Your right to a safe workplace

My name is Luke. I am a qualified electrician who has experienced some lifestyle changes and hardships over the last three years.

At first, I was initially signed up to Sarina Russo Hastings. The ladies were very pleasant to deal with and very helpful, although I was staying with a friend, I eventually had to move out as I could not keep up with the costs of running a car, and still see my son on a regular basis.

I then signed up to Sarina Russo Lilydale. I have applied for over 1000 jobs today. It seems job conditions have dropped significantly since the Liberal Abbot Government took hold of the reigns of this country. Its like the country has been wound back 200 years.

My experiences as follows:

At Sarina Russo Lilydale, I was sat down with their senior manager and told about some labouring work they had for me. I was very grateful for the opportunity and being an electrician, I naturally took down notes. *Take notes (See The Procedure at the end)

It was specifically explained to me by the Sarina Russo Manager, that the business owner did not allow his workers to work in extreme heat. The following day, work involved use of a needle gun to remove rust from columns, for retreatment. No problem as far as the work was concerned, aside from the obvious presence of extreme heat. On the third day, after consuming 5 litres of water, without the need to use the toilet, the Boss arrived on the site. I explained to the owner the extreme heat that was present at the top of the column, as I was the Boom operator, I also had a younger unlicensed bloke with me. The owner, replied “Yea I know, I’ve been up their, just make sure there is two of you in the boom, in case one of you passes out.”

I did not return to work the following day, for obvious reasons. I ended up calling into my Job Service Provider to discuss the working conditions. Having been told one thing by my service provider, then experiencing the opposite, I have to be honest, I had my guard up.

I would like to point out too all unemployed workers, you do not have to put up with bastardisation in the workplace. These days, with the advancement in technology, almost every smart phone has an audio record button. Use it.

I hit the record button on the way in and was told to take a seat, that my manager would be with me shortly.

Having experienced hostility from my senior manager, I informed another manager that I had recorded this conversation. I had no further dealings with this Senior Manager.

I was placed on another labouring assignment with a Green House builder. The leading hand walked over everyone, he was an all round. (No need to get nasty). You have a phone now right?

Safety. Non existent. Told to climb into a 120mm wide gutter, 5-6m high in the air. No Fall protection. Now I’m not afraid of heights, as mentioned, I’m an electrician. I attempted to discuss a safer measure of installation with the leading hand, but was met with. “That’s how we do it, just do as your told.”

Then the sky opened up with hail. I got down immediately. “What’s wrong Luke”. There is ice in the gutters. Needless to say I didn’t have a job for much longer.

You have a phone, right? Take some pictures. If you think the work you are doing is dangerous, unsafe, chances are, you are probably right. Take some pictures of the work area, identify any possible hazards. Inform your service provider and Worksafe together, in a short email. You might not have a job, but at least the relevant authority has been made aware, ie Worksafe.

Worksafe I might add, are generally very reliable at turning up on a job site, put their number in your phone. I should also add, most electrical work requires the appropriate licence. Put Energy Safe Victoria in your phone while your at it.

Changed service providers, for the obvious above hostility, to Echo. I will say, I was caught off guard. They found me a job within three days.

I was told to head out to a factory in Bayswater for an interview. I drove out there straight away. The job position being offered to me was a sheet metal worker. I was given the full tour of the factory, told by the manager that the boss would be back later to confirm but he said I should be able to start the following day.

4:30 came around, keen to start the following day, I rang to see if I was required. I was told by the manager that the boss wanted to interview me and to come back the following day. Keen to start work, I drove back the following day.

The following day, the boss approached me on the factory floor. I was told the previous day the position of sheet metal worker was $22 p/h casual rate. The boss told me I’ve had a look at your resume, you don’t have much experience as a sheet metal worker, you would be more suitable as an installer. I no longer have a job for you as a sheet metal worker, you can be our installer. The job pays $22 p/h as a casual, the same as full time. The pay doesn’t go up. I don’t pay any loading on overtime and I would be required to bring my own tools to work. I wasn’t even given the opportunity to consider the arrangement. I was given no choice. Should have had the record button on? Right?

Any way, you might think I was unreasonable for not turning up to the employment arrangement the following day. I ended up being penalised for 8 weeks for the above.

Take down notes.

Keep your phone on you at all times. Borrow one if you don’t.

Press record. Get the audio to back you up. (Worried about breaching privacy laws? Worry about your basic rights, they come first)

Take pictures too. As discussed, send them on to the relevant authority.

These job service providers have a responsibility to be respectful and offer you safe working conditions. These below standards of working conditions are not acceptable.

It is your right, you are a human being. You deserve to come home to your family alive of an evening/morning. We live in a democracy. The days of Slavery are in the past.

Stick it too them! Sign the below petition!