Union Numbers Rise at Visy
Tumut & Adelong Times 28 May 2010
Article from the Tumut and Adelong Times from 28 May 2010 about the launch of the new Tumut Sub Branch of the Union recognising increased membership at the Visy Tumut mill. (Not available on line)
The CFMEU Pulp and Paper District will establish a permanent sub branch in the Tumut region, in recognition of its growing membership at Visy Tumut.
CFMEU Pulp and Paper District national secretary Alex Millar said the establishment of a sub branch in Tumut reflected the wishes of the union membership at Visy and would mean stronger local union representation on the ground, to deal with local workers' issues.
"The decision to launch a sub branch at Tumut reflects the determination of the Union to ensure the workers at Visy have the same representation and rights as other workers in the pulp and paper industry," he said.
"Visy has had a pretty shabby industrial relations record at Tumut and used the now discredited 'WorkChoices' legislation of the previous government to the hilt.
"However we want to work with our growing membership base and the company to try and turn that poor legacy around.
"We look forward to increasing our presence on the ground in the Tumut region and working with and for our members locally to improve their situation."
"Unions are about working people banding together to improve their working lives. This new sub brnach at Tumut will definitely help that to happen."
Last year the CFMEU was embroiled in a dispute with Visy, calling on the Workplace Ombudsman to investigate the actions of the company in getting its workers onto a sub standard non union collective agreement ahead of the new fair work laws that came into effect July 1 2009.
The Visy Tumut mill was established in 2001 and employs about 300 people, including overseas workers.
The sub branch was officially endorsed at the federal committee of management meeting of the pulp and paper district held in Tumut on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Mr Millar said the union has increased membership significantly over the last 12 months, from what was a low base.
"Recently union membership at Visy has grown by over 300 per cent with union membership increasing almost weekly," he said.
"The CFMEU pulp and paper district in forming the Tumut sub brnach is making a clear statement to senior management at Visy that the union is here to stay and expects the company to deal with workers and their union representatives in a respectful manner recognising the rights of workers to be represented by their union.
"Having said that the union seeks a constructive working relationship with the company as we have with other main players in the industry."
UNION sub branch up and running
1 June 2010 Tumut and Adelong Times BY Alissa Jenkins
Four local Visy workers were inducted into the newly established Tumut sub branch of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) at a formal dinner that took place at Tumut Golf Club on Thursday evening.
Appointed members included Robert Burns as secretary, Stephen Longobardi as president, Jeff Pont as senior vice-president and Lex Smith as junior vice president.
The Tumut sub branch says they will ensure local Visy employees have access to industrial, legal and social support from the CFMEU, which is already available to other Pulp and Paper workers throughout Australia.
The establishment of the sub branch will mean that workers at Visy will now have strong local union representation from their own fellow workers to deal with issues of concern to them, in particular health and safety and training at the Visy site, with the support of the Pulp and Paper district of the CFMEU,” said CFMEU Pulp and Paper Division national secretary Alex Millar.
The federal committee of management of the pulp and paper district officially endorsed the local sub branch during a quarterly meeting held in Tumut last week, which was attended by delegates from across Australia.
Establishment of a sub branch in Tumut was motivated by a substantial increase in union membership among local Visy workers who identified a need to take greater control of matters relating to employment in the industry.
“The union has increased membership significantly o0ver the last 12 months from what was a low base,” said Mr Millar.
“Recently union membership at Visy has grown by over 300 per cent with union membership increasing almost weekly,” he added.
Growth in unionised employee numbers follows the abolishment of WorkChoices and the outlawing of Australian Workplace Agreements, which workers have had to accommodate over the past few years.
The change in legislation and Fair Work laws have allowed Visy workers a greater opportunity to improve work standards in a collective manner with the assistance of the union.
“The pulp and paper district of the CFMEU is the major union representing workers in the industry and as such has a strong commitment to ensuring that the pulp and paper industry remains a robust, viable and financially competitive industry,” Mr Millar said.
“The CFMEU calls on Visy to work with it and its members to ensure this continues to occur into the future.”
Mr Millar said the union hoped to build a co-operative relationship with Visy.
“The union seeks a constructive working relationship with the company as we have with other main players in the industry.”
The Tumut sub branch induction dinner was sponsored by First Super – the main industry fund for workers in the pulp and paper, timber and furniture industries.
Guests included chief executive officer, Graeme Russell and co-chairman of First Super, Alan Stewart.
Gerard Rees from Slater and Gordon law firm also attended the function and will provide ongoing legal advice to sub branch members and their families on matters including workers compensation, industrial relations and other general legal advice.
