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BLF Welcomes a New Organiser - Winter 2010 Let me start off with saying how honoured I am to be in this position. It’s not a right that’s given; this position has to be earned. In the relative scheme of things I haven’t been around for that long. I started out tunnel boring and excavator driving and I worked overseas on ships, before working as a concreter. I have always been a strong union supporter, something which runs in my family; starting with my grandfather, who was a strong union supporter, and continuing with my mum, who many of you may know, working for Bert for 14 years. Coming back into the industry the one thing I was very pleased to note is the strength in the union and that unionism is still strong through any and all setbacks.
In the past 8 months I have been a delegate on the South Brisbane Convention Centre site for Expanded, Laing O’Rourke and let me just say this, they are a company that thrives on the intimidation of the workers through constantly calling the task force who in turn find and manipulate the workers to give up other workers on site. This special team of Expanded management came from overseas with their wishy washy ways of running and managing their workforce and sites. They say they’re at the forefront of safety leading the charge in Australia for building. Well let me tell you comrades, they are leading the charge but not in safety or management or building for that matter. The only thing that seems of concern is profits, no matter what the expense to the workers.
I am very proud to be in the union and I was especially proud as a delegate on this site where the men showed strength & support through all problems that we had. They showed that through standing together collectively we won’t be intimidated and that unionism is still strong. For the few that have opposed and constantly whinged about 4 hours here, or a day or 2 there I think it is important to remember that what is asked of the workers today is very little in comparison to what union members and workers have done in past times to ensure that we enjoy the rights and privileges we do today.
So ladies and gents, as a new organiser getting around I ask of only one thing. That it is to rebuild and/or maintain trust and faith in the BLF, an organisation that has consistently delivered for their members.
Dare to Struggle. Dare to Win.
Look forward to seeing you around.
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