VIC: Political enemy pays tribute

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-1999
VIC: Political enemy pays tribute

Former Victorian Premier JOHN CAIN says NORM GALLAGHER was a stubborn adversary who gave
building workers decent working conditions for the first time.

The former secretary of the notorious Builders Labourers Federation has died in a Melbourne
hospital, aged 67.

Responsible for ruining Mr GALLAGHER's BLF with an act of parliament, Mr CAIN has paid a
mixed tribute to the man he helped destroy.

Mr CAIN says that at the time it seemed a harsh thing for a Labor government to destroy a
union, but he thinks it's now recognised by all unions as the right course.

In 1986, Mr CAIN'S government joined with those of New South Wales and the Commonwealth to
de-register the union, and in 1987 the CAIN government authorised a raid on the BLF's Lygon St
headquarters to seize assets.

Mr CAIN says before GALLAGHER went to work for the union, builders labourers had the worst
working conditions of all. But he says harsh action had to be taken union after the union went
outside the law.

AAP RTV ag/jlw/rg/rp

KEYWORD: GALLAGHER CAIN (MELBOURNE)

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