One member’s view of union history
These days a lot of young workers perhaps don't realise some of the past struggles that were endured to make their union strong and able to fight for the benefits, pay and conditions building and construction workers enjoy today.
Sometimes to appreciate the present we need to reflect on the past.
Any young blokes on building sites today should chat to some of the old hands about the hard fought battles of the past to win better pay and conditions. Make no mistake if we don't continue to fight, they'd be taken off of us in a jiffy.
Here is an interview extract about one bloke’s view of those early days.
Bob Olsen joined the Union as an Organiser way back in the BLF days in 1966.
In Bob's words the union was so broke they couldn't even afford to get a sign painted on the building.
He reckons it was a pretty sloppily run shop where the efforts from a couple of hardworking types such as himself was being dragged down by what he calls "a bunch of sucks!"
A few short years down the track, all that was about to change.
One day in Pinjarra he saw a young bloke working for a concrete company walking around waving his arms and fist in the air stirring up a bunch of Italian workers. Bob said to himself "That young bloke has the passion we are looking for to become our next organiser." The young bloke in question was Union State secretary, Kevin Reynolds.
Life was tough back then. But then again, so was Bob.
He remembers how unemployment affected the members. "Not having money coming in is the biggest threat that can tear a family apart. It's terrible when Mother's have to see the kids go without." says Bob.
"We'd get wives ringing the union office asking us to help find their Hubbies a job because the blokes were too proud to ask for help. So we used to do our best and 'out of the blue' Hubby would get a call to do some work, none the wiser how it came about but feeling prouder with his dignity in tact."
"That's what unions do", says Bob. "We care about people. Workers and their families. Nothing else. It's about what you can do for someone else, not for yourself. It used to be called mateship. Sometimes that means you have to stand up for each other. No matter what."
Throughout Bob's time in the Union there plenty of instances when the members had to stand up and support each other.
"One day we were marching up the Terrace towards the MBA building to be met by about 30 coppers in Milligan Street. They thought we would be a rabble. But all our blokes were told how to behave, they were disciplined." An old Assistant Commissioner was sitting down in a chair soaking up the whole event. He said; "Strike me pink, your blokes are more disciplined then our own people!"
Bob also recollects there was none of this business with foreign workers not being able to speak English. "We'd put newly arrived immigrants with crews that only spoke English so they could quickly pick up the lingo." Simple but effective.
Over the years Bob was the unofficial historian of the Union. He has over 60 volumes of information stored away that he says will be left to the union on his passing.
Let's hope it's not for a long time yet, and when it happens we don't think St Peter would ever block his Right of Entry.
Bob retired in 1992 at farewell dinner attended by over 400 people at the WA Italian Club. Testimony to his standing in the community, Federal BLF Secretary Norm Gallagher and State Secretary, Kevin Reynolds both gave him a rousing speech.
These days Bob helps people by repairing unwanted exercise bikes for those who aren't flush with money and need help after illness or injury to get back on their feet. Like they say: You can take the man out of the union but not the union out of the man.
