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Issue No. 254 | 04 March 2005 |
That�s Our Team
Interview: Dot.Com Workplace: Dirt Cheap Industrial: Daddy Doesn�t Live With Us Anymore Economics: Who's Afraid of the BCA? International: From the Wreckage Politics: Infrastructure Blues History: Meat and Three Veg Savings: Super Seduction Politics: Popping the 'E-Word' Poetry: To Know Somebody Review: Off the Rails
Rev Kev: Innocent Shall Be Guilty It�s Official - Taskforce "Hopeless" Hollywood For Tropfest Evictees Experts Back Better Childcare Pay
The Soapbox The Locker Room New Matilda Parliament Postcard
Janet�s Job No Victory Royal Finger Lickers Will $20 Restore Carr? Two Ideas
Labor Council of NSW |
News Hollywood For Tropfest Evictees
Security officers marched Atlab employees out of the short film festival, last Sunday, after they tried to alert movie buffs to their wage predicament. "Atlab is a successful business, making millions of dollars a year but it won't even sit down to negotiate with employees," the AMWU's Robyn Fortescue said. "Unfortunately, it is just another example of problems in the Australian film industry. People like Mel Gibson, who trained at NAIDA, understand the difficulties, that's why he has poured a lot of his own money into giving something back." After Tropfest organisers prevented union members distributing their leaflets, they decided to shoot for stars whose work they have processed. They were writing to Kidman, Gibson, Crowe, Reeves and a host of other big names, this week. Atlab is Australia's leading film laboratory and has been associated with hits such as Shine, Looking For Alibrandi, The Matrix, The Thin Red Line, Holy Smoke, Paradise Road, Star Wars, Harvie Krumpet, Getting Square, Peter Pan and Constantine. Its employees also preserve of some of Australia's best known original films, including The Sentimental Bloke and Network. Atlab, which recorded a $7.4 million profit last year, has refused to discuss a new agreement for employees who haven't had a pay rise for more than two years. Workers are employed under the terms of a non-union agreement, drawn up by a Sydney law firm, that doesn't include many standard clauses and makes no provision for wage increases. When the majority of Lane Cove workers voted to join the AMWU, Atlab turned on pizza and catered lunches but ducked behind federal legislation that doesn't require good faith bargaining. Fortescue says if Atlab doesn't "lift its game" filmgoers will suffer. "We want to sit down and negotiate an agreement but if Atlab won't even talk our members will have to escalate their action. They don't want to but, under this system, they don't have many options," Fortescue said. Atlab members struck for a day in January and have imposed bans in support of their claim for a new agreement.
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