50 years ago

The Express, May 12, 1976

Have a look, MP told

 

TRARALGON school officials want their local MIIR and Cabinet minister, Mr Peter Nixon, to see for himself how badly the schools need federal finance.

Mr Nixon was not available when the officials, teachers and parents, flew to Canberra last week on the E-Day pilgrimage.

Today, Traralgon spokesman, Mr I. Curnow said all schools would continue to press the federal politicians for a firm budget commitment to retraining and increasing finance for schools.

“We want Mr Nixon to see first hand the extent of the need for federal finance in this region – not only for the supply of specialist education services but so that basic necessity of suitable school accommodation may be provided,” Mr Curnow said.

Although 2000 teachers and parents took part in the E-Day trip to Canberra, they returned without any firm promises.

Education Minister Carrick addressed the group for 20 minutes but qualified everything he said by reference to the Government’s task of reducing inflation and lifting employment.

 

30 years ago

The Express, May 13, 1996

EBA for Esso workers

 

By MEGAN WHEELHOUSE

 

AN enterprise bargaining agreement for off-shore Esso employees is expected to be certified by the Industrial Relations Commission in the next few weeks.

At a mass meeting in Sale last Wednesday, Esso employees, including many from the Valley, voted to accept an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) offered by the company.

The 150 employees at the meeting were members of the Australian Works Union (AWU), Australian Manufacturers Workers Union (AMWU) and the Communication Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU).

Workers were flown in from off-shore to attend the meeting.

AWU branch organiser Terry Lee told The Express he hoped the EBA would be lodged to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) some time this week and certified within two weeks.

He said the two year EBA was “reluctantly” accepted by members, on the basis of pending changes to the Federal Industrial Relations Act.

Mr Lee claimed the agreement was the result of five years of negotiations between unions and Esso.

Last year, difficulties in negotiations prompted unions to introduce industrial action that continued for 10 weeks.

Mr Lee said industrial action ceased after the IRC called on ACTU and federal union officials to become involved and a return to work agreement was brokered by the IRC.

Negotiations between Esso and the single bargaining unit (SBU) continued in the IRC throughout 1995 and the start of 1996.

The SBU included the ACTU, federal and state officials from the three unions and three union delegates.

Mr Lee said negotiations were cut short, however, when Esso presented the SBU with a fully drafted EBA. The draft EBA was accepted by Esso employees, subject to six outstanding issues, at a mass meeting more than a month ago.

He said after further discussions between the two parties and the IRC, Esso presented a revised offer on April 30.

That offer was presented and accepted by employees at last week’s mass meeting.

 

10 years ago

The Express, May 12, 2016

Family Violence Minister visits the Valley

 

STATE Prevention of Family Violence Minister Fiona Richardson visited the Latrobe Valley yesterday to speak about improving the status of women in the workplace and encouraging women in leadership roles.

Ms Richardson addressed the Latrobe Women in Business Lunch, took part in the Women’s Rights at Work Chat in Traralgon and met with welfare organisation, Quantum Support Services.

She said she spoke with Quantum about the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations, in particular, the implementation of ‘hubs’ and “the need for those to reflect the needs of regional communities”.

The Latrobe Valley tops a Victorian list of family violence “hotspots” and Quantum is the primary provider of family violence services in Latrobe, Baw Baw and Wellington.

“The concept (of hubs) is that victims who are looking for support and services can come to a one stop shop,” Ms Richardson said.

“The government’s view is it can’t be a one-size-fits-all (model). What works with this community might not fit another.”

The Royal Commission recommended 17 hubs, with a rollout deadline of July 1, 2018.