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 3:
 Ralph interviews Ron Owens, former Builders Labourers Federation Secretary in South Australia, and the last Federal Secretary of the BLF, now 90 years old and living in Port Pirie in South Australia.

 Ron kicks off this episode describing his first job in the industry - a 6-year-long stint (building bridges in the states of SA and NSW) and joining the union (then 30 members strong when he started as one of two organisers) in the 1950s when the work was rugged as he helped fight for fair wages and conditions in a time when the award rate was notoriously low.

 In his time, Ron faced the task of negotiating the amalgamation of the BLF into the CFMEU after the unprecedented attacks on that Union in 1980s, and the sorry state of industry unionism that followed. He helped end the industry civil war that only assisted employers and their political mates.

 Stay tuned for Part Two, which begins in the '80s.

 We extend a special thanks to Ron for persevering through the telecommunications service issues that persisted through the interview and that required 12 separate recordings.