
Issue No 97		25 May 2001

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News

Construction Industry Faces Safety Crisis

The failure of WorkCover inspectors to investigate a serious accident has sparked a new wave of anger that will boil over in a major building industry rally on State Parliament next Tuesday.

The entire Sydney construction industry will stop work for half a day on Tuesday to draw attention to WorkCover's failure to police safety and ensure employers and contractors properly cover their workers.

CFMEU construction division official Brian Parker says the latest incident involves an accident which occurred on April 30 at the Bovis Lend Lease Sydney ports Terminal project.

"A member of the AMWU, Luigi Bareiri, was pinned between the Genie 34' knuckleboom that he was operating and an overhead steel boom," Parker says. "he was taken to hospital and received treatment for cruch injuries."

But despite the unions and companies involved on the site completing their own reports and investigations and forwarding them to WorkCover, there has still been no response by the Authority.

Parker says this is a major concern because the equipment involved, the knuckle-boom, is used across several industries.

"There are questions about the safety of specific equipment, as well as the adequacy of Australian standards for this type of equipment," he says. "This is a clear example of where WorkCover could be acting decisively to prevent further injuries."

CFMEU state secretary Andrew Ferguson says the role of WorkCover needs to be highlighted, despite the agreement on the Della Bosca reform package reached this week.

"Unacceptable safety standards continue to cause serious injury and death to our members," Ferguson says. "We intend to continue our campaign until these issues are given a priority by the State Labor Government.'

Some Joy for Ferguson

Meanwhile, some good news from Ferguson following the decision by Joy Engineering to withdraw legal action against him personally.

The company, which waged a bitter lock-out against its workforce last year, was suing Ferguson and the CFMEU for $1.5 million for supporting the workers on their picket.

While the terms of the settlement remain confidential, Ferguson says he's "satisfied" with the outcome.

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Issue 97 contents

Interview: The Big Bribe
ACTU president Sharan Burrow emerges from the Federal Budget lock-up to ask where is the Howard Government�s vision for the future?

Compo: Where To Now?
As the dust settles in the WorkCover war, we look at what's been achieved and what still needs to be resolved.

Unions: The Real Big Brother
Have you ever got the feeling someone is watching you? If you work in one of the 4000 Call Centres in Australia then you�re probably right.

International: The Not-So Shakey Isles
NZ Council of Trade Union secretary Paul Goulter looks at life for the workers under a Labour Government.

Corporate: BHP: The Bit Australian
The BHP Billiton merger was an act of corporate tyranny. And, as Zoe Reynolds report, humanity does not figure on a corporate balance sheet.

History: A Proud Tradition of Mediocrity
Budgets always generate hype and a media circus, especially in the lead up to elections. This one is no exception and the Coalition consistency in panic and lack of ideas is reassuring in its lack of ideas.

Review: Ideologically Sound
Mark Hebblewhite trawls through the CD rack to dispel the notion that there's no politics left in pop.

Satire: HIH Recovers Own Losses
The collapsed insurance company HIH has lodged a claim with another insurer to be reimbursed for its $4 billion loss.

» Spotlight on HIH�s WorkCover Link

» Construction Industry Faces Safety Crisis

» Statewide Strike Off But Della on Notice

» David and Goliath Battle at IBM

» Natasha�s Democrats Face Senate IR Test

» Howard Abandons Working Families

» City Councils Recognise Birth � Now for the Bush

» BHP Forced to Back Off Kembla AWAs

» Impulse Bores Workers Into Submission

» Coach Drivers Win Permanency

» Boss Pockets Compo Payment

» Union Wins Battle in AWA War

» Publicans Want to Reduce Bar Pay

» Abbott Agrees to Ban Asbestos

» Union Acts to Save Leichhardt Refuge

» Trade Union Choir Turns Ten

» Activists' Notebook

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Thanks from Indonesia

» Hester Spot On

» Fuelling Voter Anger

» May Day - The Debate Continues

» Not a Chaser Fan

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