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Issue No. 306 | 12 May 2006 |
Good Times
Interview: Out of the Bedroom Industrial: Cloak and Dagger Unions: Lockout! Legal: The Fantasy of Choice Politics: Labor Pains Economics: Economics and the Public Purpose Corporate: House of Horrors History: Clash Of Cultures International: Childs Play Culture: Folk You Mate! Review: Last Holeproof Hero
Workplace Cop Shrugs Shoulders Gerry Built Apartments Fall Behind Killer Bosses Swoop on Croweaters US: Thousands Fired For Joining Unions
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
Budget Dividend The Real Truth About Independent Contractors
Labor Council of NSW |
News Ballarat Suffers Maxi-Rort
Ballarat-based manufacturer, Maxi-TRANS, punted 13 locals a fortnight ago, and another 22 last week. AMWU state secretary, Dave Oliver, said federal government policy was directly responsible for the job losses. "The federal government is fuelling the skills crisis and costing our young people opportunities, so it can drive down wages," Oliver said. "These local people had been employed as casuals, for years, but not offered the training they needed to become skilled welders. "Instead, MaxiTRANS has used government's scandalous policy to import and keep Chinese welders who only have to be paid the minimum wage." MaxiTRANS, which builds semi-trailers, announced a $14 million profit, last year, under the headline: "MaxiTRANS Delivers Another Record Profit.' The figure is nearly double that it recorded for the 1994 financial year. During that period, it has been mired in controversy over its use of cheap overseas labour at the expense of Victorian youngsters. Its strategy was unmasked, last year, when it brushed nine locals who had been promised starts through a group training company in favour of imported tradesmen it could put on individual agreements that undercut negotiated rates. One youngster, Chirs Walters, confirmed his promised steel fabrication apprenticeship had been shelved. He called the MaxiTRANS about-face a "kick in the guts".
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