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Issue No. 246 | 12 November 2004 |
How It Comes To This
Interview: The Reich Stuff Economics: Crime and Punishment Environment: Beyond The Wedge International: The End Of The Lucky Country Safety: Tests Fail Tests Politics: Labo(u)r Day Human Rights: Arabian Lights History: Labour's Titan Review: Foxy Fiasco Poetry: Then I Saw The Light
The Locker Room The Soapbox Parliament
Labor Council of NSW |
News Patricks Attacks Westies
Unions liken his strategy to the infamous '98 waterfront dispute, "minus the dogs and balaclavas". Patrick's Autocare has locked out workers because they refused to accept savage cuts to conditions, including what unions have labelled as "casualisation by stealth". "This isn't about money," says Dave Smith, assistant national secretary of the vehicle division of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU). "It is about principles and maintaining current conditions. "We're talking about people that can be worked in 50 to 60 degree heat. For that they're on about $450 a week and less, processing cars imported from overseas. "A lot of these people need every cent they can get." Patricks are seeking to remove conditions ranging from current redundancy provisions to access to union run OH&S training for safety reps. As well they are seeking the right to stand down workers at the company's whim. Workers at the site have indicated that they are willing to take a principled stand over Patrick's push and are calling for support from the community and fellow trade unionists. "Patricks won't even agree to the continued use of existing consultation clauses, instead rewriting their obligations to consult stating 'the union will not interfere with the running of their business and they are moving forward in the new deregulated industrial environment'," says Smith. "Patricks has stated: 'This was what the '98 dispute was all about, management prerogative'. "They want the sole right to mandate whether or not a person even has access to the disputes procedure. "This is about people having some dignity and respect in the workplace and conditions that meet industry and community standards. "This is the reality of the Howard industrial relations 'reforms'," said Smith. "Workers being stripped of their conditions." The AMWU has asked for workers to support their Ingleburn based members.
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