PLUMBERS UNION NEWS. Delegates recommend hardship fund for commercial construction members. QBuild latest plus preparing for the future

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1 Delegates recommend hardship fund for commercial construction members Lead Delegates have recommended the setting up of a hardship fund for members in the construction industry who lose pay due to industrial action taken by other unions. This action was prompted by the recent Queensland Children s Hospital dispute which saw over 100 Plumbers Union members without work for eight weeks. Lead Delegates debated the issue at their training day on 16 November and agreed that the main elements of the fund should be: $2 per week per member; members to access funds after two weeks of QBuild latest plus preparing for the future The Union is doing all it can to help members affected by the move to the merged entity, Asset Services Queensland (ASQ). QBuild is keen to escalate the redundancy process and move to the new ASQ structure. However, the Plumbers Union, along with the AMWU, CFMEU and the ETU, was recently successful in gaining a 28 day injunction from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. This will ensure proper consultation and the correct procedures are adhered to by QBuild. In summary, there are positions that will no longer be required by ASQ and employees will have the opportunity to apply for their current, substantive position. Those unsuccessful in gaining a position will be offered a redundancy. The Union recently asked QBuild members to complete a skills audit to determine any additional training required to put them in the best possible position to gain work outside of QBuild. The results show that members are most interested in: all forms of welding excavator and bobcat training EWP test and tag first aid The Union has been working with STQ and BERT Training Queensland (BTQ) to arrange funded courses for members. Those who completed the skills audit will be contacted by STQ to arrange their training. If you would like to enquire about accessing this free training, please contact the Union on or office@plumbersunionqld.com Site and Lead Delegates discuss the setting up of the fund at their combined training day on 6 September being affected by industrial action; fund to be managed by the Union s Committee of Management on the advice of a sub-committee comprising of the Secretary and Lead Delegates; and payments only to be made to members who contribute to the fund. A policy will now be drawn up and referred to the Committee of Management in the new year. A General Meeting of members will then be called to give final approval for the fund s establishment. IN BRIEF... EB Summary The Union has now secured 69 EB7 agreements with major commercial companies: 40 sanitary and mechanical agreements; 25 fire agreements; and 4 medical gas agreements. A full listing of EBA companies can be found on the website Delegate Training Dates Training dates for 2013 have been confirmed as follows: Thursday 21 March Friday 22 March Tuesday 4 June Thursday 5 Sept Friday 6 Sept All Site and Lead Dels Lead Dels only All Site and Lead Dels (the Union s AGM is also on this day) All Site and Lead Dels Lead Dels only More info will be forwarded to delegates as we move closer to these dates.

2 National Licensing The Federal Office recently submitted its proposal to the COAG National Licencing Taskforce which is looking to implement a national licensing system for the plumbing and gasfitting industry. World Plumbing Council Membership The Plumbers Union Queensland fully endorses the Federal Office proposal which supports: national licensing through Automatic Mutual Recognition; a three tier licensing system that accurately reflects the scope of work required by plumbers and gasfitters; practical workplace experience (such as the nationally recognised CPC32411 Certificate 111 in Plumbing apprenticeship) to be acknowledged as a means of developing skills and knowledge; the ability for skills to be challenge-tested through a regulated assessment process that is the same whether the candidate is local or migrating to Australia; and not imposing increased costs to consumers for little or no benefit. Members will be kept up to date on this issue as it unfolds in Dad and Partner Pay (DaPP) Legislation was passed by Federal Parliament in early 2012 for Dad and Partner Pay (DaPP). This entitles eligible parents to two weeks paid leave for secondary carers at the Federal Minimum Wage. DaPP is available for the biological father, partner of the child s birth mother (including same sex partner) or adoptive parent and can be taken at the same time as the primary carer is on Paid Parental Leave. Eligibility requirements are the same as Paid Parental Leave. You cannot save up or cash out DaPP and the payment cannot be taken at the same time as any other paid leave. Unlike Paid Parental Leave, which is passed on through employer payroll systems, Dad and Partner Pay payments are made directly to the employee via the Family Assistance Office. The new scheme begins on 1 January, 2013, but applications have been open since 1 October, Brad accepts the Union s membership from Ross Chaney, WPC Chairman The Plumbers Union Qld recently became a full member of the World Plumbing Council providing a great opportunity for Secretary, Brad O Carroll, to attend the Council s general meeting held in Brisbane on 21 and 22 October, The World Plumbing Council aims to promote the role of plumbing in improving public health and safeguarding the environment by uniting the world plumbing industry for the benefit of all. Benefits of membership include: participation on WPC committees to address issues such as education and training on a global scale; networking opportunities with like-minded, similarly passionate individuals from around the world; and a voice in addressing worldwide plumbing issues and supporting the global promotion of the importance of safe, healthy plumbing systems. Labour Day to stay in May In spite of the Newman Government s decision to shift the Labour Day public holiday to October, workers will continue to celebrate Labour Day at the same time they have for the past 110 years. Unions have determined that marches and celebrations around the state will be held on Sunday May 5, 2013 with the May timing to remain into the future. Mark this important date on your calendars!

3 Profile: Alan Forward - union til the end Thanks to the Union, Janice at CIPQ and Frank at PFG Finance it now means my family will have an income for the next two years. After having no income for four months and having to use everything we had just to keep going, the outcome is an extreme relief. Alan first joined the Union one week after arriving in Sydney from England in He subsequently moved to Queensland in 1995 and transferred his membership to the Queensland branch. I found a different type of Union here in Queensland. The lads and the Union here are more dedicated. I ve been a delegate and a co-delegate I ve just lived for the Union. You wouldn t have got this in England. Despite his worries, Allan has found the unwavering support and kindness of friends, colleagues and the industry has left him humbled and astounded. Alan with Plumbers Union Secretary, Brad O Carroll Alan Forward did not know what it truly meant to be a Queensland Plumbers Union member until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year. From the first time Alan began feeling ill, his primary concern was for the security of his cherished family wife Carole and 18-year-old daughter, Emma, a student. Alan s diagnosis came as a devastating blow for him and his family. I kept being sick for no reason. I had just been laid off when I found out about the cancer. I was devastated, Alan said. I had no work prospects and no wages coming in. That is when I contacted the Union. Alan was laid off from work six weeks before he was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. The timeframe presented an eligibility technicality for Alan to access his CIPQ income protection. A quick call saw the Union swing into battle for Alan and, with the assistance of CIPQ staff and PFG Finance, Alan realised the financial payout he so desperately needed to ensure his ongoing treatment and his family s immediate financial security. The cancer makes me very mean and bad tempered because you ve got no energy. You go through hell when you can t eat. You are trying to live to a regimen to deviate means you could lose it. But my wife has been my backbone. I ve broken down a lot of times from the pressure of how you are going to get through. When you are in the position I have been you don t know how to thank people. Sometimes it s embarrassing, sometimes it s hard to say thanks, he said. Alan wanted to place on record his thanks to the following people for their support and assistance: Plumbers Union: Brad O Carroll, Gary O Halloran and Justin Maxwell PFG Finance: Frank Olivieri and staff Brown & Moodie: Mick Pash, Alan Brooks, David Ferguson and all staff Glen Air: Glen and all staff CIPQ: Janice, Bill and the CIPQ team AND the many people in the mechanical plumbing industry Alan has met and worked with over many years. NB: Alan was interviewed for this profile on 5 September, He subsequently lost his battle with cancer and passed away on 21 October, The Union passes on its sincere condolences to Alan s family at this difficult time.

4 Aussie delegation signs affiliation with UA UA visits Australia The PTEU welcomed members of the United Association in early December. Members were interested in seeing how things were done here and Secretary Brad O Carroll caught up with UA General President, Bill Hite, in Melbourne (below). The delegation at the UA affiliation signing ceremony Assistant Secretary, Gary O Halloran, was part of a federal office delegation to the United States in August to sign an affiliation agreement with the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the US and Canada or the UA as it is commonly called. The UA is a multi-craft union whose members are engaged in the fabrication, installation and servicing of piping systems. The delegation comprised of PTEU delegates Earl Setches, Glenn Menzies, Gary O Halloran and Andy Wallace, Ross Sadler (Fairfield Plumbing) and Vin Ebejer (CEO of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre PICAC). The affiliation agreement will see the UA and the Plumbing Trades Employee s Union (PTEU) unite to address global climate change. The affiliation strengthens the ability to deal with the challenges of emerging technologies and innovations for water conservation, energy efficiency and carbon reduction. PTEU Secretary Earl Setches said that the new affiliation with the UA will provide greater opportunities in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors. The skills sharing we get from this agreement allows us to continue to be at the leading edge of change and meeting the challenges of change. The delegation also visited the 59th Annual Plumbing Instructor Training Program at Washtenaw Community College which brought together over 1500 plumbing instructors from all over the United States apprentice intake at record high Thirty new apprentices will commence in the new Commercial Plumbing Apprenticeship starting at JIST in January The new sanitary apprentices will join with an expected 25 new sprinkler fitting apprentices and 25 mechanical apprentices to make up a record intake for The new Commercial Plumbing Apprenticeship has been tailored specifically for the major commercial construction sector. It aims to develop fully-rounded tradespersons by rolling the following into the apprenticeship so that apprentices complete their training work ready : post trade endorsements; additional welding skills; life skills; and leadership training. To encourage employers to take on more apprentices though this program, the Union has secured funding through BERT Training Queensland (BTQ) for an additional coordinator. The funding will also be used to reimburse employers for additional time spent attending training and for reimbursement of the training costs.

5 FROM THE SECRETARY... It s been another massive year for the Plumbers Union and it looks like next year will be even bigger. We are excited to have secured funding through BERT Training Queensland for an additional apprentice coordinator - a great win for the Union as apprentices are the future of our industry. We will also continue to focus on the emerging LNG industry with significant membership opportunities identified particularly in the Surat and Bowen Basins and on Curtis Island. Following you will find a short wrap-up for the year from Gary and the Organisers and what s on the horizon for Thanks to the EBA calendar, members can look forward to having a good break over Christmas to relax and spend time with family and friends. On behalf of the Union, I wish you all a happy Christmas and safe new year. We look forward to seeing you in Gary O Halloran: Assistant State Secretary Membership is continuing to grow as more companies see the benefits of signing a union EBA. Added to the mix this year has been the fall-out from the March landslide Gary on the job at the QCH site election of the LNP which has particularly impacted on our members in QBuild. Gary s main focus during the year has been to facilitate ongoing EBA negotiations with 69 companies now signed up to EBA7. This will continue to be a major focus for Gary throughout 2013 and beyond. Gary has also concentrated on the Gladstone and Curtis Island areas where the Union now has a solid membership base. Members in these areas have welcomed the Union with open arms and know the benefits that membership brings. The main area of concern here has been unlicensed workers performing, what the Union believes, is licensed work. Gary is working with the Plumbing Industry Council and with other unions to investigate and to try and rectify these issues. Members will be updated on this issue as it unfolds in the new year and hopefully an acceptable outcome for all parties can be achieved. Gerard Robinson: Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Construction Since taking over the north side, Gerard has worked with members on the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital site, witnessing its progression from a couple of floors high to fit-out mode. The Sunshine Coast University Hospital (next door to the Private Hospital) is in the initial earthworks stage before major work commences in the new year. During construction, on site trades, labour and supervision will see employment opportunities peak at between workers in the second half of This LendLease project is one of the largest hospital projects in Australia and will be a major focus for the Union in the new year and beyond. Brisbane northside construction takes in the RNA showgrounds re-development and apartment blocks being built around the RNA hub as well as around Nundah and Chermside. We are also servicing members on the Royal Brisbane Hospital refurb and the oral health site next door. Construction is also occurring at the heritage-listed Gasworks, M & A as well as the Mosaic site with its pink crane landmark. Various sites in the city heart have now been completed however, a new 40 storey tower at the hole in the ground in Mary St will kick off in the new year. Justin Maxwell: Brisbane South and Gold Coast Construction This year has been a big one for our Gold Coast members with the biggest issue - the Hastie collapse in May - directly affecting around 150 members on the Gold Coast University Hospital site. It was a painful process for those members left in limbo and even though it took a few weeks to sort through the detail, the Plumbers Union delivered the best possible outcome for its members.

6 Unfortunately, major construction on the Gold Coast has slowed with just a couple of projects earmarked for next year. However, Justin will be making the drive up the M1 on a regular basis as he has now taken over construction sites on the Brisbane south side, extending out to the Greenbank area. He also retains Gold Coast construction sites. Justin is keen to visit workers on the south side particularly those who have not seen an organiser in a while and encourages workers to call him so that he can schedule a visit. Justin s specialty areas include apprentice support and he would like to keep track of where our apprentices are, especially given they move between jobs so frequently. Apprentices are also encouraged to call Justin with any issues they may have or just for a chat. One of Justin s m a j o r sites now includes the Queensland Children s Hospital. Significant effort has gone into building Gary hands over the QCH site to Justin a good delegate structure on this site over the past 12 months and this is really starting to pay off. Our delegates are also a fantastic resource on a job of this size and there is great communication between everyone in plumbing, fire, mechanical and medical gas. Jamie McQueen: Brisbane West Construction and Surat Basin Jamie came on board in July this year and immediately began tackling the Surat Basin an LNG hotspot which takes in the area from Toowoomba to Wondoan. Jamie also has coverage of Brisbane West construction sites. Workers in the Surat Basin have been particularly grateful to see the Union and Jamie s regular presence in these areas has seen steady recruitment and prompt attention to dealing with issues particularly for these workers living remotely. A major win for members saw a backpay of $10,000 when it was identified they were being paid incorrectly under their agreement. J a m i e also has a particular interest in workplace health and safety and he works Jamie with workers at the Ruby Jo camp hard to ensure that all sites visited are compliant and stay that way. He continually strives to educate the industry regarding workplace health and safety to keep sites and members as safe as possible. Jim White: North Queensland & Bowen Basin Jim has spent the last few months travelling from Port Douglas out to the Atherton Tablelands, down to Mackay and to Hay Point. His patch now includes the Bowen Basin which has great membership potential. Membership in the north is climbing steadily as the benefits of membership are explained. Projects in NQ have slowed of late but Jim is hopeful this will change in the new year. Cairns is quiet with the hospital and university extensions under way and two smaller sites in the city up and going. Townsville has two tier one projects in the city and the hospital is entering another stage of construction. A new shopping centre, housing projects and office blocks make up the majority of the work and the university is also undertaking extensions. Mackay has another stage of the hospital to be built with a new Masters hardware store also under way. Two new sites in the city comprising of office and retail projects are also progressing. The Northern Beaches School is powering along with more development in the Airlie Beach area in the near future as well. Jim has been heavily involved with a second tier North Queensland agreement which will be in place in the new year.