COUNTRY MEMBERS FIRE UP

Country members have fired up over the last 6 months with many new members joining the union. It seems many have made it their new year’s resolution to ‘get union’ and get better pay. Country organiser Julian Cooke has also been very busy putting in place protection for members with a number of new EBAs.

Welcome to new Mildura members

The FFTS would like to welcome some new members at Southern Star a window fabrication company in Mildura.

Menzel Glass EBA 1st birthday

The Menzel Glass EBA has just had its 1st birthday. One year on and members at Menzel in Geelong are still protected by the union EBA and are keeping busy with new work on the Deakin University project.

‘Country to Cost’ welcome on board

Welcome also to the new members at ‘Country to Coast’ Widows.

Bendigo bulk up pay with EBA

Members at Bendigo Bulk now enjoy the protection of new EBA signed in June 2008. This should add some bulk to pay packets in the coming years.

New EBA on the ranges

Macedon ranges Glass has also just signed an EBA. So well done to members there.

More work down Warnambool way

Members in Swintons Carpet Choice are also in the work having just commenced stage 1 of work on the Warnambool Hospital project. Stage 2 is tipped to be even larger.

Joinery joins up for EBA

Stephenson’s Kitchens and Joinery Centre has just signed a new EBA in Warnambool. They will also be working on the Warnambool Hospital project.

You can take your union with you

A new Company in Geelong called ‘Edge Glass’ has seen current members who have moved there bring the new company into the union fold. Which just goes to show you can take your union with you.

Low cost tenders lead to low wages and poor quality

The union has highlighted before a certain contractor who failed to pay properly or do the job right on a large Melbourne project. We hear that the same cowboys are now quoting $50,000 under the market price to get work on the Target jobs. Who pays for the cost cutting here? The workers as usual. The projects also suffer because when you don’t pay the union rates you don’t get the skilled trades you need for a quality job.