decided to restore portable long service leave for traffic controllers, but only on building sites.
QLeave had originally told Peter Guerin he would get his portable leave, only to go back on their decision. Mr Guerin then contacted Kevin Crank, Industrial Relations Officer at the BLF. After Mr Crank received Mr Guerin’s documentation, he filed an appeal in magistrate’s court against QLeave’s decision.
The BLF doesn’t have a representative on QLeave’s board, but the sister branch CFMEU does. Michael Rabbar, CFMEU State Secretary agreed to inform the board of the BLF’s position advised by Mr Crank.
The board agreed in principle with the BLF’s arguments, and reinstated portable long service leave for traffic controllers working around building sites.
Mr Crank said it was a good result and it could have cost a lot more than it did.
“By adjourning court proceedings and letting the board decide, QLeave kept money in the fund they would have spent in court. Not to mention tax payers’ money in the magistrates,” he said.
Mr Guerin says it is the second time the union has helped him.
“I know for a fact that I couldn’t have got it [portable long service leave] through on my own. It really shows the benefit of being in the union,” he says.
In November Mr Crank and other union members are meeting to define rules for recognising long service leave for traffic controllers around building sites.
It was early in 2009 that QLeave had originally decided to cancel portable long service leave for traffic controllers.
Mr Guerin had been working on the Mater Car Park at the time of the incident.
After much back and forth from QLeave, BLF member Peter Guerin will have his portable long service leave reinstated. This is the first instance of court action after QLeave decided to strip traffic controllers of their portable leave.
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BLF wins traffic controller’s long service leave 
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