Howard's second wave of industrial attacks make the first wave look like a ripple. The law is designed to give workers one choice - take the bosses crappy individual contract or perish. The other choices are to rely on what's left of your award after its been further simplified and then rationalised to within an inch of its life, or hope that your workplace is well organised and you are able to plot a course through the treacherous waters of the new collective bargaining laws.
For most workers, in most industries, there's only really one choice and that's to kowtow to the boss and sign an individual deal. And many workers over time will have to accept a sub-standard individual agreement. If they don't their wages will be set behind the closed doors of the (un)fair pay commission and they'll be stuck with four stingy (un)fair standard conditions.
That's why Work Choices should be known as Hobson's choice.
For workers who are members of a strong Union, like ours, the collective bargaining choice gives the best option. Collective bargaining will become more treacherous because Howard has made it nearly impossible to take protected industrial action. But he's only made it nearly impossible not totally impossible. And besides, the impossible only takes a bit longer.
Most members will be aware that your union has been working overtime to put together strategies to deal with the new rules under Work Choices. Your National and District Executives had studied the law, Central Council and District Boards have considered the detail, we've had officers meetings, delegates conferences and sought out the best legal advice. Most members will also know that all the talk and best advice in the world amounts to nothing if we don't have the full support of rank and file members.
The new laws are tough. But the laws introduced in 1996 were tough too. Then, Rio Tinto lined up from day one to take us to the cleaners and failed. They wanted sub-standard individual deals, then they wanted sub-standard non-union deals. They had to settle for union deals paying industry standards. BHP stepped up too but were also found wanting when the Queensland pits showed them they'd fight hard for a fair deal.
With the industry booming there's no-one lining up for a stoush yet. That doesn't mean the industry won't try to use these laws to full advantage, if not now then sometime soon. Industry standards such as the 35-hour week, long service leave, 15-days sick pay, 5-weeks annual leave and 18-months accident pay will all come under threat. It's important that these standards be maintained. If they fall in the complex award rationalisation and simplification process then we must protect them in collective agreements at enterprise level.
A well planned bargaining strategy is what's called for. Bargaining early and bargaining often. It will be crucial that negotiators know what's going on elsewhere, both at other pits within a company group and elsewhere in the industry. We're putting structures in place to better share information. We're determined to work together to beat this challenge. I know your National Officials are looking forward to working closely with District Officials and Lodge Officials to make sure we get the best results. Of course we can do nothing without a committed rank and file and recent years have shown we have exactly that.
So, bring it on tories, go your hardest. We're ready for you.
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Rebuilding Australia after the boom |
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March 2009
The years of constant rapid growth in the mining industry have
finished. Significant job cuts are being announced. The world’s
financial system continues to be in turmoil - but it's not all doom and gloom, finds General President Tony Maher.
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Tony Maher on SkyTV's Eco Report |
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9 February 2008
Tony Maher was interviewed on by Willessee on SkyTV's Eco Report regarding carbon capture and storage technologies and cleaning up the emissions of the coal industry.
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UN Climate Conference, Bali |
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14 December 2007
President Tony Maher had the honour of representing trade unions worldwide when he addressed the UN Climate Conference in Bali, Indonesia.
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Mythbusters in the Mining Industry |
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19 July 2007
President Tony Maher's speech to a Recruitment and Retention in Mining Conference:
Mythbusters in the Mining Industry
Will Employee Rights see off the Mining Boom?
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Tony Maher videos on John Howard and climate change |
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March 2007
The union has made use of the video-sharing website YouTube to present two short videos by Tony Maher, General President. The first recounts the long history of attacks on mineworkers by Prime Minister John Howard. The second is on the continuing role for coal in a world combating climate change.
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WorkChoices & the future of unions |
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20 November 2006
Speech by Tony Maher, General President, to the IQPC Industrial Relations Summit in Sydney.
"No doubt some will say that the next election will be a referendum on whether or not unions have a future. "
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What is the future of work safety? |
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20 October 2006
Tony Maher speaks to the IR Society of Victoria about the disaster at the Gretley Colliery nearly 10 years ago and considers the future of work safety.
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John Maitland's retirement |
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17 August 2006
With John Maitland’s retirement we pay tribute to the last of the original architects of the CFMEU.
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Work Choices? What do I really think about it? |
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Tony Maher, General President
Address to the NSW IR Society, 5 April 2006:
"I’d like to thank John Howard for Work choices. It has reminded people
in the labour movement why we were formed, what we stand for and why we
hate these Tory bastards so much." |
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Book launch: Lockout |
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12 April 2006
"Nothing reveals the huge imbalance in power between capital and labour as sharply as a lockout."
Launch of the book “Lockout” by Jim Comerford.
Speech to Northern District delegates and retired mineworkers, Cessnock, NSW
by Tony Maher, General President, CFMEU Mining & Energy
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Howard’s grab for coal Long Service Leave is highway robbery |
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Tony Maher, August 2005
For coal mineworkers in Queensland, NSW, WA and Tasmania, Long Service
Leave entitlements are covered by our federal Coal Mining Industry
Award. It has been so since coal miners broke through as the first blue
collar workers in 1949 to win this entitlement.
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Union Gears Up For Long Term Campaign |
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Tony Maher, June 2005
The union is preparing for a campaign lasting at least 6 years to fight
for workers rights and a system of fairness throughout the community.
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