UnionSafe Network

ABC NEWS: Asbestos campaigner Shirley White dies - Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The founder of a support group for sufferers of asbestos-related disease has died in Brisbane. Shirley White founded the Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support Society in 1989 when her husband developed asbestosis. She received the Order of Australia in 2003 for her advocacy work. She died from leukaemia at the age of 73. read more...

Courier Mail: Julia Gillard booed, heckled at ACTU congress over ABCC - Thursday, June 04, 2009
DEPUTY Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been booed and heckled by ACTU congress delegates calling for one law for all workers. More than 600 delegates, meeting in Brisbane, had called for the scrapping of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the removal of its coercive powers under which construction workers can be jailed for six months for refusing to be interviewed. ACTU president Sharan Burrow said the bright yellow T-shirts worn by all delegates said it all: "One law for all: abolish the ABCC." "These coercive powers are not just discriminatory, they are unjust and they are an affront to Labor values," Ms Burrow said. Ms Gillard responded in her speech by referring obliquely to Melbourne car chases, "balaclavas, violence and intimidation", which she said "must be condemned as wrong by every unionist". read more...

ABC NEWS: Union slams plan for lone train drivers - Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A rail union says the Queensland Government should reject a proposal to allow trains to operate with just one driver between Townsville and Cairns. Freight company Pacific National has received approval by the Rail Safety Regulator to trial single driver trains from Townsville to Cairns. The company says it completed an 18-month risk assessment and has used single drivers between Brisbane and Townsville since 2005. Owen Doogen from the Rail Tram and Bus Union says the move would put lives at risk. read more...

International Workers' Memorial Day 2009
Australian workers grieve for lives lost in workplaces: International Workers' Memorial Day - Tuesday April 28 On Tuesday Ausrtralian and International workers will pause for a few moments scilence to rember their work mates who have died at work. read more...

ABC NEWS: Judge considers appeal to strike out inquest evidence - Thursday, April 09, 2009
A Supreme Court judge has reserved his decision on an application to strike out evidence given by a union official at an inquest into the death of a central Queensland coal miner. Coroner Annette Hennessy heard six weeks of evidence last year relating to the death of Jason Blee, who was crushed by a shuttle car at the Moranbah North mine in April 2007. The CFMEU's Stephen Smythe gave evidence after helping to prepare a report into the incident. read more...

ABC NEWS: TWU wants action on rock throwers - Monday, March 30, 2009
The Transport Worker's Union (TWU) says it wants the police and the State Government to find ways to prevent rocks being thrown at vehicles. A woman was injured yesterday after a small rock was thrown at a passenger bus in Brisbane's south-east. Police charged a 16-year-old boy earlier this week for allegedly throwing rocks on an ambulance at Regents Park, south of Brisbane. The TWU's state secretary Hughie Williams says it is urgent the departments meet. read more...

ABC BRISBANE: Union applauds Govt funding boost for rail crossing safety - Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has welcomed a $42 million injection from the Federal Government to improve safety at Queensland's rail crossings. The money is contained in the national stimulus package and adds to the $10 million the State Government announced after three recent fatalities. RTBU secretary Owen Doogan says the funding will be spent over two years to install boom gates or flashing lights at blackspots. "There's dozens - there's an awful lot that need immediate attention," he said. "We'd obviously like it to be done quicker, but there are obviously restrictions as to how much can be done at any one time." read more...

ABC NEWS: QR facing trial over rail deaths - Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A date is expected to be set later this week for a trial against Queensland Rail (QR) over two deaths in central Queensland in 2007. Two workers, Jamie Adams and Gary Watkins, died when they were hit by a track machine while working on the line at Mindi in December. QR Limited is facing three counts of failing to discharge a safe workplace, and executive general manager Glen Mullins is facing the same charge. read more...

ABC NEWS: Union pushes for safer school buses - Friday, February 06, 2009
The Queensland Transport Workers Union (TWU) is calling on the State Government to upgrade school bus services and safety laws. TWU state secretary Hughie Williams says reports that up to 20 children are left standing or sitting in aisles of overcrowded school buses on the Sunshine Coast are not good enough. He says the safety of children is important. read more...

ABC NEWS: Union flags self defence courses for paramedics - Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Queensland's Ambulance Union says it will consider teaching paramedics self-defence if assaults against them continue. A Sunshine Coast paramedic was assaulted at Coolum yesterday by a 16-year-old boy who police believe was affected by drugs. Union spokesman Jason Dutton says assaults against officers are increasing. read more...

Asbestos Disease Website - Thursday, January 08, 2009
Asbestos.Net is a US based website with an extraordinary depth of information on Asbestos Management and Disease. It is particularly useful to note the latest Research and Treatment for Mesothelioma. read more...

FEEDBACK on TV Ads called
UnionSafe is asking workers for their opinions on the recent Homecomings TV Safety campaign by WHSQ. (link) Also as the next stage of ads will be developed shortly we are interested in forwarding your opinions on the style of Ad you feel will be most effective in achieving breakthrough safety performance in Queensland. The attached link to the Canadian Ad is a bit gruesome and confronting however its gives an idea of the type of adds available. read more...

Unoin wants firefighter accident investigated - Monday, October 06, 2008
The United Firefighters Union says it is angry a firefighter was left to direct traffic at the scene of an accident on the Bruce Highway on Tuesday. Auxiliary firefighter Terry Barron was hit from behind by a car while cleaning up fuel at an accident site near Calen in north Queensland. read more...

Union wants tougher penalities for paramedic assaults - Monday, October 06, 2008
The ambulance union says new laws are needed to stop people from assaulting paramedics, after one was bashed outside the Cairns Base Hospital in far north Queensland. read more...

New Workplace Health and Safety Regulation Effective September 1st, 2008
Effective from 1 September 2008, the new Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 remakes provisions of the repealed Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997. Readers are encouraged to visit the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 page to access the comparison table and explanatory notes produced to assist understanding and interpretation of the provisions in the new 2008 Regulation. read more...

Crash renews calls for school bus seatbelts - Thursday, August 28, 2008
THe Transport Workers Union has renewed its call for all school buses to be fitted with seatbelts, after a logging truck hit a school bus near Gympie yesterday. read more...

UFU members ban use of admin tasks - Thursday, August 21, 2008
United Firefighters Union says its members have banned all adminstrative tasks because a new computerised dispatch is compromising public safety. The new system called ESCAD is slow and is repeatedly sending crews to wrong regions for emergencies. read more...

Union defends Qld firefighters overtime refusal - Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The United Firefighters Union (UFU) is defending the decisions by firefighters to not perform overtime. Union spokesman Henry Lawrence says "Queensland Fire and Rescue Services (QFRS) will not recognise a report that found firefighters were underpaid, (they) are trying to force members to do overtime". read more...

Questions over Qld Health rape Investigation - Thursday, August 07, 2008
Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) has conveyed concern over the reliability of the investigation of a nurse who was raped in the Torres Strait. The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) is investigating the employees complaint, but has passed on the preparation of the report to Queensland Health's ethical standards unit. Beth Mohle from the QNU explained that "it is vital that the CMC keeps a close eye on Queensland Health's work". read more...

Worker killed in Gold Coast high-rise fall - Thursday, August 07, 2008
A 47-year-old man was killed yesterday when he fell from the 16th floor of the Edgewater Gardens Aprtments in Surfers Paradisde on the Gold Coast while completing work. Police and Workplace Health and Safety inspectors were investigating though the death was not being treated as suspicious. read more...

Teachers strike suspended in FNQ - Wednesday, August 06, 2008
A strike that was planned in remote parts of Far North Queensland over teachers conditions of accomodation has been abandoned. Last week teachers in the Torres Strait lead a 24-hour strike, and fellow colleagues in nearby Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria had planned to abandon their work today. The INdustrial Relations Commission advised them to postpone any action until a conference is held in 2 weeks. read more...

ACTU looks into child labour risks - Wednesday, August 06, 2008
In Cairns, North Queensland an international forum is being held on child workers. The ACTU has stated that we (Australia) are not immune from child labour exploitation. Sharan Burrow, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions has stated that "while it is a critical matter in some overseas countries, Australia has its problems too". read more...

Foster's Brewery to pay $1.125millioin over employee death - Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Foster's has been fined with the amount of $1.125 million after pleading guilty to one count of failure to provide a safe workplace and one count of failure to provide adequate training and supervision. The maximum penalty for each charge was $934,290. John Merritt, the WorkSafe's Executive Director stated that "this is the largest fine that's been awarded for a health and safety matter [and] the reason that this fine is so high is that the company was warned about this matter and...didn't fix it" read more...

Baggage labelled bomb eludes Airport security - Monday, August 04, 2008
On Thursday a suitcase with bomb inscribed on it was found at the outgoing passenger luggage Qantas ramp at the Brisbane Domestic terminal. The Qantas staff had failed to identify the bag before it passed through security. Transport Workers Union have expressed concerns and want a review of security systems at the Brisbane Airport. read more...

QCU ANNOUNCEMENT
The QCU sends out out thoughts to the families of the workers killed in an industrial accident on the Gold Coast 21 June 2008.

2 less comming home
TWO construction workers died when scaffolding collapsed at a Gold Coast building site yesterday. read more...

Unions support HOMECOMINGS
The most important reason for making the workplace safe, its not work at all. ...Its coming home each day to live your life! read more...

Kevin Rudd's tribute to Bernie Banton
On January 12 the Prime Minister gave the attached tribute to Bernie, describing the asbestos campaigner as a genuine Australian hero and a living symbol of basic human decency. read more...

Vale Bernie: your messages of condolence
Please leave a message for Mr Banton's family here. Watch Mr Banton at the November 30 Day of Action against the IR laws: read more...

Don't forget Bernie - Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Long time fighter for Asbestos victims Bernie Banton died today. His efforts have been profound in raising awareness of Asbestos disease and seeking just compensation. We should not forget his legacy. read more...

Alimta and Mesothelioma
In Australia, access to mesothelioma treatment is inequitable and of concern. Find out more and take action. read more...

Telstra dictatorship exposed
ABCD Four Corners has broadcast an enlightening expose into management culture at Telstra. All the talk about customer interest and employee development is a facade. This company is about the bottom line only. It will use every psychological trick to get productivity and it doesn’t care who it hurts. Telstra doesn’t understand this corporate behaviour is not sustainable. Customers and workers should dissert Telstra in droves. read more...

Drugs and Alcohol
A recently published report by ASCC on Fitness for Work and Drugs and Alcohol raises important issues on this workplace safety issue. The literature review notes limited evidence of the effectiveness of D&A programs but unlike other programs, which need to be evidenced based, the report says we should implement these programs anyway - intuitively. Despite this bias, there are some credible references and sound advice on problems with D&A testing. read more...

BHP workers petition for safety
BHP Iron Ore Whaleback mine Mt Newman workers are standing together on safety issues despite intimidation and threats to their employment. So far 200 workers have signed a petition calling on BHP management to cease belligerent and overbearing treatment of workers. This courageous action has encouraged ABC 7:30 Report to prepare a program on the negative effects of individual contracts (AWA’s) on safety. One worker interviewed describes the intimidation by a group of senior management after he documented at safety report. read more...

New Charter for worker rights
The ACTU and unions have finalised a Charter for Worker Rights, specifically relating to OHS and Workers Compensation. The Charter recognises the pressure now being applied to workers as a result of Work Choices legislation and the government’s moves to facilitate transfer of OHS and WC protection from state to commonwealth systems. A key issue is to support OHS Representatives in an environment where workers are intimidated not to raise OHS issues. read more...

Cyclone Deaths in Mining Camp
Workers at Fortescue Metals Rail Camp near Port Hedland have been exposed to the full fury of Cyclone George. Two workers died and 16 were injured. During the cyclone workers were required to shelter from 230km per hour winds in temporary site sheds which were not tied down. It seems unbelievable that management refused to relocate workers before the cyclone hit. It’s not an unusual event at this time of the year. UnionSafe asks all workers in cyclone risk areas to contact their unions and make sure there are adequate emergency precautions. read more...

Workers afraid to claim compo
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released injury statistics which show 6.4% (690,000) workers were injured in 05/06. This rate is up from 5% in 99/00. The survey also showed 7% workers did not claim compo because they were afraid it may affect their jobs or future employment. Queensland is now the most dangerous state, and 43% injured workers had not received OHS training. read more...

Work Choices begins to bite
Uni of NSW Professor Mike Quinlan says that lack of unfair dismissal protection and prohibited content are beginning to negatively affect OHS. He said that the impact of Work Choices facilitates job insecurity and this would inhibit workers in speaking up about OHS. ‘The likely adverse affects will be lower wages, more pressure, less job security and worsening OHS outcomes in terms of injury, disease, stress and occupational violence’, he said. Professor Quinlan was addressing the Vic Trades Hall Council annual OHS conference in Melbourne. The WA Ritter Inquiry (Pilbara mine safety) identifies AWA’s as discouraging workers from raising OHS issues. read more...

Right of Entry
WHSQ has agreed on a list of words describing the 'suspected contravention' for inclusion in letters documenting entry details. For the Form Letters and words click here. read more...

Kevin Rudd's tribute to Bernie Banton
On Tuesday January 12 PM Kevin gave the attached tribute to Bernie in the House of Reps. Describing the asbestos campaigner as a genuine Australian hero and a living symbol of basic human decency read more...