The 300 union meat workers employed by beef processor G&K O'Connor in
Pakenham, Melbourne, Australia have now been locked out for nearly eight
months.
The meat workers are members of the Australasian Meat Industries Employees
Union (AMIEU). Despite eight months without any wages, and despite being
denied access to their own long service leave and annual leave, they have
rejected the
individual contracts which they are required to sign in order to be allowed
back to work.
These individual contracts (Australian Workplace Agreements) ensure massive
pay cuts and a serious loss of conditions and industrial rights. Australian
Workplace Agreements (AWAs) have been introduced by the Australian
government in an attempt to keep workers isolated and unable to organise
collectively. AWAs have to be signed by each worker individually, and they
are kept secret.
O'Connor apparently has been able to employ some 30 people on AWAs to
replace some of the locked out union meatworkers. The outcome of the
enormous MUA dispute on the Australian waterfront in 1998 ensured that it is
illegal to sack union workers and replace them with scabs. But it seems to
be legal to simply lock out union workers indefinitely, while scabs are
employed to drive down pay and conditions in the industry.
The AMIEU is continuing to fight for the employment of the locked out
workers. Many unions and workers in Australia and in the Asia Pacific region
have recognised the potential of this new tactic to damage pay rates and
union conditions. The AMIEU has received many messages of solidarity and
donations for the locked out meat workers.
But your solidarity is still required to support the meat workers to win.
Please send donations to:
AMIEU, 62 Lygon Street
Carlton Vic 3053 Australia
Cheques payable to: "Pakenham Relief Fund"
Please send messages of support to:
AMIEU, 62 Lygon Street
Carlton Vic 3053 Australia
Phone: 03 9662 3766
Fax: 03 9662 9549
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
***
Australia Asia Worker Links
PO Box 264 Fitzroy Victoria 3065 Australia
Tel: 03 9419 5045 Fax: 03 9416 2746
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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