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Secretary Journal Entry Winter 2010 The Builders Labourers Federation has left an undeniable mark on Australian history. This is no ordinary group of workers. This is no ordinary Union. Throughout the BLF’s history in Queensland, many heroes of the union movement have come and gone and left their mark. We’ve been on the forefront of many industrial relations battles and are proud of our many wins for our members.
Our flag, the Southern Cross was first flown during the 1854 Eureka Rebellion. As it was for the rebel miners, it is for us a symbol of resistance by the ordinary person, against the unfair use of authority over the worker.
The same oath taken over 150 years ago still rings true to us today...
“We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties,”
The first historical reference of a QLD Builder’s Labourers’ Union, was in 1876. A small number of unions covering a range of labourers, sprouted up and existed to serve labourers at this time. But in 1910, after the builder’s labourers felt that their unique issues were not being addressed, they sought their own union representation. On the 2nd of August 1910, the Queensland Builders’ Labourers’ federated with the other states.
From these humble beginnings, the BLF have grown in stature, power and membership. In 1912, a major strike erupted in Brisbane known as the General Strike, and so began their strong history in fighting for the worker and standing in unity. On February 2nd the protesting workers were baton-charged by Queensland Police in the streets, on what was to become known as Black Friday. Thus rang true the saying, “When injustice becomes law, defiance is our duty.” When World War One began, Unions including the BLF, stood tall to reject Conscription.
With a new Labor Government in 1915, an era of worker friendly industrial legislation began. One of the biggest wins of this time was the introduction of worker’s compensation, in 1916.
All the time the BLF recruited new members and fought for the rights of the labourer. In the November of 1917, the Queensland branch applied for registration as a trade union and by December was duly registered.
In 1929 the Great Depression struck and construction workers everywhere felt the immediate impact of this downturn, with only one in five employed. Again the BLF did all it could to support their members through the struggle of these dark days.
Just as the industry started on the road to recovery from the Depression, World War Two began and many labourers joined the armed forces to defend their country.
The 1960’s and 1970’s saw a strong surge in industrial activism, especially where the likes of such strong personalities as Norm Gallagher were involved. The BLF continued to serve its members and participated in Green Bans and showed solidarity with other groups and causes, partaking in among others, Aboriginal Rights Protests.
From the mid 1980’s, the BLF traveled down a new path of cementing their wins for the rights of the worker, into a series of structured and organized schemes. In 1985, the Builder’s Union Superannuation Scheme or BUSS Q was introduced. This path was not without its twists and turns with the Federal Labor Government de-registering the BLF for a period of five years, in 1986.
In 1989 the Queensland building workers became entitled to severance pay after the Industrial Relations Commission enforced the termination and redundancy standard in the construction industry. This decision recognized the Building Employees Redundancy Trust or BERT as a valuable fund for the industry.
Another huge win for the members and the industry was Q Leave in 1992. This enabled construction workers to receive portable long service leave benefits for the first time. Since then over 33,350 claims have been paid, totaling over $169 million.
Bolstering the ideal that this industry could be a career, and born out of the passion Greg Simcoe had for education and training, the Construction Skills Training Centre was born. The CSTC was established in 1994 as an independent not for profit training organization by the BLFQ and continues to work toward lifting the status of the builder’s labourer through traineeships and qualifications.
The John Howard Government began in 1996 and saw an end to 13 years of labor and union-friendly government. This Government assaulted the BLF with such challenges as abolishing compulsory unionism, introducing work choices, workplace agreements, and the Greenfield agreements. However the BLF dared to struggle and to forge on in these tough times, and through their opposition to some of these issues won new members and new ground further north in QLD.
Looking after the interests of the workers was always at the forefront and before the Ambulance Levy in QLD was introduced, the BLF had already implemented Death and Ambulance cover for members in 1997.
Furthermore safety issues have been a long-standing cause. Tragically the 1990s saw a number of workplace fatalities that fuelled the Union to march on the Workplace Health and Queensland Executive building demanding justice for those killed and their families. This led to an independent inquiry and a complete overhaul of workplace health and safety in Queensland.
Yet again another scheme delivering added protection and stability for the builders’ labourer is the Construction Income Protection Queensland Scheme – CIPQ. This was set up in 2001 and provides income protection and portability of sick leave and serves building and construction workers when they most need it.
Amongst the BLF striving for justice, fairness and safety for their members and the industry, the BLF have always made it a point to show a commitment to the wider community. And this is no more aptly demonstrated then through their amazing and ongoing efforts of charity. Over the years charities such as the Mater Hospital, Guide Dogs, Ambulance Service, and Care Flight, to name but a few have benefited from the BLF.
The BLF’s milestones, achievements and wins, are both deeply and widely felt, by a great deal of people. From fighting for workers’ safety, raising the status of construction workers, delivering expensive medical equipment to save a premature baby’s life, to building some of the most iconic landmarks in this great state.
The BLF have dared to struggle and with 100 years behind them – they havedared to win. It’s been a victory for so many by so many.
There will always be those opposed to the BLF and opposed to unionism. But these same people enjoy the benefits we and our fellow unionists have campaigned for; workers’ compensation, superannuation, maternity leave, workplace health and safety, redundancy, income protection, pay rises and unfair dismissal laws.
These were all hard fought for by the union and its members. For the future and the next generation we hope they will remember the things their predecessors fought for, hold them precious and never let anyone touch them, as these are your rights and all workers deserve them.
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