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The Forum > General Discussion > Insulation Bungle, Labor and the Unions

Insulation Bungle, Labor and the Unions

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Now we have seen that labor did know about the extreme dangers of the insulation bungle, one has to ask what were the unions doing.
Were they still bowing to labor and by doing so knew that these dangers were extreme and the popularity of labor was more important than the safety of the workers, families and home owners.

Who do the unions work for, by this it is not the worker, and with people like shorten and combet, what were they doing nothing to ensure the safety of the workers.

So what we have is a party, the unions who have no idea but just keep lying to the people about what did they know.

Well they knew it was a extreme danger but dont you worry workers ,families and homeowners were just treated as collateral and any deaths from their knowlegde would just be denied.

So what do you think as this is now becoming national reporting in the papers.
Is this acceptable conduct, and acceptable policy.

As for my opinion it is not and this government should be held responsible for these deaths and fires.

Stuart Ulrich
Independent
Posted by tapp, Sunday, 9 May 2010 12:06:04 PM
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Tapp
According to the whistleblower on 4Corners the other night lower level staff were warning about the dangers to senior management. Instructions back down the line were that job creation was more important than safety hence it was ignored.

What formed your assumption or opinion that unions weren't warning of the risks? You should really check your facts first before making unfounded allegations. Unions were up there with the industry sector and professional associations in trying to get the government to heed their warning about the risks.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/garrett-admits-to-insulation-warnings/story-e6frgczf-1225829442954

A quote from that article:
"Mr Rudd said Mr Garrett had his full confidence, as unions called for a complete halt to the insulation program and savaged the government for failing to heed their calls for tougher safety and training standards."
Posted by pelican, Sunday, 9 May 2010 2:03:25 PM
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Was it not the unions as well who also assited with this and implimentation.

And where were the unions informing the people about this, hiding because it was the labor party.

They didnt stand up and start a campaign about how there was extreme risks.
Posted by tapp, Sunday, 9 May 2010 2:13:37 PM
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The insulation scheme was suspended two months ago because of serious concerns about fraud and safety that followed the deaths of four young installers, 120 house fires and claims that up to 1000 roofs may have been electrified.
So far the government has committed to inspecting all 50,000 homes fitted with foil insulation and 150,000 homes with non-foil insulation. This work could leave little change from the $1 billion still remaining in the scheme’s budget. It's a disgrace.

Tapp my issue, is that you know this, and I know this, but so many of the disinterested do not. The media has given this incompetent clowns cloister a free run. The number of front pages and column inches dedicated to the Melbourne Storm issue in a week outstrips the coverage of the insulation fiasco where young lives were lost. Journos are left wing by nature but a little help from Kev like the $240 million tax break given to the tv networks in February we are unlikely to see the TV stations lining up to give him bad coverage now that he has showered them in such largesse. It's a disgrace.
Posted by sonofgloin, Sunday, 9 May 2010 2:15:32 PM
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Posted by pelican, Sunday, 9 May 2010 2:03:25 PM
Unions were up there with the industry sector and professional associations in trying to get the government to heed their warning about the risks.

Exactly right the unions hooked in. My issue is will Workcover go after the right guys. People who knew the consequence but went on with the pragramme regardless, and all for the goal of popularism, not philanthropy. The charge of negligent manslaughter could be brought against the PM, why not? They would charge you or I under similar circumstances. In Korea they gave the death sentence to a couple of developers who were aware of the use of sub standard building materials in a couple of high risers that collapsed when the earth quaked. What difference in law to the life taking insulation scheme.
Posted by sonofgloin, Sunday, 9 May 2010 2:33:34 PM
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Yes Tapp the unions did welcome the scheme but so did the industry sector. They may have assumed there would be competent implementation and that measures would be put in place to ensure safety and rorting.

The unions were not responsible for implementation.

The insualtion debacle is probably a lesson for all concerned, sadly too late for those who died as a result of hasty and poorly resourced implementation infrastructure.

I am also disillusioned with the modern unions as well, but not for the same reasons. More in line with Pynchme's comments on another thread where unions are no longer representative of workers but often collude with management for more political and career inspired objectives. The career unionist has replaced the solid union rep on the ground in many cases.
Posted by pelican, Sunday, 9 May 2010 2:37:29 PM
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