Brogden Dances On Graves

A workplace widow is furious about John Brogden’s defence of killer bosses.

"Ask that man to come and live in my shoes for just one day," says Andreia Viegas, who lost her husband in a Central Coast building accident last year.

"Ask him if he would feel the same if one of his family members were killed at work. I think what his doing is pathetic and he should get a better understanding of Industrial Manslaughter and how important it is for the family that is left behind to get justice for the death of their loved one."

Glen Viegas was electrocuted last year, leaving behind Andreia and his two children, Corey, 6, and Makayla, 13 months.

"Glen was a great dad, a great husband, son, brother and friend, he was full of life and energy and his family was his treasure," said Viegas. "Glen's workplace was accused of breaching safety regulations and letting a worker work in an unsafe place.

"Every Australian worker deserves to work in a safe work place and we need to introduce tougher laws for employers and we need to do this now."

Brogden has joined employer groups campaigning against the Occupational Health and Safety (Workplace Fatalities) Bill.

He has been labelled laws to gaol killer bosses as "draconian" and treating "every employer in NSW as a criminal".

"This legislation is not about sending bosses to gaol," says secretary of Unions NSW, John Robertson. "It's about sending a clear signal that unsafe practices will not be tolerated."

Tamworth Campaign "Outrageous"

Workers have also described as "outrageous" a campaign in the NSW regional town of Tamworth against the legislation.

"This is the home town of Mr and Mrs McGoldrick, whose son Dean was killed at work," said the CFMEU's Andrew Ferguson. "Dean's employer was fined a measly $20,000, and has payed only $1,800 of that fine.

"It's outrageous."

Employer groups and business owners rallied in Gunnedah and Tamworth over the draft changes.

Read Andreia Viegas' full story at: http://workers.labor.net.au/features/200503/b_tradeunion_daddy.html

© 2002 UNIONSAFE
This site is sponsored by the Workcover Authority of NSW for Labor Council of NSW

Site designed and engineered by Social Change Online [credits]
This page: http://unionsafe.net.au/news/1110408395664.html
Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:33 EST