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Issue No. 236 | 03 September 2004 |
Interest Overboard
Interview: True Matilda Politics: State of Play Industrial: Capital Dilemmas Unions: Rhodes Scholars National Focus: Rennovating the Lodge International: People Power Economics: A Bit Rich History: Mine Shafts Safety: Sick Of Fighting Organising: Building a Wave Poetry: Anger In The Bush(es) Review: The Battle Of Algiers Culture: The Word On The Street
Sprung: Howard Liberal with Truth Health Warning for Bank Robbers Offensive Toilets Threaten Pupils Telstra Dials Workplace Acquiescence Privatisation Debate Energised
The Soapbox Politics Postcard The Locker Room Postcard
Co-operating At All Costs Fan Mail All Good Except You
Labor Council of NSW |
News Health Warning for Bank Robbers
The bank has been sitting on the news that its Sydney head office was riddled with asbestos since late last year, with the Finance Sector Union (FSU) claiming that the bank failed to relocate staff because of the costs involved.
The FSU has called for an immediate evacuation of the Martin Place site and a nationwide asbestos audit of all ANZ workplaces in the wake of the discovery, which they claim is typical of the bank's complacent approach to workplace safety. "Surely it is now proven that asbestos is not safe," says FSU National Secretary, Paul Schroder. "We are deeply concerned that they are more concerned about property costs and business disruption than people." "This is particularly alarming when you consider that on the ANZ Board we have the head of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission and a director of James Hardie NV - two people who should know better." The FSU has put ANZ on notice and written to each state based OHS authority to alert them of the problem.
The news follows revelations that asbestos and vermin are threatening children at a hospital childcare centre. Parents at the Yaralla Child Care Centre have formed an action group after threatened demolition work at the Concord Repatriation Hospital placed the childcare centre at risk. Parents and unions; including the NSW Nurses Association, the CFMEU and the Health Services Union joined forces to halt demolition scheduled for this week. "Given the recent media attention regarding the possible devastating consequences of exposure to asbestos I am at a loss to understand why this demolition could be allowed to proceed without proper safety precautions," says NSW Nurses Association general secretary Brett Holmes. "Especially when there are 52 children per day potentially exposed to hazardous substances." The current site already has a higher than acceptable level of lead content in the soil." Unions and parents are calling for the centre to be relocated as a matter of urgency prior to any demolition being commenced.
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