The ETU NSW Branch have had the McKell institute write a report on the need for defibrillators on live electrical worksites (actually worksites in general) also included is a list on commonly asked questions.

The paper was written as a result of our 2013 conference discussion to campaign for Defibs. The ETU believes the report is comprehensive and argues a very strong case for the provision of defibrillators.

The paper is available to download below,

1. Common Questions About Automated External Defibrillators(AEDs)

2. AEDs on Australian worksites

The ETU was instrumental in the recent decision by Fair Work Australia to award significant increases to apprentice award rates of pay. The decision handed down on Thursday 22 August was the culmination of months of hard work coordinated and run by the ETU National Office.

In summary the key points covering the Electrical Contracting Award include:

• Junior First year rate with year 12  - increased from 40% to 55% of trade
• Junior Second year rate with year 12 - 52% to 65% of trade
• Junior Third and Fourth year rates - unchanged (70% and 82% of trade)
• Adult First year rate - 80% of trade
• Adult Second year rate - minimum wage
• Adult Third & Fourth year rate - the higher of the minimum wage or the junior rate

This decision represents a 37.5% pay rise for first year apprentices with year 12 (the rate is set at 50% of trades for first year apprentices without year 12) and we now have adult apprentices rates permanently and nationally.

Due to the size of these increases, there will be a 2 year phasing in period.

A copy of the full decision is available here.

The CEPU has raised serious concerns over proposed changes to electrical licenses with the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

After hearing the CEPU's concerns the PM has written to the union and advised that his Government will not agree to any National Occupational Licensing reform that dilutes existing electrical, plumbing, mechanical, refrigeration, or fire protection services licenses that may compromise community safety and consumer protection.

In his letter Prime Minister Rudd goes on to say that the Government will only proceed with there is agreement reached with all stake holders including the CEPU, employer associations and industry skills councils.

You can read the full letter here.

NSW Fair Trading has negotiated with the Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd for the recall of three batches of *Infinity* brand insulated electrical cables. The cables are Thermoplastic Sheathed electric cable - commonly known as TPS.

The specific cable is 2.5mm "Polymeric Insulated Electrical Cable which is PVC Sheathed, PVC Insulated, Flat and Flexible Low Voltage Electrical Cable" also commonly known as "TPS 2.5mm Twin and Earth" (ThermoPlastic Sheathed Electrical Cable, active, neutral and earth). The batch numbers being recalled are INFH 190311, INFH 210912 and INFMEL 081112.

The cables that are the subject of the recall have been subjected to laboratory testing commissioned by NSW Fair Trading and conducted by TUV Rheinland in Victoria. The sample submitted for testing by NSW Fair Trading failed the commissioned tests against AS/NZ 5000.2:2006 and relevant parts of AS/NZ 3808. The testing failure indicates that the plastic coating insulation on the cable can become brittle when exposed to high temperatures over time whether through exposure to heat generated by the copper wire itself or through exposure to external heat such as if it is used in the roof of homes in warmer parts of NSW.

Information provided to Fair Trading is that the product has been stocked in NSW for about one year.  NSW Fair Trading has been in contact with electrical safety regulators around Australia and advised them of the concerns regarding this cable. NSW Fair Trading believes that the cable may also be sold in other States and Territories. Fair Trading has no information that any incidents or injuries to people or property has resulted from the cable. However, given the cable batches have failed essential safety tests the recall is needed to prevent possible future problems.  

The company is publishing recall notices in newspapers and writing to everyone they have sold the cable to requesting them to return the recalled batches of cable to the place of sale.The company has agreed to provide information to Fair Trading concerning the importation and sale of the recalled batches of cable and to provide ongoing reports to Fair Trading of the recall and disposal of the affected cables.

Fair Trading will be issuing a media release regarding the recall in addition to the company*s own recall notices. Our advice will of course be that consumers should not try to inspect the cable and that any work on wiring or cable should only be done by licensed electricians. We will also recommend to consumers that if they have recently had building work done, or wiring changed or installed, they should contact the responsible builder or electrician for advice on whether the recalled cable was used. If it was, we will recommend that they talk to the builder or electrician about getting the cable inspected and replaced.

It would be appreciated if you could make your members and stakeholders aware of this recall through your own communication channels and networks. The formal information that you could direct people towards will be on the Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

In accordance with the requirements of the Fair Work Registered Organisation Act 2009 and the Industrial Relations Act 1996 the CEPU NSW Branch and ETU NSW Branch has made available to members the complete financial reports and associated documents for 2012.

By law the CEPU must provide a copy of their financial report free of charge to members, this can be downloaded here.

ETU members are invited to participate in the following training courses and events, open to all members and free of charge. We hope you find something of interest.

Public Speaking: Saturday 15th June 
Learn techniques that will give you confidence when introducing yourself or delivering a persuasive speech. Register online here

Public Sector Workers: Tuesday 18th June
Join the community unions network to meet other workers confronted with the same challenges and discuss ideas for combined union activities. Details here

Workers Comp Day: Wednesday 19th June
‘Fair Go for Workers Compensation Day’ to highlight the NSW Government’s attack on injured workers.  Flyers and surveys here

Cumberland Community Unions: Wednesday 19th June
Come along to the official launch of a new community unions group for Smithfield and Fairfield areas of Western Sydney. RSVPs and details here

Bullying and Workers Comp - basics: Friday 21st June
This training will enable organisers and delegates to:
Session 1. Give simple advice on the job about NSW Workers Comp.
Session 2.  Use new Anti-Bullying and Harassment Laws as a tool to make workplaces safer. Register for either or both sessions here

To all Bluescope Steel Limited contacts, AWU, AMWU, ETU, CFMEU on Tuesday 11 June copies of the new enterprise agreement will be distributed into all crib rooms, pulpits and control rooms across BlueScope Steel. All members will have access to the agreement for at least 7 days.

A mass meeting to vote on the new agreement will be held at 7am on Friday 21 June at the Fraternity Club.

Day work or day shift members in the hot metal area must stay at work.

Hot Metal Area members who miss the mass meeting will have their own meeting on Monday 24 June in the north gate visitors centre at 7am.

It is extremely important that all members turn up for these meetings as votes will need to be counted for the paperwork required by the Fair Work Commission. 

If you need further information please contact John Thornton. 

ETU members working for Port Waratah Coal Service are continuing industrial action after negotiations between the company and the union’s single bargaining unit broke down. Made up of the MUA, TWU, ETU, AWU & AMWU the single bargaining unit has been negotiating with the company over a new enterprise agreement.

However PWCS and the unions cannot agree on important employment protections including the use of contractors and the dispute settlement procedure which has led to industrial action. ETU members are set to strike for 24 hours commencing today, Wednesday 29 May commencing at noon.

Meanwhile the international union IndustriALL has sent a letter of support to PWCS union members.

Be sure to visit out the ETU on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for regular updates while you are there check out some of our photos and videos.

THIRTY to 40 jobs are likely to go from Ampcontrol with more job losses possible in the coming weeks, unions said after meeting with management on Friday morning.

An Ampcontrol spokeswoman confirmed the likely job losses after the meeting, saying the figures given by the union were  ‘‘ballpark for the affected areas’’.

Electrical Trades Union organiser Russell Wilson said the shop floor rumours had been of 100 jobs to go, so the outcome of 30 to 40 was not as bad as it could have been.

Unions approached the Newcastle Herald on Thursday, unhappy with the way Ampcontrol was handling the need to cut jobs.

Mr Wilson said the company had called for voluntary redundancies from across the company without giving employees any idea of how many jobs were going, or from which of the company’s various divisions and businesses.

Ampcontrol defended its actions in a statement to the Herald on Thursday afternoon, and Mr Wilson said the company’s decision today to give more detail was a change of heart.

‘‘We formerly had a good relation with them and hopefully it is back on track,’’ Mr Wilson said.

‘‘In five or six weeks there could be another round of job cuts, depending on the state of contract work, but they have told us this time they will involve the unions from the start and they have promised to help people with their resumes in getting other work and in training to get other skills.’’

He said Ampcontrol had businesses at Tomago, Cardiff and Cameron Park and it appeared jobs would go from all Hunter sites.

He said the company would not say if jobs were going from other Ampcontrol sites outside of the region.

The company has grown dramatically in recent years, buying a number of rival businesses across Australia and internationally.

‘‘We asked them whether they had grown too fast and paid too much for some of their assets but they said they were all bought at bargain basement prices, had helped them diversify and had added value to the company,’’ Mr Wilson said.

In a memo Friday, to Hunter-based Ampcontrol employees, the company’s chief executive officer and managing director, Geoff Lilliss, set out the situation facing the company and the workforce.

Mr Lilliss said that after ‘‘initially taking a cautious approach to employee numbers’’ it had become necessary to cut further jobs.

Mr Lilliss said employment agreements varied across the business, and voluntary redundancy was being offered ‘‘in some circumstances’’.

People were being redeployed as an alternative to redundancy wherever possible.