Mark Allen

Mark Allen

By Anthony Benbow

Mark Allen, a fiery young organiser with the building division of the WA Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, was killed on the job on September 6.

Mark's death was the direct result of massive safety breaches by a company doing demolition work in East Perth.

Mark and another organiser from the union visited the site to inspect reported unsafe conditions. They found things so bad that they immediately called a stop-work meeting of all workers on site to inform them of the danger.

After the meeting, the employer ordered some of the workers back onto the roof, despite the dangerous conditions. Mark went on to the roof to recall the workers, fell through and was killed. He was 23 years old.

We extend our sympathy to Mark's family, friends and comrades. Stoppages are planned on WA construction sites to pay respect and to fight unsafe working conditions so that a tragedy like this can never happen again.

From GLW issue 246