About Mark Allen

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.

Anthony Benbow

Our flagship

There is a monument dedicated to him in Solidarity Park, opposite the WA state parliament After his death The CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union) set up The Mark Allen Trust, to which the ACTU contributed $50,000 to kick it off. To raise funds for the Trust, a raffle was held with first prize being a 3.75 meter aluminium Quintrex "Dart" with 15 HP mercury Outboard, Trailer and a lot of fishing gear. I bought a ticket at the 1998 May Day Rally on the Fremantle Esplanade, saying, as I paid $5 for it, "The last thing I need is a boat." So of course when it was drawn that afternoon we won it.

I was going to sell it, but was talked out of it by work mates, relatives, etc, who pointed out that, with retirement looming we would use it. How right they were. Now we know why we won it! It is now The Flag Ship of the Peace Fleet, and proudly carries the name of a working class martyr, Mark Allen on its bow. We asked Mark's father for permision to name the boat, and he was very pleased, on behalf of all of the family, to give it.

Mike Ellis