Electrical workers strike to "Build a Life"

Members of the Electrical Trades Union walked off the job for 48 hours 
in NSW last Tuesday as they stepped up their battle for family-friendly 
hours in the construction industry.

"The Electrical Trades Union was founded 100 years ago this month when 
workers took action to reduce working hours which, at the time, averaged 60 
hours a week", said Bernie Riordan, NSW State Secretary of the ETU.

"A century later, after achieving a formal 38-hour week some decades ago, 
we are now back in a similar situation of long working hours."

In current conditions, building sites rarely shut down for the full three 
days over a long weekend — construction site workers are regularly called 
in at least one day.

In some companies electricians are being told that their preparedness to 
work Saturdays is regarded as a Key Performance Indicator in their employee 
assessments. So while working a six-day week is technically optional, in 
reality workers have little choice.

Under the proposal, the entire construction industry would be closed down 
for three days, six times a year, with shut-downs coinciding with existing 
public holidays.

Mr Riordan said major industrial action in the NSW construction industry is 
likely over the coming weeks as the Build a Life campaign gathers 
momentum.

"Our members are telling us that the impact of these hours on their ability 
to play an active role in the family and community are severely 
compromised" , said Mr Riordan.

"Long hours does not just effect the individual worker and their family; 
they also take from the broader community because workers do not have the 
time to contribute to organisations such as sporting clubs and schools."

The ETU has issued a stern warning to employers that they have two options: 
either agree to civilised working hours or face a long period of industrial 
disputation.

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Acknowledgement to Workers Online