Widow pleads for worker rights

Cheryl Romer (third from left) and her family honour her husband Bob at the CFMEU memorial.

By Kerri Carr

Widow and Hilltop Road Public School teacher Cheryl Romer has written an open letter to building workers in the campaign against federal laws restricting union right of entry and abolishing protections from unfair dismissal.

Ms Romer became a widow in 1988 after steel fell on her husband Bob, a rigger/dogman. She was left to raise a three year-old daughter and a six year-old son.

Ms Romer said Bob had worked for many years in the construction industry, and was an active unionist in the Builders Labourers Federation, FEDFA and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.

"Bob had inspected unsafe sites when he worked as an organiser, and closed them down.

"He had received training in safe work practices and had worked as a safety officer on site.

"This, though, did not stop him losing his life..."

Ms Romer is concerned that federal laws restricting union right of entry and abolishing protections from unfair dismissal will lead to further loss of life.

"In the case of building sites sometimes profits come before safety and if there is no one [union officials] there policing it, shortcuts are taken," Ms Romer said.

"Union right of entry informs workers about safety and keeps the bastards honest."

Ms Romer said from speaking to people in the building industry she'd learnt that people who have spoken up about safety problems have been dismissed.

She said abolishing protections from unfair dismissal made workers reluctant to report safety breaches for fear of losing their jobs.

In a plea to workers Mrs Romer said to make sure that before you start work each day you think about what you do today could impact not only your life and the life of your family, but also someone else and their family.

"The past 18 years, for us, have been a roller coaster ride, both emotionally and financially. You would not want this for your family. Never assume 'she'll be right mate' because the judgement you make to ignore safety issues may mean that your family or another one may never be right again," she said.

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Last Modified: 23 Nov 2006