Some 320 members of the AMWU and the Australian Workers’ Union are fighting for a union agreement at Rheems that will protect their working conditions and entitlements, including pension and redundancy payments in case of layoffs, as well as provide a wage increase.

Over the past month the workers have been taking rolling industrial action to support their claim. The company has refused to negotiate on the issue of entitlements and has locked out the workers each time they have had a stop-work meeting. The unionists responded to these strong-arm tactics by setting up picket lines and turning away trucks delivering parts.

During the last four years the company has “restructured” while markedly increasing production. Workers who have left the plant have not been replaced. Overtime has been cut, which means a take pay cut for most of the workers there. “Train fares have gone up, medical costs have gone up, and supermarket prices too. We need a decent wage increase,” Addo said.

The workers are also pressing for improved long service leave and provisions for maternity and paternity leave. But the main sticking point with the company is its refusal to guarantee workers’ entitlements.

Addo said they were aware of what workers at companies such as HIH, Ansett, and Metroshelf faced. These companies collapsed and workers lost everything. “The company says ‘trust the boss’ but we want our entitlements guaranteed,” he said.  
 
 
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