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.
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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.
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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".
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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".
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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.
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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.
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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".
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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"
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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.
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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.
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2 less comming home
TWO construction workers died when scaffolding collapsed at a Gold Coast building site yesterday.
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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!
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Alimta and Mesothelioma
In Australia, access to mesothelioma treatment is inequitable and of concern. Find out more and take action.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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