[Muanet] Fw: Leighton sacks OSH rep after he speaks out against IR laws

[Chris Latham]

Dear members

Below is a message sent out by Jim Mellor from the CFMEU regarding the 
latest development in case of the 107 construction workers.

In Solidarity

Chris


Mal Peters was the last remaining worker-elected occupational and safety
representative on the Leighton Kumagai section of the Perth to Mandurah
railway. He is also one of the 107 workers facing prosecution by the
federal government for fines up to $28,600.

Mal returned to work last week after spending his annual leave to speak
to the ACTU, CFMEU and workers in three states about the prosecutions
and the impact of the federal government's new IR laws on individual
workers and their families.

Yesterday, on August 8th , Mal's employment was terminated by Leighton.

Jim Mellor
Western Australian branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy
Union (CFMEU)
* * *


Press release:

LEIGHTON SACKS OHS REP FROM RAIL JOB AFTER HE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE
GOVERNMENT'S NEW IR LAWS

Mal Peters, the last remaining Occupational Health and Safety Rep
employed on the Perth to Mandurah rail construction job (city end) has
been sacked by project builder Leighton after speaking out publicly
about the impact of the potential $28,600 fines on him and his family.

Mr. Peters was told yesterday by Leighton that it was terminating his
contract effective immediately for "operational reasons".

Leighton's part of the rail job is not due to finish until at least
April 2007, and there are still up to 200 workers employed on its part
of the project. Of the six worker-elected occupational health and safety
representatives that worked on the project a year ago, Mr Peters was the
sole survivor.

Mr. Peters returned last week from two weeks annual leave, which he and
his wife used to fly to the eastern states to report to the ACTU, the
national CFMEU and to talk to workers in three states about the impact
of the Government's prosecution on 107 rail job workers and their
families.

State Secretary of the CFMEU, Kevin Reynolds said that Mal had lost his
job simply for speaking out publicly about the Government's building
industry and work laws, used to serve 107 rail project workers with
summonses for federal prosecution, with potential fines of up to
$28,600.

"This is a case of an employer using the Government's new IR laws to
intimidate and threaten any worker who wants to speak out about the
Government's laws," Mr. Reynolds said.

"First, Mal's family was served a summons late at night threatening him
and his family with a $28,600 fine. They were already worried about
losing their home. Now he has been sacked.

"The fact that he is the OHS officer on the site just makes this worse.
This is industrial relations the Howard Government way. Big businesses
like Leighton can use these laws to sack people at will for standing up
for their civil rights, and the rights of their fellow workmates," Mr.
Reynolds said.

The CFMEU is meeting today with Mr. Peters to prepare to take his case
to court.

"We will be standing by Mal and his family. We believe this is clearly a
case of Mal being sacked for carrying out his legislated duties as a WA
OHS representative and for just speaking out about the Federal
Governments' work laws." Mr. Reynolds said.

Press Conference with Mal Peters and Kevin Reynolds:
1PM Today, August 9th
CFMEU office, 82 Royal St., Level 1, East Perth
Press conference queries: Jim Mellor @ 9221 1055 or 0404 066 671

Support The 107:
<http://www.cfmeuwa.com/cfmeuwa/supportthe107>