AN OPEN LETTER FROM INJURED FFTS MEMBER

Tragic Workplace accident changed everything

On the 14th of April 2003 I had a workplace accident that changed my life and the lives of my family severely. I worked for a small company in Rowville that produced animal health products. My normal duties were production hand/warehouse manager, but occasionally I would be called upon to perform maintenance work.

It was during one of these tasks that I was injured. I was sealing a hole in the warehouse ceiling where water had been leaking and fell through the roof, sustaining severe spinal cord damage. I am now permanently paralysed from my breast line down (paraplegic).

Since becoming a paraplegic I have had numerous disputes with WorkCover over equipment and facility requirements to help make my life more comfortable, and these disputes were settled primarily through conciliation hearings.

Throughout the duration of conciliation I called upon the services of my union, the Federated Furnishing Trades Society (FFTS), to represent me at all the meetings, usually with secretary Leo Skourdoumbis, and on several occasions with assistant secretary Frank Vari.

The most significant of these disputes was over a specially converted vehicle to suit my particular needs, and although the dispute waged on over 18 months, we finally secured a victory and the vehicle being awarded.

I can honestly say I could not have been successful in winning the dispute without the tireless work of our secretary Leo, to whom I am forever indebted.

I have been a member of my union for 40 years, am very proud of what they have achieved in this time, and to be part of this great union and the CFMEU banner.

In these uncertain times of John Howard’s WorkChoices reforms I also feel that every worker is at risk, and should be a member of a trade union for their protection.

Sincerely,
Ian Young, FFTS member