The Rising Main Issue 30

Issue 30: November 2015
THE RISING MAIN
IN THIS ISSUE
 FROM THE E.O.
 BUSINESS PARTNERS / SANIFLO / WANTED
BOUNTY HUNTER
 GENERAL MEETING PHOTO’S
 MEMBER PROFILE
 ENWARE / HIRE ME
 SARINA RUSSO
 HAMILTON BROKERS / ALAN GIBBS
 MOTIVATING YOUR PEOPLE PART 2
 ICON WATER
 RHEEM
Wood Allen
once quipped,
“Not only is
there no God,
but try finding
a plumber on
Sunday.”
FROM THE E.O.
Thank you to all the members, business partners and guests that
attended our General Meeting at REECE bathroom life recently.
TAMS in conjunction with the Association launched the TAMS
Stormwater Reimbursement Scheme and I would encourage all
members to utilise this scheme. Please contact the office if you would
like any further information.
I would like to take the opportunity of welcoming CONTEMPORARY
PLUMBING PTY LTD to the Association. Ryan Gransden heads
the company and undertakes plumbing works covering maintenance, residential, gas fitting and
commercial work.
Redundancy – As we know, the redundancy provisions in the Modern Award still cause much anxiety
amongst members who employ tradesmen. When debating this issue, there are three main factors
that must be considered.
The Modern Award and its predecessors Awards;
The quantum of the financial burden on members; and
The emotional argument – ‘’payout on resignation’’
The Modern Award has been in place since 2010 and has always included the industry specific
redundancy scheme, which originates from the State Industrial Awards and the daily hire conditions
that are the fundamental tenet of the Award. The ability to give one days’ notice was offset by the
inclusion of the redundancy provisions as an industry specific redundancy scheme. This is obviously
lost on many employers, who never experienced the journeyman type philosophy as it related to
employed plumbers. Also weekly hire is a new modern day concept but is not the fundamental tenet
of the Award. Currently in EBA’s where payment is made for redundancy to an accredited scheme,
these payments are approximately $5,000pa ($100 per week).
For employers to say they cannot afford the Award cost burden raises a lot of issues as to business
acumen and business viability. Remember that before the Commission the Union will argue if one
employer can afford to pay $20,000 into a redundancy fund over 4 years, why should the
complainants be exempted from a payment of approximately $7,900. That is the case the industrial
parties to the Award will have to argue and therefore, it won’t be easy!
The quantum of the financial burden – if you take the Award condition of 8 weeks pay after 4 years,
on the Award base rate plus fares and travel for a plumber $988 per week = $7,904.
$7,904 ÷ 4 years ÷ 52 weeks = $38 per week = $1.00 per hour!
Yes, it is a burden on the employer if no provision has to be paid as a lump sum that you don’t have
in your bank account, but if $1.00 per hour or $38 per week has been set apart, then the burden is
removed on finding a lump sum payment. Again, this is going to be a very hard argument to counter.
The emotional argument – ‘’payout on resignation’’. Totally agree that it is the most difficult and
misguided draconian concept to understand, but it is basically an offset cost against a day’s notice of
termination condition. The later consideration is lost in the emotional argument, but it is the law! The
Commission will want an extremely strong argument to overturn it! The emotional case will just not
stand up.
That doesn’t mean we give up, but we have to understand the legal argument, that is where the case
will be won or lost, not just run with the emotional proposition that has no chance of success.
Removal or in fact changing such a long term Award condition will be a precedent case for the
Commission and should not be taken lightly by the proponents in respect of our understanding of the
task we are taking on.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank Paul Naylor (CEO) from the Master Plumbers Association of NSW for
allowing us to reproduce this article.
SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS
Fancy yourself as a bit of a bounty hunter?
Put your skills into practice and score
yourself some “loot” thanks to Rheem.
In a promotion just announced and
exclusively available to licensed plumbers,
you can claim back either $50 or $100 by
purchasing and installing a participating
Rheem water heater.
What you need to do:


Claim $50 Replace a Rheem: Purchase a participating Rheem water heater and install it.
Claim $100 Replace a non-Rheem: Purchase a participating Rheem water heater and take a
“before” and “after” photo. If you don’t get a chance to take photos, you’ll still pick up $50 cash.
View complete details, including participating water heaters, here.
How to enter:
To make it easy for you to claim your cash, your local Southern
Plumbing store will arrange entry for you. You can even give
them your photos and they’ll sort that out too.
Closing date:
This offer is valid between 1 September and 11 December 2015, so don’t miss out!
GENERAL MEETING
19th November 2015
REECE bathroom life
Members attending REECE
bathroom life
Members attending REECE
bathroom life
Brett Hayhow (Backflow
Assoc) Presentation
CIT Teachers, Steve de Manuel,
John Hunt and Steve Daniels
Tony Gill (ACT Roads) lucky
door prize No. 1
Kevin Kitchen, Sewer
Maintenance Shafts
Jessica drawing the
“Great Escape” prize
Ross Schofield (ACT Roads)
Stormwater Reimbursement
Presentation
Jessica from REECE bathroom life
Mitchell (REECE
bathroom life) Lucky
Door No. 2
MEMBER PROFILE
TOM MARTIN
WATER TIGHT CANBERRA PTY LTD
MY FIRST JOB WAS flipping burgers at Burger King in Sydney.
I COMPLETED MY APPRENTICESHIP WITH Greaney and Sweeney.
I HAVE BEEN RUNNING MY BUSINESS FOR the last five years.
A GREAT DAY AT WORK IS WHEN I get positive feedback about
staff members from customers.
THE BEST THING ABOUT PLUMBING IS taking my dog to work.
MY WORST JOB WAS a broken toilet line under a house that had
been overflowing for six months !!!
I ONCE MET Stu Thompson from Still Here.
I GET ANGRY WHEN builders do their own plumbing.
I REALLY ADMIRE PEOPLE WHO take pride in their work.
I’D LOVE TO LIVE IN A camper van travelling around Australia.
MY GUILTY PLEASURE IS - no guilt here !!!
ONE DAY I WOULD LIKE TO train plumbers in Third World
countries.
I RELAX BY bush walking.
MY FAVOURITE FILM is “The Green Mile”.
MY FAVOUIRITE BOOK is AS3500.
MY FAVOURITE MUSIC GROUP IS Blood Hound Gang (found my
guilty pleasure).
IF I HAD ONE WISH it would be World Peace !!
I AM A MEMBER OF MPA BECAUSE I believe there is a lot of
benefit in an organsiation representing the Plumbers best interests
in Canberra. I like to keep up to date with new products and
industry standards.
ENWARE – INSTALLING
CONFIDENCE
Enware is an Australian owned and operated manufacturer and distributer of commercial and industrial
plumbing and safety products. With over 75 years experience - you will find our extensive range of
products and services throughout Australia and abroad.
We lead the way in delivering specialist products backed by our highly trained service team and
certified ISO quality controls. With three Sydney manufacturing sites producing products on request
we have the capability to offer innovative and practical solutions to all our market channels:

Education
 Commercial Food Premises
 Disability and Aged Care
 Hospital and Health
 Public Amenities
 Safety
 Laboratories
 Security
 Mortuary
We have vast technical knowledge and an experienced Research and Development team
who have the ability to provide genuine innovation whilst striving to constantly have a deeper
insight and understanding of the end user and their needs.
Our experience brings an understanding and familiarity of local and international compliance,
regulations and standards.
Our vison for the future is to be the world’s most trusted brand for insight and design driven solutions
that enhance the safety and performance of the built environment.
Specialties
Specialist Plumbing Solutions Accessible Work & Living Solutions Environmental, Health & Safety
Solutions Stainless Steel Washroom Systems Automatic Meter Reading
LOOKING FOR AN APPRENTICE !!
FOR A COPY OF THEIR RESUME RING
COLLEEN 6112 8630
DALE HASKEW 0401 848 526 New Entrant
JARROD HOLLAND 0478 646 638 New Entrant
JASON JOHNSTON 0420 589 134 New Entrant
LIAM BYRNE 0412 471 756
MIIKA VOUTILAINEN
New Entrant
just completed 2nd Year
JAMES BARRIERA 0400 314 746 New Entrant
* New Entrant – a person who is seeking an apprenticeship and has had
no/very little experience in plumbing.
Your backroom partners!
Your job is to run your business.
Sarina Russo Apprenticeship’s job is to support you with the best
advice, just like your accountant or lawyer but at NO COST.
Expert staff understand your business and skill shortage needs
and can help you build a skilled workforce through the Australian
Apprenticeship system.
Sarina Russo Apprenticeships can maximise your access to
government support and wage subsidies. Meet the costs of
taking on eligible employees. Build the diversity of your
workforce including Indigenous and mature aged workers and
people with disability.
As the employment and training experts Sarina Russo
Apprenticeship are your perfect employment and training
backroom partners.
For any queries for further information call
Sue Black
Industry Consultant, Sarina Russo
Phone: 1300 178 776 / 0439 820 211
Exciting news for Hamilton Brokers Pty Ltd and their clients – effective from the 6th of
July 2015 Hamilton Brokers has become part of the largest privately owned insurance
broker in Australia – PSC Insurance.
Please see the “press statement” noted below:
Hamilton Insurance Brokers based in Dickson ACT, has joined forces with PSC
Insurance Group (PSC) to expand the group’s presence in Canberra.
"We are delighted to add such an established and complimentary business to our
group, further strengthening our presence in the ACT; as the proprietors are well known
to our major shareholders and are respected for their business acumen and
professionalism this has made the transaction relatively straight forward to complete"
said Rohan Stewart - PSC Insurance Brokers Chief Executive Officer.
"For well over forty years commencing in 1974 the team at Hamilton’s has built a
significant portfolio of commercial/SME clients in both general and life insurance across
the region and we look forward to working closely with the team to build on their
successful track record." said Mr Stewart.
Don Nolan Director of Hamilton Insurance Brokers said “The whole process from start
to finish has been conducted in a collaborative and positive manner. We are confident
that all of our clients will benefit from this move and will be able to take advantage of
the additional resources and facilities PSC Insurance Brokers can deliver.”
“The Team at Hamilton’s will transition to PSC’s operation in Fyshwick over the coming
months with the Canberra staff at PSC looking forward to welcoming the Hamilton’s
team on board.” said Pat Miller PSC’s Managing Principal in Canberra.
PSC Insurance Group is an insurance broking and advisory business acting for
corporate, sports, commercial and small to medium enterprise clients with operations in
Australia New Zealand, Hong Kong & the United Kingdom.
Hamilton Brokers has now transitioned to the PSC Insurance office in Unit 2/1 Pirie Street,
Fyshwick ACT 2609. Contact details remain unchanged. P: 6124 1200 E:
[email protected]
VALE ALAN GIBBS
Master Plumbers ACT wishes to inform its members of the sudden passing
of Alan William Gibbs. Alan was part of the Plumbing Inspectorate team for
over 20 years.
Alan’s funeral will be held at the
BELCONNEN CHAPEL
101 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen
Friday 4th December 2015 at 1.30pm
Our sincere condolences go out to Alans family and friends.
Motivating Your People
(Part 2— By Ray Hodge)
Purpose
All of us have been designed to contribute to the world around us and the people who
work for us need to feel that what they are doing daily is of value. Helping employees link
their daily work to purpose is a powerful intrinsic motivator. One persons purpose might
simply be to provide for their family and raise them in a loving environment. The person
who sits beside them might be driven to free children from sex slavery in Cambodia. Taking
the time to understand each of our employees greater purpose, demonstrating interest
and belief in these will go a long way to increasing highly engaged, performing staff. The
other key here is helping your team see the greater reason for your business. You’ve no
doubt come across the story of the Three Bricklayers. When the first one was asked what
he was doing he simply stated the task outlined for him - “I’m laying bricks.” The second
when asked the same question said “I’m putting up a wall.” The final bricklayer declared
proudly “I’m building a cathedral.”
What is your cathedral? What is the greater purpose for your company? If you can unravel
this and then instil it into your companies mission and values, it will help a greater number
of team members jump on board with where you are going. It will also help the wrong
people jump off.
Money As A Motivator
I have had many business owners and managers over the years lamenting the poor
motivation and low performance of their team. The discussion invariably gets around to
creating a bonus structure to lift the motivation of the workforce. My question back to
them is always “what if they are not motivated by money?”
I had a staff member in a previous business that while money was important, an extra long
weekend to be with her family was a higher motivator. I structured her role and
performance criteria around her ability to leave at midday every Friday. She stayed with
me for years. Another account manager who worked from home was the principle carer
for his children. I structured his work around this primary purpose and also gave him
complete autonomy. I took away the need for him to work so many hours per week and
created a results based position. His motivation and performance was greater than if I had
thrown more money at him.
Incentivise everyone with financial rewards and you potentially will miss the mark much of
the time. As Edward L Deci observed: “If a person who is intrinsically motivated to perform
an activity begins to receive external reinforcement for the activity, what will happen to his
intrinsic motivation? Previous studies and the present study indicate that money decreases
intrinsic motivation, while verbal reinforcements tend to enhance intrinsic motivation. ”
Edward L Deci – Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1972, Vol. 22, No. 1, 113-120
There is nothing wrong with financial incentives but if you do head down this path, look at
incentives based on what drives the individual and also rewarding team performance as
opposed to just individual effort.
18 November 2015
Embargoed 19 November, 2015
Icon Water ‘salutes the loo’ on World Toilet Day
Icon Water is commemorating the importance of sanitation and giving a salute to the ‘loo’
on United Nation’s World Toilet Day which is celebrated on 19 November 2015.
The purpose of World Toilet Day is to raise awareness of all people who do not have
access to a toilet, despite the universal human right to water and sanitation.
Icon Water spokeswoman, Angie Drake acknowledged that for many of us living in the
western world, the humble toilet is often underappreciated, and taken for granted.
“Canberrans should spend a minute today thinking of what Canberra would be like without
our vital sewerage network and our humble ‘loo’,” Ms. Drake said.
“Not having these things would change everything for us - so today is the day to appreciate
our toilets and wastewater treatment processes and facilities.”
“According to the United Nations, 2.5 billion people, or one in three of the world’s
population, still do not have access to adequate sanitation which causes immense
consequences for human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and
economic development.”
“Shockingly, around 500,000 children still die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe
water and poor sanitation, which is almost 1,400 children a day.
“Icon Water’s Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Center (LMWQCC) is Canberra’s
primary wastewater treatment facility and the largest inland treatment facility in Australia.”
“Canberra’s sewage is treated to a high standard, and released into the Molonglo River”,
she said. “It then flows into the Murrumbidgee River and drains into the Murray-Darling
Basin river system, ultimately discharging into the ocean south of Adelaide. Water leaving
the LMWQCC has been so thoroughly treated that the wastewater can be put back into the
natural water cycle free of pollution and can be reused by other towns further
downstream.”
Each day LMWQCC:

treats up to treats 80 to 90 million litres of wastewater

recycles an average of 10 million litres of wastewater

removes 4 to 5 million litres of sludge from the process for dewatering and incineration

produces approximately 16 tonnes of Agri-Ash.
Go to Love your loo this #WorldToiletDay to find out more details about how Icon Water are
commemorating World Toilet Day.
[email protected] | @iconwater | iconwater.com.au
Making the REAL difference Rheem launches new electric
products with 10-year
cylinder warranty
Over a year in the making and involving significant research and development: the newlook electric hot water systems from Rheem have been unveiled. These products have
a range of new features which extend their life, and they’re now backed by a 10-year
cylinder warranty – the longest electric water heater warranty on the Australian market.
“They come in 250L, 315L and 400L capacities, and have undergone substantial reengineering and redesign to withstand more than 10 years of operation,” says Ben
Murphy, Rheem’s Group Product Manager – Electric. "Our research shows that warranty
is very important to consumers, and we have focused on creating a warranty that is true
to its word.
“We’re calling this the REAL difference for good reason, as it encapsulates the new and
enhanced features of these products.”
REAL: a snapshot
R – Rheem RELIABILITY
E- Superior ENAMEL
A – Larger ANODE
L – LOCALLY made
In extending the warranted life of the products, Rheem has incorporated a range of new
and enhanced features including:
Redesigned cylinder dome top: This has been re-profiled, resulting in an even
stronger, more robust design.
Large anode: Rheem has introduced larger sacrificial anodes to support the
new electric range of products. The diameter of the standard black anode has been
increased from 21mm to 27mm, providing physically more material to help protect and
prolong the life of the cylinder. Specialty blue anode models have also had their anode
size increase from 17mm to 21mm.
These are located into an anode support, which supports the increased weight of the
larger anode, preventing it from swinging in the tank and potentially causing damage to
the cylinder or anode itself during transport and installation.
Enamel specification: The new range will feature a commercial grade,
proprietary blend Class Y enamel. This special blend enamel is both stronger and more
durable than domestic grade Class X enamels. Less soluble and more resistant to high
temperatures, this enamel coating will last for longer, ultimately prolonging the life of the
water heater.
A number of aesthetic changes have also been made to a range of Rheem electric
water heaters. These include replacing the name band with a Rheem badge and
technical label, delivering a cleaner new appearance.
Embossed pipe-seals have also been introduced. These now nominate fitting types for
the relief valve, inlet and outlet to identify the fitting type more clearly and give a cleaner
appearance by eliminating the need for individual labelling.
The 250L to 400L models also receive enhanced packaging livery, clearly displaying
that the range has a 10-year cylinder warranty, is Australian made and has dual handed
fittings.
For further information please visit rheem.com.au.