Update: Monday 29 June 2009
CFMEU National Secretary John Sutton has paid tribute to the generosity and community spirit of the unions membership, as ordinary workers in the forestry and furnishing industries; mining and energy industries and the construction industry collectively exceed the unions’ target of a $1 million contribution to the Victorian bushfire appeal.
“The unions membership at workplaces across Australia have responded very generously to this tragedy.
“Both our forestry and furnishing division and our mining division lost members in the disaster, at Marysville and Callignee.”
“In addition eight Forestry and Furnishing Products Division members lost their homes, whilst twelve members of our Mining and Energy Division lost their houses and five members of the unions Construction Division.”
Mr. Sutton said that the effects of the fires also directly affected Forestry and Furnishing Division workplaces, with 3 sawmills and a timber yard completely destroyed and another two sawmills sustaining damage.
“The long term viability of the timber industry in the Central Highlands and Gippsland regions is under threat due to the massive losses of both plantation and native forests.”
In response to the fires, members of the CFMEU’s Forestry and Furnishing Products Division voted across the country for minimum $20 levies per member to raise funds for the appeal.
Other notable contributions that assisted in exceeding the million dollar CFMEU target include workers building the Bluewater Collie Power station in WA donating $140,000, Victorian construction workers raising $120,000 in site collections, Northern NSW District Miners raising $120,000 and the Southern NSW District raising $100,000.
The total raised so far is $1,025,000.
NATIONALLY THE UNION AIMS TO RAISE $1,000,000
In response to the devastating effect of the bush fires on an unprecedented number of Victorians including CFMEU members, their families, friends and communities, the officers of the CFMEU recommend that we immediately establish a CFMEU Disaster Recovery Fund (the Fund) to provide assistance. The Fund will be based on the principles that:
1. across the whole of the CFMEU a strong collective effort will be made to raise funds
2. in our Division the Fund will be started via a once off voluntary levy at each workplace and employers will be requested to match worker contributions dollar for dollar
3. if the majority at a workplace vote in favour of contributing to the fund then the levy will be raised through an increase to union dues at that workplace of:
a. either a once off $20
b. or a $5 increase for 4 weeks
4. workplaces may vote for a higher contribution
5. the Fund may also receive contributions from individuals and other organisations
6. money collected will be banked into a separate CFMEU Disaster Recovery Fund account and all the money will be made available to union members, their family, friends, co-workers and community who have suffered injury or loss due to the 2009 Victorian bushfires, in particular to assist those who may otherwise fall through the gap
7. the collection and distribution of the Funds will be transparent and reporting will be consistent with the requirements of the union rules
8. an advisory group, including Union, community and industry representatives will be set up to deal with applications for assistance and ensure that the money gets out directly and quickly to those who need it.
