21 February 2008 Blacktown: building workers raise $24,000 for local charity Building workers on the Westfield Blacktown project will tomorrow donate $24,000 to Hills based charity One80TC to assist with its local drug and alcohol rehabilitation services. Members of the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union raised $12,000 through a weekly raffle and barbeque, which is being matched dollar-for-dollar by builder Laing O’Rourke. CFMEU workplace delegate Jim Magee, who organised the fundraiser, said drug and alcohol abuse was a major issue and workers on site wanted to do something to help out. “A lot of the blokes on site know of people who have suffered from drug or alcohol addictions, so we wanted to do our bit to support a local charity that is committed to helping young people escape from their addiction,” he said. “The generosity of all the blokes on site has been amazing, not to mention the builder which has agreed to match the money we have raised.” CFMEU Western Sydney Organiser Mal Tulloch said the union had been working for nearly 30 years to help address drug and alcohol issues. “Drug and alcohol abuse doesn’t just affect the individual and their family, it has also led to many tragic workplace deaths and injuries in the past,” he said. “That is why the CFMEU set up the BTG Drug and Alcohol program, which provides education, counselling, support and rehabilitation for building workers with drug and alcohol problems. “It is also why the union supports other charities and community organisations that are committed to providing help to the many Australians suffering from addiction.”