Creatures of the Industry

Ralph Edwards
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A project by the Concrete Gang, recording the history of the building and construction industry in Melbourne since the 1960s, as remembered by those who built this city and helped establish the industrial landscape we work in today.

  1. 1d ago

    'Royal Commission Edition', Episode 1: Intros

    This is not our first rodeo! Buckle up for the Royal Commission Edition of Creatures of the Industry.Warren kicks us off with a who's who in the zoo, a rundown of formalities, questions around legal aid, and what to expect... The 2026 Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria commences public hearings next week, on Monday 9th November. Stick around for updates and commentary on the proceedings over the coming weeks.The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti

  2. 05/09/2025

    Episode 8.2: Terry Riggs (Pt. 2)

    The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of workplace fatalities. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here.  Series 8, Episode 2: Ralph Edwards with Part Two of his conversation with industry stalwart Terry Riggs about his experience as an industry all-rounder. This part of their discussion begins in the 1980s-90s;Terry recalls his varied industry experiences, including getting injured on the job and subsequent break, his current work, and some reflections for younger folk to consider in turbulent times.Part One of this interview was published on Friday 25 April, and Terry's interview featured as part of 3CR's special programming for on May Day 2025, International Workers' Day.

  3. 04/25/2025

    Episode 8.1: Terry Riggs (Pt. 1)

    The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of workplace fatalities. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here.  Series 8, Episode 1: Terry Riggs started his stint in the industry in 1971 as a builders labourer. In the first interview of Series 8, Terry chats with Ralph about his experiences at from Sale & South Gippsland at Barry's beach, and riding his motorbike from Vic to northwest QLD, and WA, and back to South Gippsland. Terry worked for decades in all sorts of jobs across the country, and his thoughts about workplace custom and practice, scaffolding, and TAFE. Part Two of this interview will be published on Friday 9 May, or you can tune in to 3CR at 1pm on Thursday 1 May for an exclusive listen. Find more on our May Day 2025 coverage at 3cr.org.au/mayday2025

  4. 12/20/2024

    Episode 7.10: Ray 'Rowdy' Smith (Pt. 2)

    The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of workplace incidents, and mention of fatalities. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here.  Series 7, Episode 10: Part Two of Ralph's interview with Ray Smith aka Rowdy, who begins this episode looking back at the highlights and lowlights of his time in the industry, with also a discussion of the recent ALP Government's Administration of the CFMEU, moving later to an in-depth discussion of his time in the music industry, getting free tickets for the boys on the tools for a Chisel's 'Ringside' tour, and comparisons of construction vs. music industries. To round out the interview, season 7, and 2024, they circle back to their thoughts on Admin and the overreach of this Labor Government on builders and workers in construction. Listen to Part One of this Interview HERE.

  5. 12/05/2024

    Episode 7.9: Ray 'Rowdy' Smith (Pt. 1)

    The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti  Series 7, Episode 9: Part One of Ralph's interview with Ray Smith aka Rowdy, who talks about his entry into construction with help from a friend from the Concrete Gang, leaving behind his past life in the music industry. He talks about his start on a couple of smaller jobs, significant contaminated sites in Melbourne, then on to the infamous AWU-managed Eastlink Project, where he maintained CFMEU sensibilities amongst the shenanigans. He finally escaped the civil sector, working on schools and becoming a delegate in Cheltenham, Rowdy offers his thoughts on OH&S, big vs small jobs, common dodgy business practices, and the importance of Incolink, plus wising up on superannuation and long service leave benefits.Part Two of this Interview will be published on Friday 20th December.

  6. 11/21/2024

    Episode 7.8: George Paterson (Pt. 2)

    The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all pictures and links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti  In Part Two of his conversation with Ralph Edwards, bricklayer and organiser George Paterson starts in the late '80s, with his work as an organiser in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and the early days of Building Industry Group (BIG) campaigning. He describes his memories of when the brickies' union rejected amalgamation and becoming a full-time organiser with the CFMEU, with comparisons of organising under the Vic Building Industry Agreement (aka the 'Green Book') compared with the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) system.  Later, they circle back to the role of the BIG in recent times, the importance of stewards and cross-union solidarity in post-amalgamation organising, and the future of trade unionism with the current ALP administration. Check out Part One of this conversation, where George describes the landscape of the bricklayers unions VOBS and the VSBTU and the entrenched corruption of subcontractors within them, and more.

  7. 11/08/2024

    Episode 7.7: George Paterson (Pt. 1)

    The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes and access to all pictures and links, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti  In Part 1 of this episode of Creatures of the Industry, Ralph's starts his conversation with bricklayer and organiser George Paterson discussing Creatures in his small hometown in central Scotland that helped lay his own path toward construction and unionism in Australia. They delve into his subby jobs, blues and characters, and his own experiences with the AWU, BLF and other unions after arriving to the country in '73. This episode ends with an in-depth explanation of the various conflicts of interest (the major subbies' "cartel") and ins-and-outs of the brickies' unions at the time before he joined the CFMEU - namely the Victorian Operative Bricklayers Society (VOBS) and later the Victorian State Building Trades Union (VSBTU), with the latter including also plasterers and roof tilers. Stay tuned for Part Two, where George revisits his experiences organising against dodgy builders in the eastern suburbs, and reflects on the events of the '80s til now - to be published on Friday 22nd of November.

  8. 08/09/2024

    Episode 7.6: Nigel Davies (Pt. 2)

    Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of workplace fatalities, and some strong language. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here.  Series 7, Episode 6: Part 2 of Ralph's extended interview with fellow Liverpool fan, and member and official of the CFMEU, Nigel Davies.This one begins in the mid-90s and post recession period, where he recalls the transition from offices to apartments and developments in the Docklands, with increasing demands for labour hire and demo jobs, where networking got him through the sometimes thankless work - both as as a labour-hire steward and later a side steward with ABD and various other companies. Nigel discusses the highs and lows of OH&S, organising, and more through his roles as a country organiser (northwestern Vic), then Assistant National Divisional Secretary, and finally his trips with international affiliate group Building and Wood Workers' International which brought him in contact with workers in Qatar ahead of the World Cup and unionists and workers from the Bangladesh Rana Plaza disaster, yet another true Creature of the Industry.

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A project by the Concrete Gang, recording the history of the building and construction industry in Melbourne since the 1960s, as remembered by those who built this city and helped establish the industrial landscape we work in today.

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