
Issue No 13		14 May 1999

News

Spanish Workers Warned on Tax Agents

By Phil Davey

The Spanish speaking community has been warned to be careful of tax agents, after union member nearly lost his $3000 tax return.

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) released details of how their member, Mr A. Gomez of Ashfield, nearly lost his entire tax return.

The tax agent who held Mr Gomez's return in a trust account had gone into receivership and the trust account money was to be used by the liquidator to pay off the tax agent's creditors.

Strong representations by the CFMEU meant that Mr Gomez was speedily looked after and got all his money back. But CFMEU officials have warned that the list of those with money in the same trust account was made up almost entirely of Latin surnames.

The list had over 100 names on it, owed together over $100 000.

"The CFMEU looks after its members and was pleased to be able to help Mr Gomez with this problem" said CFMEU NSW Secretary Andrew Ferguson.

"However we worry that other members of the Spanish speaking community are unaware that their money held in trust is not protected if a tax agent goes bust."

"The tax Agent in this case was a franchise of one of the biggest tax firms in Australia. Don't assume because your dealing with a household name that your money is safe"

The CFMEU has one of the most diverse memberships of any union in Australia, over half of its 180 000 members are of Non English Speaking Background.

The CFMEU has many officials who are native Spanish speakers, and can assist any other members of the Spanish speaking community who hold a union ticket and who may have been caught in the same or a similar predicament.

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Issue 13 contents

Interview: Really Caring
Sam Moait will be sending a message from the 48,000 nurses who she represents when she takes her seat at the Drug Summit

Unions: Kicking the Habit
The architect of a trade union drug and alcohol program has revealed his own battle with drugs motivated him to help other workers kick the habit.

History: Remembering BHP: Memory and Industrial Heritage
The announcement of the intended closure of BHP�s Newcastle steelworks heightened the awareness that industrial heritage is more than derelict sites of production.

Review: Ten Songs to Revolution
We ask Labor Council's resident music critic to name the ten songs that define the nineties.

International: Union Lifts Lid on Rio Tinto Shame File
The global campaign against mining giant Rio Tinto has been stepped up with a new report alleging abuses of human rights, environmental and safety standards.

» Unions Warn Carr: Bosses Can�t Veto Second Wave

» Labor Council Backs Harm Minimisation

» Aquilina Urged to Talk as Students Offered Teaching Jobs

» Cutting Through the Budget Crap

» LHMU Demands Y2K Protection for Workers

» Cops Eye Airport Beat

» Spanish Workers Warned on Tax Agents

» Unions to March on Journey of Healing on May 26

» NSW Young Labor Turns 50!