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Issue No. 296 | 24 February 2006 |
Sad Sacks
Interview: Court's in Session Industrial: Whose Choices? Politics: Peter's Principles Environment: TINA or Greener? History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons International: US Locks out Jose' Bove Education: No AWA - No Job Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man Review: Charlie the Serf
Taskforce Shrugs Bashed Teen Worker �Castle Win Keeps Trains On Track �Revolving Gangplank' at Sydney Ferries NSW Councils Short $21 billion
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
For Whom the Toll Bells Unfinished Business Labor Sells Hydro Stop the Hordes Packer Whacker
Labor Council of NSW |
News Abattoir Blues
About 20 workers at the Packer family-backed Teys Brother's abattoir at Naracoorte refused to sign Australian Workplace Agreements, which stripped workers of the Australia Day holiday, other public holidays and whittled down penalty rates.
The Industrial Relations Commission last week allowed workers back in the gates. SA Meatworker Union Secretary Graham Smith said he understood the guest workers conditions were that of the AWAs and were performing unskilled work. He said they were brought over for skilled tasks such as "slaughtering, boning and slicing", but instead were performing tasks such as packing. Guest worker visas are only allowed for skilled workers and then only when the skills cannot be found in Australia. Smith said there was also doubt on whether they were being paid above $39,000 a year, the minimum rate for guest workers. Also in South Australia, reports have emerged of 200 Chinese guest workers at an T and R Pastoral abattoir in Murray Bridge. "We don't have 200 skilled positions in the place," Smith said. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the situation was further proof the Federal Government's temporary overseas worker program was out of control. "Australians are being denied job opportunities and overseas workers are being exposed to exploitation," Burrow said. The Department of Immigration is investigating the guest workers' visas.
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