One of the proudest moments I have as secretary of this union is attending the graduation of our members who receive their Diplomas of Occupational Health and Safety from the CFMEU Education and Training Unit.

In October, 24 construction workers were presented with their diplomas at a ceremony in their honour and all of us who attended celebrated in their achievements and were reminded of the wonderful opportunity made real by the CFMEU.

A week later I was once again filled with pride when we launched our return to work project for the thousands of construction workers injured every year.

Value
The value of the work we do and the services that we provide for our members is something that doesn’t hit the headlines, something that people don’t hear about too often and something that is constantly overshadowed by the ABCC’s desire to paint us as lawless thugs.

The ABCC’s single minded mission to tear down the union and eradicate our role in the construction industry leads to one important question: who will provide the services we do? Who will care for the workers in this industry? Who will provide the worker focused training to equip people with much needed skills?

The bosses? Well we know their record. Most of them are concerned with making a quid, often at the expense of people’s health and well being. They don’t have the workers’ interests at heart. The government? All they want to do is limit our rights at work.

The programs offered by the Training Unit and the value that is derived by the workers in this industry go to the heart of who we are and why we exist.

Here for the workers
We are here for the workers and everything we do, every action we take, every service we provide is with them in mind.

Everyone, particularly the federal government needs to be reminded of this fact. While they fund an organisation like the ABCC that is bent on destroying us, they are in fact showing that they put the interests of the workers in this industry last.

As I listened to the moving speeches of the workers who received their diplomas, surrounded by their families, I knew once again that as leader of this union, I will not waver from the fight to restore our rights, to get rid of the ABCC and to keep this union strong so we can be there for you. Because no one else is.

Regards,
Bill Oliver
State Secretary CFMEU
December 2009