UNIONISTS AGAINST CORPORATE TYRANNY(UACT)
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Melanie Sjoberg
Australian Workers Union members at Nonferral metal recycling company will
get a 12.5% pay rise over three years.
The 23 day lockout ended on Saturday 23rd September and workers returned to
work immediately.
Workers will receive pay rises every six months and redundancy provisions
will not be altered. The UK owned company had told workers that it wanted
to lock them out for six months after they took legal industrial action
over a pay dispute.
"We showed them that we are not a pushover," said Stephen Brasher, union
delegate. "Once we were locked out, we stuck together and that helped to
get this >victory."
Background story 21 September, 2000
The Nonferral Lockout
Day 21 and still fighting
Workers from Nonferral scrap metal company have now been locked out of
their worksite for 21 days and although spirits remain buoyant, many are
struggling financially.
"Morale is still high, people are frustrated and upset - they want to go
back to work, that is what they are best at," said Percy Pillai, senior
delegate at Nonferral in Keon Park.
The UK-owned company told workers not to come back to work for six >months
at the beginning of September when they took legal industrial >action. But
has now indicated a willingness to negotiate and has made a new >offer of a
productivity based pay rise. The Industrial Relations
Commission >recommended a cooling off period and end to the lockout, but
the company "ignored" the Commission, said Bill Shorten, Australian Workers
Union Victorian Branch Secretary.
"Nonferral decided to use Peter Reith's draconian industrial relations
legislation to intimidate these ordinary working people into signing
inferior contracts," said Bill.
"The independent umpire has spoken and we think the company should listen."
Workers are starting to feel the pinch but will not give in. "There is the
rent and bank loans. You think you're staying on track and then this
happens," said Stephen Brasher, union delegate and furnace loader.
" I went to the Salvation Army this morning - what we don't use, we will
share with the others."
"The lockout is going to put us back six or seven months. Christmas is
going to be a small one this year," Stephen added.
Workers like Philip Lyons and Stefan Karaoules have worked for the company
for decades. "It is hard on me, hard on my wife and the kids - they want me
back at work," said Philip who has clocked up 27 years service. Stefan has
been employed continuously since 1969 and can't understand why the company
is acting against the workers.
"I think they want to teach us a lesson," said Robyn Francis, a union
delegate and weighbridge operator. But workers are not going to be rolled.
"Spirits are high because we believe we are fighting for something
worthwhile and we are standing proud," she said.
Marlene Ritchie, (who is quick to point out she is no relation to the new
owner of the company Royce Ritchie) says she is lucky that her husband is
in work. "I am supposed to be on Long Service Leave this week. They are
meant to pay me, but they haven't."
The Union has distributed money from its fighting fund, and there have been
many donations of money and food. Union members from nearby sites have been
visiting the lockout site frequently to swell the numbers. "We have had
tremendous support from other union members who bring cash and food," said
Percy.
He believes there is a strong bond between Nonferral workers now.
"What this lockout has done is give the people a new collective spirit, new
friendships. And it has made the resolve of the workers a lot, lot more
stronger," he said
--
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