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Issue No. 251 | 11 February 2005 |
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Polar Shifts
Economics: Super Seduction Interview: Bono and Me Unions: The Eight Hour Day and the Holy Spirit Economics: OEC-Who? Technology: From Widgets to Digits Education: Dumb and Dumber Health: No Place for the Young History: The Work-In That Changed a Nation Review: Dare to Win Poetry: Labor's Dreaming
Politics The Soapbox Postcard The Locker Room Parliament
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News Picketers Chase Millions
Employees of the company were today picketing sites across the state in a bid to have clients stump up $20 million in entitlements. Three Sydney Water sites, in Sydney and Wollongong, were coming in for attention, along with other former Walter jobs. CFMEU members are putting the heat on Walter's former clients, arguing they must make good on moneys owed because they will benefit from the unpaid work. "This is about justice," CFMEU secretary, Andrew Ferguson, said, "making sure the people who did the work get paid for it."
While Sydney Water is holding out of former Walter employees, Workers Online understands that some clients have already come to the party. Other union members are picketing a Villawood machinery yard that houses assets of the company, after it was revealed the German parent will benefit from any sales proceeds. Over 500 employees of Australia's 18th largest building company were sacked today. They are owed over $20 million dollars in entitlements. Building Trade Group secretary, Tony Papa, says administrators estimate workers will receive about 70 cents in the dollar, but even that is not certain. "They have only got $10 million in the pool, and don't forget the administrators are drinking out of that pool too," says Papa. The failed company also owes over a thousand sub-contractors in excess of $200 million. Rigger, Danny Callaghan, who has been with Walter for 19 years, says without the money life will be tough until he can find another job. The father of four has been forced to put off job hunting so he can look after his fianc�e who is recovering from an operation. Callaghan was planning to marry in April and only moved into the dream home he built three weeks before Christmas. He believes the Government should legislate to force companies to keep worker entitlements in trusts similar to those that hold redundancy, superannuation and long service leave. The CFMEU is calling on the Liberal and Labor parties to return all donations received from the company. Over the last four years, Walter Construction Group contributed $143,333 to the Liberal Party and $2200 to the ALP.
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