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Issue No. 239 | 24 September 2004 |
Moral Victories
Interview: True Matilda Politics: State of Play Industrial: Capital Dilemmas Unions: Rhodes Scholars National Focus: Rennovating the Lodge International: People Power Economics: A Bit Rich History: Mine Shafts Safety: Sick Of Fighting Organising: Building a Wave Poetry: Anger In The Bush(es) Review: The Battle Of Algiers Culture: The Word On The Street
Mind Game for the Discriminating Cultural Revolution Purges Howard Billions Hidden Behind the Veil Toolbox Gimmick Threatens Awards
The Soapbox Politics Postcard The Locker Room Postcard
I Say I Say I Say II Vote Early, And Often No Surplus Of Generosity
Labor Council of NSW |
News Delta Parties Like It’s 1994
Under the Delta Laboratories Enterprise Agreement, registered in 1994, process workers receive all-in rates of $13 an hour and have to complete more than 50 hours a week to qualify for overtime. The facts came to light after the IRC recommended the reinstatement of a Manpower labour hire employee, Vicki Barnes, who had been accused of advocating union membership during working hours. Barnes had been working permanently at Delta for a year when she was stood down by Manpower after complaints about her union activities. She returned to the job on Tuesday after the company and the NUW agreed to abide by the recommendation of IRC Commissioner McKenna. NUW secretary, Derrick Belan, said her reinstatement was a "clear warning" to employers who use labour to discriminate against workers. "It points up the pitfalls of permanent employment through labour hire," Belan said. "Employers should be wary about trying to use labour hire to try and avoid their responsibilities, including those that might flow from the Secure Employment Test Case. "All Vicki did wrong, in the eyes of the employer, was join the union. "Getting involved in practises like this is why Manpower is regarded as one of the least reputable labour hire employers." Belan said Delta Laboratories had received "smart" legal advice about their employment structure but it was "inherently unfair" and was a key issue to be addressed by the NSW Labor Council's Secure Employment Test Case. The company is able to keep its process workforce on the terms of a 10-year-old non-union agreement because labour hire workers, technically employed by Manpower, do not count towards the 65 percent of the workforce needed to assent to its termination, he said. "The document is criminal. It makes workers pay for their own knives, pens etc and work more than 50 hours a week before they qualify for overtime but, because of the use of labour hire, we can't roll it.," Belan said. "The workers employed under its terms and conditions don't get a say in whether it should be replaced or updated." "Vicki wanted to go back because she is a personal of principle. She knew she had done nothing wrong."
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