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Issue No. 271 | 08 July 2005 |
Polls Apart
Interview: Battle Stations Unions: The Workers, United Politics: The Lost Weekend Industrial: Truth or Dare History: A Class Act Economics: The Numbers Game International: Blonde Ambition Training: The Trade Off Review: Bore of the Worlds Poetry: The Beaters Medley
CFMEU Resists Standover Tactics Cardinal Adds Weight to Concerns
The Soapbox The Locker Room Culture Parliament
Do It Yourself? Goodthink Vale the Eight Hour Day The vision thing Campaign Pushes Right Buttons It�s Time to Punt the PM Bob Each Way Ads Value Travel Allowance? Hits the Mark Reforms not an Erosion
Labor Council of NSW |
News Dad's Choice Goes AWAL
Masterton Homes told carpenter Phil Withington to sign the AWA, which would have slashed his family�s income by more than $7000 a year, or he wouldn�t have a job.
He was one of seven Masterton employees punted after they refused to sign individual contracts, last week, further undermining federal government insistence that its AWAs would be voluntary. Withington tried to meet his bosses with a union representative but was told he was no longer required. "I was surprised that they didn't have the respect to discuss the matter," he said. "I asked if I don't sign what would happen - she [the Masterton representative] said that would be your resignation." When he raised projects he was working on, he was told contractors would do the job. "My work was repairing sub-contractors' work," he said. In the union movement's first "naming and shaming" of a workplace law "abuser", the CFMEU will take Withington's case to prospective Masterton customers outside its Warwick Farm showroom. Union members are picketing, distributing flyers and talking to customers about the treatment of the seven dumped workers. They are calling on the public to back their colleagues and join an email campaign, telling Masterton Homes what they think of its action. The CFMEU's Andrew Ferguson said this was a warning to all employers that if they attacked workers' rights they would be up for a fight. Withington said he had to take a stand on the issue to set an example for his boys. "I tell my kids to always stand up for your rights as my father told me," Withington said. "I said to my wife I have to set an example - I can't go against what I told my boys." Unions NSW secretary John Robertson said it was "nothing but a fraud" that Masterton Homes continued to bill itself as a company devoted to family security. Details on how to contact Masterton Homes are available at http://www.cfmeu-construction-nsw.com.au/.
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