Union members from offshore projects in the Bass Strait have raised $24,000 for the children’s charity, Variety, as a part of their ongoing commitment to fund-raise for the community.

The members (from the AMWU, AWU, ETU and MUA) delivered a cheque to the organisation last Friday, which will enable Variety to buy special needs equipment and expand its existing programs for children with disabilities. 

AMWU Health and Safety representative Cohen Lee said the donation, made up of member funds and money matched by their employer, Downer EDi, was part of a regular program of union coordinated fundraising on the Bass Strait projects. 

“It’s ongoing in our industry, especially on the bigger projects, we try and help out where we can. We earn good money and when we can contribute we like to do it.

“Variety is a great charity and it’s good to be giving the money to support the families that need help.”

Mr Lee, a boilermaker based at the Yolla gas project, said the regular fundraising activities, ranging from raffles to weekly tipping competitions, created a powerful bond amongst the different union members represented on the projects.

“Recently one of our members from the AMWU died in a car crash, we’ve all decided to put it in $100 each to support his family with their expenses ahead. When there are circumstances that come up. Anyone needs help, we take it upon ourselves to put a motion up and raise some money.”
 
AMWU regional organiser Steve Dodd said the donations showed the broader benefit of a strong union collective.

“This demonstrates that union members work together for the common good. That’s the advantage of being a collective. The members should be applauded for their actions.

“There is plenty of negative publicity out there demonising unions. But in reality we all have families, we all go to work to make a living and we all care about the community and those less fortunate. That’s why our members do these types of collections.”