   |
||
| Issue No 87 |  |
10 March 2001 |
|
|
|
NewsNew on the Menu: Home Delivery AWAsBy Andrew Casey
Individual contracts containing a $2000 inducement to leave the union have been sent directly to the wives of paint workers locked out of a Sydney paint factory for the past two weeks.
The actions by the Mirotone Paint Company, has been condemned by the NSW trade union movement as one of the most blatant acts of union-busting on record. Liquor Hospiltality and Miscellaneous Workers Union delegate Ken Phillips told this week's Labor Council of the company's systematic campaign to push workers onto staff contracts after the collective refused to accept a dilution of their 35-hour working week. Phillips says after being given the option of a contract or redundancy in person, the company couriered AWAs to the family home where they were received by their wives while the workers maintained a picket outside the Revesby plant. "With barely enough money left to put food on the table, you can imagine the pressure the workers are now under," Phillips said. But the workers are standing firm, with support of their own union, the broader movement and students from the nearby University of Western Sydney campus. Industry wide Support Builds As an act of solidarity LHMU paint industry workers today voted to put a financial levy on themselves to provide a fighting fund for Mirotone workers who have now been locked out of their workplaces for more than a fortnight. Cheryl Hyde, LHMU Assistant National Secretary, says the decision by paint workers to reach into their own pockets was taken to provide practical support to Mirotone workers in a time of crisis. Hundreds of paint workers attended a rally at the Mirotone factory gates in Marigold St, Revesby, to demonstrate support for the 40 workers seeking to defend the paint industry 35 hour week and 9 day fortnight. Labor Council affiliates will support the workers next week with a special fundraiser Trivia Night at the LHMU (see Activists Diary for more details) Attacking the 35 hour week "Workers in the paint industry view any attack on the hours of work and conditions of employment at Mirotone as an attack on the paint industry as a whole," Cheryl Hyde said. " Our members said that they were not prepared to tolerate and or accept such unwarranted attacks on our working conditions by any paint industry employer. " We know that Mirotone members will extend to us the same kind of solidarity that we are now extending to them in a time of crisis." Solidarity messages welcome Please send messages to Cheryl Hyde, LHMU Assistant National Secretary's e-mail address mailto:[email protected] Earlier stories about this dispute can be found at http://www.lhmu.org.au/union/325.html
|
   Interview: Working WomanCheryl Kernot on women in the workplace, Labor's male culture and where Meg went wrong. Activists: Honouring Our HeroesAnna Stewart changed the lives of Australian working families by helping women achieve balance between the competing demands of work and family. Women: The Future is FemaleJulia Gillard outlines the campaign to increase female representation within the Australian Labor Party. Unions: Sweatshops � Beyond 2001 FairWear convenor Debbie Carstens looks over a unique partnership between churches and unions to end exploitation in the textile industry. Politics: The Battle for BennelongMany trade unionists are working to kick John Howard out of office. But only one woman has a chance of kicking him out of his own seat. Meet Nicole Campbell. International: Border SkirmishesAlana Kerr travelled to Thailand to observe first hand the battle to organise Burmese women workers in exile. History: Inside the Ladies LoungeThe McDonald sisters run Trades Hall, and have for over half a century. The building can�t speak about what has gone on in that time, but Lorna and Elaine probably know it all. Satire: Taliban to Put One Nation LastThe Parliamentary fate of Pauline Hanson�s One Nation party was further obscured today as key fellow right-wing extremists moved to distance themselves from the controversial Queensland politician and the group she founded and leads. Review: Seven Steps to SlavationJenny Macklin details the seven barriers that stand between women and a better working life.
Notice Board View entire latest issue
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
![[ Home ]](/images/nv_home.gif){kind=small} ![[ Notice Board ]](/images/nv_board.gif){kind=small} ![[ Search ]](/images/nv_search.gif){kind=small} ![[ Previous Issues ]](/images/nv_previous.gif){kind=small} ![[ Latest Issue ]](/images/nv_latest.gif){kind=small} |
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/87/news42_mirotone.htmlLast Modified: 15 Nov 2005 [ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ] LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW |
|
![[Workers Online]](/images/logo_small.gif){kind=logo}
![[Social Change Online]](/images/sco_logo.gif){kind=logo}