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Bendigo Uniting Churches Social Justice Group054(i)

Anonymous, Gold Coast (received via CFMEU)

Security A casual directly employed by **** @ Gold Coast City Security

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Crack down on anyone who makes staff quote ABN's but also make it easier for employers to put them on books

Story I was a directly employed casual less than 3 months ago. 70 hours a week for $1,260 (other companies with same position: $2,520.00) High risk sites, $20.00/hour at most All I did was work and sleep This happened at Gold Coast City Security , Gold Coast when I was employed by ****. This happened in the Security industry. Crack down on anyone who makes staff quote ABN's but also make it easier for employers to put them on books

Submission URL: https://www.securejobsvic.org.au/en/unions/15/recs/543

054(ii)

Anonymous, Melbourne (ASU received via CFMEU)

EntertainmentContracting with an ABN but to one employer only

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: true Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: true Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: true Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Stronger penalties for sham contracting and cash payments. Give teeth to the Fair Work Ombudsman to eliminate the burden of low-paid employees potentially having to fight for fair treatment in court.

Story I was contracting with an ABN but to one employer only more than a year ago. I had been working informally under a cash arrangement for a few months. I was told that to legitimize my payments I would need to sign up for an ABN and invoice them as a subcontractor. The rate of pay was below award rate and had no superannuation attached, nor leave benefits. In hindsight, this was certainly a sham arrangement, though that fact was lost on me at the time, as I was only 19. The matter became relevant over 7 years later when I was made redundant from the same employer, as the period of sham contracting resulted in a dispute over long service leave entitlements. The matter was settled out of court for an amount less than the full entitlement would have provided, had no dispute been able to arise. No pay at all over Christmas when the office shut down. No sick leave at all and wages were too low to offset that inconvenience. This happened in Melbourne. This happened in the Entertainment industry. We need stronger penalties for sham contracting and cash payments. Give teeth to the Fair Work Ombudsman to eliminate the burden of low-paid employees potentially having to fight for fair treatment in court.


054(iii)

Jaiden Phillips, Melbourne (received via CFMEU)

Civil construction Employed through a labor hire agency by Strategy one @ Kingston

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: true Could speak up: true Leave: true Future secure: false

Solution I would give big construction companies money so they can train laborers into skilled laborers. Give plant operations company money so they can hire unexperienced laborers that have the certificates and competencies, then give them time on the machines and gain experience from experienced operators.

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency in my current job. I’m new to the construction industry and one of my jobs was climbing over scaffolding onto a ladder that was in a tipper truck. I don’t have kids so that’s all good, I struggled to get interviews for full time work because I’ve got no experience except for the two certificates I’ve just completed which are cert 2 in construction pathways and cert 3 in civil construction, plant operations and traffic management. It’s just stressful having to worry about paying bills and buying food each week because I don’t have a secure job, I only work when companies need a laborer. This happened at Kingston work site in Maribyrnong with the labor service I’m currently employed with, Strategy One. This happened in the civil construction industry. I would give big construction companies money so they can train laborers into skilled laborers such as in my case give a plant operations company money so they can hire unexperienced laborers that have the certificates and competencies, then give them time on the machines and learning from the experienced operators.


054(iv)

Anonymous, Brisbane (received via CFMEU) ConstructionA directly employed casual

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution I would start with enforcing the awards and NES. After that there are a million other things I would change.

Story I was a directly employed as a casual in my current job. A problem was not adhering to award nor National Employment Standards. I was constantly required to work outside of safe work practices. I was stressed from being overworked. Who knows what’s next after each job. This happened in Brisbane. This happened in the Construction industry. I would start with enforcing the awards and NES. After that there are a million other things I would change.


054(v)Martin Howard, Melbourne (CFMEU received via CFMEU) Excavation Contracting with an ABN but to one employer only @ Large plant hire

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: true Future secure: false

Solution Ensure that all workers have bare minimum standards that reflect that reflect the current cost of living and experiences without penalizing those who are willing to go that extra mile

Story I was contracting with an ABN but to one employer only in my current job. No penalty rates RDO sick leave or annual leave super Incolink redundant or EBA Take chances whilst working under direction of other sub-contractors $$$$$$$$ Constantly This happened at Union / non Union / commercial/ domestic , melba when I was employed by all the large plant hire. This happened in the excavation industry. Ensure that all workers have bare minimum standards that reflect that reflect the current cost of living and expenses without penalizing those who are willing to go that extra mile


054(vi)Justin Milner Scoresby (CFMEU received via CFMEU)

Construction Employed through a labor hire agency by Australia personnel global @ Caribbean Business Park

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Put a limit on the number of casual rolls allowed on a site... put a cap on sub-contractors on site and limit sub contract to a 6 month compounded maximum before they must be made full time

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency less than 3 months ago. You can’t ask for more, not when you’re constantly reminded how good you have it... People who complain too much don’t keep jobs. I asked for a week off to undergo surgery, and lost my job because of it... I was constantly stressing about my future, where I was going to be in a month’s time, how I was going to pay the bills after that job finished... my sleeping pattern is still messed up from it this happened at Caribbean business park, Scoresby when I was employed by Australia personnel global. This happened in the Construction industry. Put a limit on the number of casuals allowed on a site... put a cap on sub-contractors on site and limit sub contract to a 6 month compounded maximum before they must be made full time.


054(vii)Anonymous (CFMEU received via CFMEU) On a rolling contract

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: true Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: true Accommodation ok: true

Could speak up: true Could speak up: true Leave: true Future secure: false

Story I was on a rolling contract in my current job. Because of the CFMEU EBA I'm only employed on an 8 hour contract


054(viii)

[REDACTED]

054(ix)Andrea Gideon, Melbourne (received via CFMEU) Employed through a labor hire agency

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: true Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: true Could speak up: true Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution I think it's really too late to do anything, the jobs have all gone for the older workers like me, I have no choice but to collect the age pension and be treated as a second class citizen living on the poverty line until I die. I do have a full time job now but my pay isn't very much. I'm a single mum so I've missed out on a lot of super and at 50 it’s just too late for me. I would do anything to improve my situation. I have a maxed out credit card and a bank loan that I had to take out in the past to pay bills and rent. Why are wages so low that we can't afford to live anymore?

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency more than a year ago. Amongst other things I could rely on a broke and depressing Christmas, while the "haves" are rushing around celebrating, shopping, having big Christmas do's. My family is sad and lonely. Despite the fact that I have worked bloody hard all year, knowing that I can NEVER have a holiday makes me kind of angry. I think it's really too late to do anything, the jobs have all gone for the older workers like me, I have no choice but to collect the age pension and be treated as a second class citizen living on the poverty line until I die. I do have a full time job now but my pay isn't very much. I'm a single mum so I've missed out on a lot of super and at 50 it’s just too late for me. I would do anything to improve my situation. I have a maxed out credit card and a bank loan that I had to take out in the past to pay bills and rent. Why are wages so low that we can't afford to live anymore?


054(x)Anonymous (MUA received via CFMEU) A directly employed casual

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: true Could speak up: true Leave: true Future secure: false

Solution Make more full time secure jobs

Story I was a directly employed casual less than a year ago. There are too many casuals for the amount of work that had to be rationed out. Make more full time secure jobs.


054(xi)[REDACTED]

054(xii)Anonymous (received via CFMEU) Employed through a labor hire agency

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: true Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Get rid of mining tax, it killed my industry straight away.

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency less than 3 months ago. There are bad conditions and a bad environment. I have to work in rain, dirt and grease. There are no breaks or 10 minute breaks. I am asked to do things that could endanger my safety and when I questioned it, “it was how we do it”. I have a family. I’m out of work again now. Get rid of mining tax it killed my industry straight away.


054(xiii)Chris Breen, Brisbane (ETU received via CFMEU) Construction Employed through a labor hire agency by Hays @ Thiess/John Holland

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: true Childcare: false Accommodation ok: true

Could speak up: true Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Ensure all workers had equality through collective agreements... any company’s caught discriminating would face huge fines.

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency more than a year ago. I was working on airport link job in Brisbane. I was paid @ $50/hr (that was double time for night shit) whilst working alongside employees of the principle contractors who were being paid as per the airport link agreement on nearly $80/hr. I was discriminated against for being a labor hire employee. Supervisors on the project pushed work crews to complete tasks at any cost, disregarding safety on many occasions. There was a lack of job security, never knowing if the axe will fall today or tomorrow. This happened at Thiess/John Holland, Brisbane when I was employed by Hays. This happened in the Construction industry. Ensure all workers had equality through collective agreements, any company’s caught discriminating would face huge fines.


054(xiv)Alistair Parr, Darwin (CFMEU received via AMWU)

Miningemployed through a labor hire agency by Skilled. Placed at Argyle Diamonds.

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: true Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Ban Labor-Hire for tradies. Also I would scrap the 457 system, especially in engineering trades. Most 457s aren't the back end of a tradesman. They are poorly trained and semi-skilled at best. They are also very dangerous. We have how many unemployed citizens? And how many 457s? It's out of control. The only time 457s are ok is even everyone has a job, and the employers still can't get people. Also, there would be no ABCC, either. Permanent employment only for metal and electrical men. The way it is is shocking.

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency more than a year ago. I worked for Argyle Diamonds/Rio Tinto on Labor-Hire T&Cs for 14 months. I was employed through Skilled. They were forever offering me a contract (which shouldn't by rights even exist) and it never even eventuated anyway. I'm a Boilermaker by trade, and because of my height (195cm) they put in a position where I was forced to weld in overhead position for 7-8 hours with my neck in hypertension. After about 5 hours of welding in that ridiculous position, the cervical disc prolapsed in the blink of an eye. It was a grindy kind of clicking sensation in my neck that lasted under a second, followed by a nervous tingle down my right arm that went for about 15-20 seconds. That was the annulus of the cervical disc failing and the jelly inside the disc squeezing out. The headshield had overloaded the cervical disc. Anyway I was stuck in the mine site like that for nearly a week, and had to wait another 2 weeks for spinal surgery in Perth. They didn't send me to hospital, they bailed me up in a hotel instead. And on the day of surgery, while on the table with a hole in my throat the size of a lemon, Argyle Diamonds terminated me. Yep. Fired on the table. Now I have 25.4% of permanent overall body impairment, and 62.5% of of permanent calculated injury to my cervical spine. For life. Show me an employer who will employ a Boilermaker with a prosthesis in their spine. You're joking. They won't go anywhere near me. That mining company destroyed my life and career. Personally I think that I'm better off as ash. I wasn't even compensated adequately. The mining company had a company plant in a rep position. I saw three hands go up when he was voted in...Everyone else looked sideways at each other pulling funny faces. We knew the dice was loaded. That happened about 11-12 months prior to my injury. I was on permanent Labor-Hire, meaning I could go any day. Even if I did nothing wrong or out of line, even if injured. Working under Labor-Hire is inappropriate for tradies when you consider

what can happen to us. Labor-Hire is casual essentially....and in our line of work this can mean being casually injured or casually killed. Those T&Cs are inadequate and totally inappropriate. This happened at Skilled. Placed at Argyle Diamonds., Darwin when I was employed by Skilled. This happened in the Mining industry. Ban Labor-Hire for tradies. Also I would scrap the 457 system, especially in engineering trades. Most 457s aren't the back end of a tradesman. They are poorly trained and semi-skilled at best. They are also very dangerous. We have how many unemployed citizens? And how many 457s? It's out of control. The only time 457s are ok is even everyone has a job, and the employers still can't get people. Also, there would be no ABCC, either. Permanent employment only for metal and electrical men. The way it is shocking.


054(xv)Anonymous, Dandenong (received via CFMEU) Food industry A directly employed casual by my employer @ Birubi foods Dandenong

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution I would bring down the tax on the lower class income as much as the need, like a very small amount of tax.

Story I was a directly employed casual less than a year ago. They don't train the employees far enough and they push the casual employee without enough training. I lost my 2 fingers because they didn’t train me well enough. They ask me to do that job while they knew I had not enough training, and they pushed me hard for that and an injury happened to me. And the pay is not enough. If I pay all things - bills, rent, mortgage, food, Internet, fuel and everything - there will be nothing to save actually. This happened at Birubi foods, Dandenong. This happened in the Food industry. If I were prime minister I would bring down the tax on the lower class income as much as they need, like a very small amount of tax. Just make sure all employers don’t take risk about safety 100. Thanks


054(xvi)Damon Morrissey, Sydney (received via CFMEU) ConstructionEmployed through a labor hire agency @ Leans leese

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: true Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Stop all foreign investment in housing and farms. National service for the unemployed.

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency in my current job. There are large projects, rushed to get the job done. There is insecurity. Australia has sold out. Most Australians are morons and are more concerned with plasma screens and Facebook. This happened at Leans lease, Sydney. This happened in the Construction industry. Stop all foreign investment in housing and farms. National service for the unemployed. Unions need to worry about their member’s not political power and jobs on boards. I haven't been a member for a while and it's not going to change in a while. If the union is so bloody good use member funds to start a company and make money under Union blunder values and prove we can be competitive.


054(xvii)[REDACTED]

054(xviii)Anonymous, Frankston (received via CFMEU) FoodInformally employed @ crystal poultry, sunrise chicken - they keep changing name

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Make every workplace safe, get rid of hire companies, and bring back work for 3 months then full time work

Story I was informally employed more than a year ago. They did not pay super, and I was paid less for over time. I was abused at work by other worker and got told to ignore it. There were long hours. I had to use other people’s work boots. No one spoke English. I did get injured, depression, anxiety, am scared to go to work. This happened at crystal poultry, sunrise chicken - they keep changing name. This happened in Frankston. This happened in the food industry. Make every work place safe, get rid of hire companies, and bring back work for 3 months then full time work


054(xix)

Anonymous, Melbourne (CEPU received via CFMEU) TelecomContracting with an ABN but to one employer only by Total Peripheral Supplies Pty Ktd @ Telstra

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: true Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: false Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: true Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Stop sham contacting and off shoring. Apply real tests to 457 visas. Local jobs first.

Story I was contracting with an ABN but to one employer only more than a year ago. The hourly rate was fixed for the term of the contact, four years. Long working hours meant childcare and family responsibilities fell to my wife who subsequently could not get employed. The initial rate was attractive however the costs of funding my ABN, tax and super obligations as well as public liability insurance as required by the employer meant the rate fell below a full time rate. Also the employer would suspend the contract resulting in no pay or reduced pay. This would occur over Christmas with 6-8 week layoffs, easter and on a few occasions the work was suspended due to the employers budget. The employer wanted to reduce expenditure to keep their budget in check. This happened at Telstra, Melbourne when I was employed by Total Peripheral Supplies Pty Ktd. This happened in the telecom industry. Stop sham contacting and off shoring. Apply real tests to 457 visas. Local jobs first.


054(xx)Carter TSAI, Sydney (CFMEU received via NUW) – TO BE TRANSLATED工地非正式聘僱 by 雇主 @ 雪梨 SP和AP兩家~都是做GYPROCK Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial Security

Paid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: false

Legal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: false

Could speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution 建立受雇者可以直接線上多種語言諮詢和尋求協助的管道,對於工會希望有一套工會成員操守的監督制度The multi-language worker helping lines, union member should behave well. Story I was 非正式聘僱一年以前. 在雪梨的工地~中國人老闆,當搬運材料跟清潔還有支援打膠的小工~一個小時 16塊澳幣,後來有台灣背包客去工會投訴,在是情發生後薪水調整到 18元澳幣, 但在公司把事情解決後,以不需要工人了把所有台灣人解聘,而且是公司在雪梨的所有工地的台灣人都同時被報復性解雇!理由是不需要這麼多人了~但在通知解雇的同一天早上卻有新人來上班! 工地對於搬運重量有限制,但是僅限於一樓放置材料的地方,上了樓,管理者要求搬運材料時,就不會遵守了!~另外~鋪設在裝潢板子牆中間的隔音海綿,粉塵很嚴重,卻只有簡單的口罩怎麼可能有辦法保護肺部,那些海綿纖維吸入後,人體要怎麼代謝,後果就是越來越常咳嗽! 每周工作時間大約是 58小時~時薪是 16元~但是公司卻有辦法做帳把薪資單的工作時間減少,讓每小時時薪符合規定, 曾經去工會投訴過,第一次有成功,工會介入處理~但第二次投訴時,案件卻被工會在雪梨市區負責處理華人案件的中國人把案件擱置了, 等了好幾個星期都沒有消息,同時背投訴的老闆到處找我想報復,到最後還能相信誰? 連工會的人都會把案件擱置導致事後到工會總辦公室查詢時發現沒有登錄,那背包客能怎麼辦? 沒有正式的工作,領的薪水帳目薪資明細都是公司做帳解決,跟實際的情況完全不同,公司都可以合法掩護非法薪水,但是為了生活只能做一天算一天,甚麼時候會沒工作也不知道,即使去投訴工會又面臨語言不同,語言可以通的工會負責成員卻吃案的狀況,最後連人身安全都受到威脅....... This happened at 雪梨 SP和AP兩家~都是做GYPROCK, Sydney when I was employed by 雇主. This happened in the 工地 industry. 建立受雇者可以直接線上多種語言諮詢和尋求協助的管道,對於工會希望有一套工會成員操守的監督制度I was employed by the labour hire company more than one year ago, as a casual construction worker. My job was lifting and cleaning. The hourly rate was $16. There was some Taiwanese backpackers report to the union, and all the casual worker rate were raised to $18 dollars, but all of sudden all the backpackers who works in the Sydney construction industry were all got fired. The hazard environment is the dust, and the mask not helping at all. We worked 58 hours per week, and back to $16 per hour, the union did not help this time. What can we do? Even the company is “cooking the book” and all the workers are underpaid. I have been threatening by the employer. This happened at Sydney SP and AP GYPROCK, construction industry. Submission URL: https://www.securejobsvic.org.au/en/unions/2/recs/211

054(xxi)Ben McHenry, Melbourne (CFMEU received via VTHC)

ConstructionEmployed through a labor hire agency by Hays

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: true Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: true Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution More full time work for workers, not the bloke in the office!!!

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency less than 3 months ago. If you spoke up they move on to the next bloke. Simple fact is, it's casual so if you don't come in for a day they move on to the next bloke. There is no security. This happened in Melbourne when I was employed by Hays. This happened in the Construction industry. More full time work for workers, not the bloke in the office!!! Submission URL: https://www.securejobsvic.org.au/en/unions/1/recs/111

054(xxii)Thomas, Teems Melbourne (CFMEU received via VTHC) ConstructionContracting with an ABN but to one employer only @ various small employers

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Unionization of all domestic building sites to enforce workers’ rights.

Story I was contracting with an ABN but to one employer only more than a year ago. Bricky's laborer on ABN. $12-20 per hour. Site was often unsafe, no toilet paper. Grueling work. Fired on a whim a number of times and not paid. Back couldn't cope after a year of bending and lifting. Workers always made to ride barrow hoist. There was no security. Trouble paying for rent, food etc. Constant battle to get paid, not have pay docked for damaged equipment. Lucky enough to have supportive family but many don't have that. This happened at various small employers, in Melbourne. This happened in the Construction industry. There should be Unionization of all domestic building sites to enforce workers’ rights.


054(xxiii)Patrick Owens, Melbourne (CFMEU received via VTHC) Construction A directly employed casual by Clark Labor Hire (a company formed from Clark Cranes) @ Various due to being casual

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Introduce a law that enforces every casual employee becomes full time after 3 months- no exceptions.

Story I was a directly employed casual in my current job. The company just closed its doors a few days before Xmas. No warning was given, and yet I was still expected to be available right over the Xmas period, sustaining their business, but only found out there would be NO PAY coming until January 21. I had to covertly call the CFMEU, who acted for me and others too scared to speak up, and try to ensure we were to be paid over the most important and stressful period of the year. If it wasn't for them, my children wouldn't have even received Xmas presents and we wouldn't have been able to even eat. As a casual, money is extremely tight anyway due to lack of hours of work and being unable to plan financially. An incredibly stressful time for all of my family, at a time we should've been able to relax and enjoy. I never wish to experience that again. PS: Thanks to my union organizer, we were eventually paid, although this didn't happen until the first week of January. I work in the construction industry as a rigger/dogman, which is very dangerous at the best of times. As a casual, you have absolutely no secure ground to stand on, and if you even question health and safety, the builder you are on-site for will call you a trouble maker, phone your employer, and demand not to send you back to that job. So your employer gets angry and blames you, and before you know it you don't get any more phone calls for work and are hung out to dry. So you are constantly putting your safety at risk due to intimidation and fear of losing your livelihood. Casual work might suit SOME people, but 99% it doesn't. It caused many arguments with my wife regarding finances, picking up children from school and school holidays. No financial institution will loan money to casual employees, so to get a mortgage and your own home is IMPOSSIBLE. Mentally, the ramifications of casual work can be endlessly negative. Extremely high stress levels due to the unknown for you and your family, which in turn creates low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and feelings of not being good enough to provide for your family. Marriage problems begin which never existed before. Tensions between spouses, arguments, sex life issues and happiness is replaced by constant tension. Everyone in the family feels it, including the children as they also feel the tension and are affected by the financial constraints you now suffer. Physically, your health declines due to the mental issues that arise, not eating well because I've gone without so my wife and children can eat well, my stomach constantly feels like it's in a tight knot, and if I don't end up

with an ulcer I will stunned. Headaches for someone who never got them before, are now common. Most of it has been explained above. But you worry everyday if you can pay rent, get a good food shop that's healthy and pay for your children's needs. I'm now on anti-depressants and use Panadol like it's going out of fashion- luckily you can buy them for less than a dollar for no-name brands. This happened at various places due to being casual. This happened in Melbourne in the Construction industry. Introduce a law that enforces every casual employee becomes full time after 3 months- no exceptions.


054(xxiv)Anonymous, Melbourne (CFMEU received via VTHC)

Employed through a labor hire agency

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: false Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: true Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Stop capsulizing the workforce! It is not a privilege to have a job! I want to work, I want secure pay and conditions, why must I feel lucky if I can get that!!!!

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency in my current job. Previous to me being in the site, people had brought up genuine safety concerns and were then told by the foreman to get their booked signed and f&@k off and not return to that site. Have no idea if I'm getting any money at all week to week. Last week I worked 5 days, this week I haven't worked one!!! I am online all day searching for decent paying full time work the only calls I get are from agencies offering low paying casual work without guaranteed hours, the banks won't give me money. I can't even get a phone on a plan because I need full time work!!! This happened in Melbourne. Stop capsulizing the workforce! It is not a privilege to have a job! I want to work, I want secure pay and conditions, why must I feel lucky if I can get that!!!!


054(xxv)Richard Mann, Melbourne (CFMEU received via VTHC) ConstructionA directly employed casual by Clark Cranes @ Clark Cranes working Pace Sites and Element 5.

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: false Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Work towards the abolition of casual employment and sham contracting. I would make all workers entitlements protected by the government so if a company goes broke all monies are paid immediately. Worker elected OHS reps mandatory on all construction sites.

Story I was a directly employed casual less than a year ago. Not paid for working in the rain. No site allowance. Incolink was paid pro rata. Cranes had no load charts!!! Riggers were too inexperienced. We were expected to lift dangerous deliveries (reo in bags). Rubble and rubbish in bags instead of rated bins. No street protection for the public and dolmen. Reo bars not capped. Balconies overloaded. Expected to work in high winds. Carried an injury because l was afraid to report it. Constantly stressed because of lack of job security and belligerent angry bosses. Always stressed because safety was ignored and men with my experience are told to shut up or get sacked. NO DECENT OH AND S REPS ON MOST SITES. Could not budget. Could not havoc proper holiday because you are basically on call. Your life belongs to the bosses because you have no job security. I have said the best thing you can do for the mental health of workers is give them secure employment. This happened at Clark Cranes working Pace Sites and Element 5, Melbourne when I was employed by Clark Cranes. This happened in the Construction industry. Work towards the abolition of casual employment and sham contracting. I would make all workers entitlements protected by the got so if a company goes broke all monies are paid immediately. Worker elected OHS reps mandatory on all construction sites.


054(xxvi)Anonymous, Melbourne (CFMEU received via CFMEU) CommunicationsA directly employed casual Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: true

Solution I wouldn't know where to start, but it's not heading in the right direction. More union friendly legislation at least.

Story I was a directly employed casual more than a year ago. RDOs weren't allowed even though they were supposed to be. I was asked to play with 240 volt electricity circuits with no training. Leave was stipulated for certain times of the year. This happened in the communications industry. I wouldn't know where to start, but things aren't heading in the right direction. More union friendly legislation at least.


054(xxvii)Anonymous, Melbourne (CFMEU received via VTHC) ConstructionA directly employed casual by Roadworks Traffic @ Roadworks Traffic

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: false Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: false Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Remove casual work force for all work performed on a daily and permanent basis. Casuals should only be used in top up situations. Labor hire should not be used except when exceptional circumstances exist that require short term top ups of the workforce.

Story I was a directly employed casual. Client expectations often ignore safety of workers. My employer has no HSR on the payroll. Due to the irregularity of the work, one has to keep one's personal life on hold to ensure adequate earnings to pay the bills. Quality time with my family is in short supply due to the unpredictability of work. Luxuries like holidays are unaffordable due to the inability to predict earnings. When the money is earnt it stays in the bank to ensure costs of living can be met. This happened at Roadworks Traffic, Melbourne when I was employed by Roadworks Traffic. This happened in the Construction industry. Remove casual work force for all work performed on a daily and permanent basis. Casuals should only be used in top up situations. Labor hire should not be used except when exceptional circumstances exist that require short term top ups of the workforce.


054(xxvii)Jeff Milne (CFMEU received via VTHC) Employed through a labor hire agency

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: true Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: trueLegal Employment: true WorkSafe: true Childcare: true Accommodation ok: trueCould speak up: true Could speak up: false Leave: true Future secure: false

Solution Have a close look at how labor hire works, big jobs should only use a small percentage of labor hire when needed, and the rest should be employed full time. Some labor hire bosses / owners are just as dangerous as company rouge bosses, $$$$$$ are on their mind to be made

Story I was employed through a labor hire agency less than a year ago. Company not on the same page as our Rep, and when the company thought they could, they pushed the boundaries. Then when they got close to being found out or in the event that an incident took place, the company would read the riot act at a tool box, hypocrisy at its best. Just what has become the normal, working laborer hire, keep your mouth shut and turn the other cheek, or you'll be replaced. Have a close look at how labor hire works, big jobs should only use a small percentage of labor hire when needed, and the rest should be employed full time. Some labor hire bosses / owners are just as dangerous as company rouge bosses, $$$$$$ are on their mind to be made


054(xxviii)Sarah, Geelong (CFMEU received via VTHC) ConstructionContracting with an ABN but to one employer only

Pay and Conditions Health and Safety Personal Impact Financial SecurityPaid Fair: false Safe work: false Predictable Roster: true Bills ok: falseLegal Employment: false WorkSafe: false Childcare: true Accommodation ok: falseCould speak up: false Could speak up: false Leave: false Future secure: false

Solution Bring in safe secure working conditions. We deserve to be paid honestly and reliable for the job we are qualified to do.

Story I was contracting with an ABN but to one employer only. I know this is illegal and I know myself and other workers are being paid incorrectly through ABN but to speak up is to lose your job. If work cover is mentioned it's a big issue. Employers cringe at the words so to keep your job you don't mention it. If leave is taken then that puts your job at risk. The threat of being put off is always lingering if time is taken off. Being paid ABN means redundancy is not paid and money is tight if you are put off. This happened in Geelong in the Construction industry. Bring in safe secure working conditions. We deserve to be paid honestly and reliably for the job we are qualified to do. I think the government needs to understand how much personal tax they are losing with people using ABNs!


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