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Workers Unite to Get What They're Owed It has been a steep learning curve. We have had ongoing issues with the Phil Usher H20 site with a total disrespect to the workforce on the job in regards to their simple human rights.
Before Easter, the workers chose to sit down because of major safety issues which included pouring columns out of a medivac box, fall from heights, scaffolding issues, access/egress issues all over, problems with power, traffic control, lighting, housekeeping, and slip and trip issues.
For two of the four days they were down for basic amenities and also we have had other days as well as where three blokes got electrocuted. We were lucky no one died. The Department wrote them up a number of times on the job.
Usher’s answer to safety is to try and stop the Unions on the job by calling the Police and the ABCC instead of owning up to their obligations as a Principal Contractor.
Also on that job is a group of workers Usher has tried to starve out of work. The Group voted to work three days on and three days off to spread the work amongst themselves.
Usher should realise you cannot break good men. I would go into the trenches with these blokes any day of the week. The safety on the job has turned around because of the actions of the workers on the job.
A certain person in management continues to bully workers on this job and while they continue down that road, the Unions from the BTG will be there to defend their rights and safety on that job.
On the Bovis Gold Coast Hospital site have found quite a number of subbies who have been behind in their BUSS(Q), BERT and CIPQ payments. As a result, we’ve been sitting the workers from those companies down until the money has been recovered. Other men have also not been getting paid the correct travel allowances. It’s pleasing to say we’ve been successful in recovering $400,000 in entitlements for workers on that job.
One of those workers, named Shane ‘Snapper’ Cantwell has been sick for around six months. ISD paid two months because they had missed their CIPQ payments. As a result, they assume the obligations to pay what the worker would have been paid from the CIPQ fund. Payments to Mr Cantwell will continue until he is well enought to return to work.
The ISD workers at the Hospital and Parkview sites sat down until ISD back paid their BUSS(Q) , BERT, and CIPQ.
After this incident, We put all the subbies on notice that if they were to fall behind in their BUSS(Q), BERT, or CIPQ payments, the workers would sit down until entitlements are paid according to their EBA.
It was awesome to see so many BLs and their families at this year’s May Day and on that note it was a pleasure meeting all the workers and delegates on the Coast. I would like to thank my fellow organisers and the girls in the office for giving me help when I have needed it. I would also like to welcome Chad Bragdon to the BLF team.
Remember... If you don’t fight, you lose.
Signing off, Adam Olsen.
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