Hi o sung wu, if you think Big Norm Gallagher was my mate you're reading it wrong. The threats made by this bloke in Melbourne are mild compared to the threats made to me and others by Gallagher. The 30 year rule has long past so I'll tell you the story;

In Sydney on a industrial building project, 1970's, a site agreement was being negotiated, things had got bogged down with project management (the contractor), due mainly to BLF belligerence, which had become the "Norm" on projects in Sydney at that time. We, the Works Committee were not directly involved in negotiations, but as our members were a small party to the site arrangements we had a couple of representatives. In trying to escalate the matter the BLF mob called in Big Norm, to take over the dispute, at the time Norm was at war with the NSW BLF. The plan as far as the BLF was concerned was to demand we the Works Committee put our members on the grass, and thus force the employer to pressure the contractor to capitulate. A meeting was scheduled in Charmers Street for the Thursday avo, the ultimatum would be delivered to the employer through the Works Committee on Friday, that we intended to pull our members, the start of first shift Monday, unless the site agreement was agreed too.

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Norm and his boys, turned up to the meeting (late) and then proceed to tell us the Works Committee what we would do. We had talked with management previously about the whole business, as they were concerned it could escalate and involve us and them. We had given an undertaking that we would not become involved unless our management had first bit into the argument, which they hadn't. Our committee had met that morning and unanimously agreed we would stick with our undertaking not to become involved. We gave Norm and his gang the courtesy of a meeting, and listened as he tried to bully us into what he wanted. Our Convener called on each union present to put their position, before a vote was taken. One by one we spoke indicating that our union would not be undertaking industrial action to support those negotiating the site agreement, the BLF more or less. Well did Gallagher fire up at us, words and threats I cannot post here. Our Convener put it to Norm, you have heard the feelings of the committee unions, do you want to leave the room while we take a vote, Norm once again called us for everything and marched out of the room, no vote was taken. The dispute was resolved the next week, Norm returned to Melbourne to lick his wounds for once.

Norm to a manager, for $10k,? some said it was only $8k, I'll give you industrial peace, and not only that, I'll see to it that holiday joint you want built down at xxxx, is done free, you supply the materials through the job. The manager was receptive to the idea. Seems those sorts of arraignments were the "Norm", in those days.

Thank you Paul for your most enlightening piece involving the inner machinations of negotiating with the BLF. I must confess I've never understood much about Trade Unionism and the processes associated with seeking pay and conditions for the membership. And I have no doubt Unions do help out the little fella, whenever they're bullied by the big corporations. But never Norman the foreman, he was one rotten individual!

You're correct of course, most of us paid in fortnightly, to our Association, with very few members who declined to do so. We had excellent legal representation, with a few ex-members pulling the plug joining large legal firms who specifically specialize in workplace law, purely to represent members who've got into strive over one thing or the other.

Interestingly, one of the main Legal firms the police union used, were apparently the advisory 'legal eagles' for the 'Shop Assistants Union'. Many of their membership were made up of a majority of (pretty?) young ladies (I'm not allowed to say that, am I?),anyway how I knew, one day I had to drop off a mate, at their main Office in King Street, in the City. Whereupon I accompanied him up to the main floor where they had their reception area.

Waiting quietly, ostensibly for their own appointment's, were a couple of very 'fetching' young ladies, and to be perfectly honest with you Paul, I didn't mind in the least, patiently spending the time there, waiting for my big ugly mate! The unexpected benefits of looking after a fellow member, when he's in strife eh!

If anyone did a tiny bit of research on Labours front bench and their partners it would be easy to see why they shield criminals. Instead our abc would rather spend 2 weeks on Tony Abbott punching the air 40 years ago.

Paul,

I didn't say only 3207 workers, you did.

To take your theme further, the annual figure is less 30 per year for the entire construction industry including road accidents. And this is your basis to have an unaccountable corrupt neo-fascist group of thugs with unfettered powers extorting money from workers and employers alike?

What's next, with 1300 deaths p.a. on the roads do you propose union bovver boys issuing licences and mounting speed cameras at every corner and pocketing the proceeds?