Peter Vining, the shop steward at Fitzroy Delivery Centre was sacked unfairly on 16/12/05.

He was accused of "telling off" a customer who had parked blocking three other vehicles. Peter did not even talk to the woman. He even had witnesses to back him up. We are alleging that the management have colluded to "get rid of" a strong and effective shop steward.

The CEPU attempted to get a resolution of the matter in the AIRC. Australia Post refused and countered by trying to get s127 orders against the union for taking industrial action. Despite the usual bus load of "high priced" lawyers the Commisssion threw out their application.

The union has now sought an injunction for an urgent reinstatement of Peter in the Federal Court.

A solidarity BBQ is planned for Thursday, December 29th, 2005 at 1.30pm onwards at the CEPU office, 67 Cromwell Street, Collingwood.

THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

For further information ring the union office on 9419 9400.

Labels: Australia Post, Peter Vining

By Meaghan Shaw, The Age, December 20, 2005

FORTY-FIVE migrants fighting to retain their working conditions at a Laverton factory are typical of those who will find it harder to negotiate pay rises under new workplace laws, a union says. Process workers at New Wave Leathers went on strike last Wednesday [Dec 14] after talks with management broke down. read more...

NUW background article.

You can visit the picketline at Raymond Rd, North Laverton, Melways ref:40 B9.

The year a head is set to be a make or break year for the union movement in Australia. If unions are to maintain conditions and credibility amongst workers they will have to fight against employers, “a picket line on every corner” some have predicted.

In order to win our side needs to get serious, we need to be better organized. Union Solidarity is expanding their contact list. Our ambition is to generate a huge pool of activists who can respond to a dispute or community assembly at short notice in their area. We all have talents and abilities that can assist any struggle to victory, united we will win.

The contact list will be secured, personal information will be respected and details will not be passed onto other organizations. The list will not be used to endlessly “update” members with information. We expect supporters of Union Solidarity to keep informed by regularly checking our website. The list will only be mobilized when a serious need arises.

To contact list registration.

Please ensure we can contact you by adding contact@unionsolidarity.org to your favourites list in your email program.

AMWU members at the Colrain Wholesale Warehouse in Derrimut returned to work after successfully forcing their employer to terminate efforts to introduce Australian Workplace Agreements. Management agreed to the union demand to negotiate an EBA in good faith. Further the company will immediately introduce RDOs (Rostered Days Off), commit to preserving the industry award and provide safely footware.

There is an in-principle agreement to negotiate from 18 Jan 2006 around the following:

• Pay rises
• Income Protection
• Redundancy clause
• Career Path
• Mechanism to address prohibitive and unfair dismissals

The return to work settlement is a clear victory for the AWMU and proves that employers hoping to take advantage of Howard’s new IR law can be beaten. Rank and file workers at Colrain won because they remained united and maintained a 24-hour picket, got support from other workers and established links with the local community. 2006 is set to be a make or break year for the Australian union movement lets hope the successful struggle of the Colrain workers is a portent of the future.

Workers online article | Background to dispute

Labels: Colrain, strikes

Over 40 NUW members at New Wave Leather in North Laverton began protected industrial action this morning (December 14) in pursuit of a new Certified Agreement. With the previous Agreement expiring earlier this year, the members commenced protected action after negotiations for a new Agreement broke down. NUW State Secretary Martin Pakula said the company was looking to remove a host of conditions currently provided to workers at the Laverton site.

You can visit the picketline at Raymond Rd, North Laverton, Melways ref:40 B9.

read more...

Members of the AMWU at the Colrain centre in Derrimut, have been on strike since Thursday (8 December), in support of a worker who was stood down without pay for refusing to break a protected union ban in support of an EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement). Many of the 18 AMWU members involved are new to the union and this is their first taste of industrial action. The company, which is receiving a growing reputation for breaking down working conditions, is refusing to negotiate with the union and trying to place workers onto AWA (individual contracts).

Management spent 6 hours in the arbitration commission arguing for a section 127 (suspending the unions bargaining period and making strike action illegal), thankfully the commission rejected the argument.

Maxitrans, the parent company of Colrain, recently announced a record profit casting suspicions that the dispute is driven by an ideological agenda.

On a positive note the workers are standing up to the company and nothing is currently going in or out of the dispatch centre, which is crucial for Maxitrans operations. Supporters are spending time on the picket and Colrain strikers have received strong support form refinery workers at the near by Altona Complex, construction workers from power station under construction have also been visiting the picket. A report back of the dispute was given to the mass delegates meeting at Trades Hall yesterday (Tues 12 December).

Colrain Dispute:
137 Swann Drive, Derrimut (near Laverton)
Melways reference 39, G6.

More Info:
0425 796 167
fergieeiffe@hotmail.com

If you haven't already please add your name the Union Solidarity supporters email list. We may need to mobilise all our supporters at short notice, include your mobile number. Send an email to the address below and put Subscribe in the subject bar.
contact@unionsolidarity.org

Labels: Colrain, strikes

Colrain management who are trying force their workers onto AWA's can't use the argument that their actions are driven by an economic need. A recent Maxitrans ASX announcement put their disgraceful behaviour into context.

"MaxiTRANS delivers another record profit: The Directors of MaxiTRANS Industries Limited, Australia's largest supplier of road transport trailing equipment and solutions, are pleased to announce a further record pre-tax profit of $14,036,000 for the year ended 30 June 2005, a 21% increase on the prior corresponding period ('pcp') of $11,606,000."

Maxitrans owns 70% of Colrain.

Meanwhile workers at Colrain's Derrinut plant are still fighting to reinstate a sacked worker who was taking industrial action in support of an AMWU claim for an EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement).


Colrain Dispute:
137 Swann Drive, Derrinut (near Laverton)
Melways reference 39, G6.

More Info:
0425 796 167
fergieeiffe@hotmail.com

Labels: Colrain, strikes

Striking Colrain workers urgently request support for their dispute after a car drove through the picket line this morning badly injuring one worker. The situation on the picket line is stable at the moment with workers receiving support but workers fear an attempt to break the picket line tonight.

AMWU members have been on strike at the plant since last Thurs (Dec 8) in support of a worker who was stood down without pay. Workers at Colrain have been resisting managements efforts to place them onto AWA's (individual contracts).

Attendance on the picket line is urgently requested from 9 pm tonight, Monday 12 December. Supporters are asked to commit to a 3 hour shift by phoning Dave on 0412 484 094 and leaving a message.

Colrain Dispute:
137 Swann Drive, Derrimut (near Laverton)
Melways reference 39, G6.

More Info:
0425 796 167
fergieeiffe@hotmail.com

Labels: Colrain, Community Assemblies, strikes

Workers at Colrain in will hold a mass meeting at 7am Monday, 12 Dec. The assistant state secretary of the AMWU will report back on the dispute. AMWU members are out on strike supporting a worker who was stood down with pay. Management at the plant have been attempting to put the workers on AWA's (individual contracts) the union has been taking industrial action to force the company to agree to a union Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

The picket line has been receiving strong support from other workers including workers in the power and construction industries. All supporters should attend the meeting tomorrow and show your support.

Colrain Dispute:
137 Swann Drive, Derrimut (near Laverton)
Melways reference 39, G6.

More Info:
0425 796 167
fergieeiffe@hotmail.com

Labels: Colrain, strikes

16 members of the AMWU (Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) are currently on strike at the Colrain distribution centre in Derrimut (near Laverton). The workers walked out after a colleague was stood down for refusing to scab on the unions protected industrial action. Workers at the plant have been resisting management's attempts to introduce individual Australian Workplace Agreements. The union was successful in gaining the right to take protected industrial action in pursuit of a collective Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. In what appears to be a deliberate provocation, management who have been refusing to negotiate with the union, singled out an individual worker and stood them down for refusing to undergo a management directive.

The AMWU has requested support for the picket line. AMWU members look set to face a bleak Christmas in dispute with an intransigent company in what could well be a debut of Howard's new IR laws. Union Solidarity asks all supporters to attend the picket line and to spread the word. Please keep in contact with the website for regular updates about this important dispute.

Colrain Dispute:
137 Swann Drive, Derrimut (near Laverton)
Melways reference 39, G6.

More Info:
0425 796 167
fergieeiffe@hotmail.com

If you haven't already please add your name the Union Solidarity supporters email list. We may need to mobilise all our supporters at short notice, include your mobile number. Send an email to the address below and put Subscribe in the subject bar.
contact@unionsolidarity.org

Labels: Colrain, strikes

About 50 people protested outside the Vice Chancellors office over the sacking of an outspoken left-wing lecturer, Robert Austin.

On Monday 5 December a successful protest was held at the Chancellory Building at RMIT University. The demonstration was organised to protest the result of the university's appeals and dispute hearings so far, hearings in which management have failed to follow their own policies and processes.

The protestors, mostly students, highlighted the connections between Robert Austin's attempted dismissal and the gagging of student organisations through the "Voluntary Student Unionism" legislation. They also compared the attacks on academic staff and generalised silencing of dissent in universities to the Pinochet dictatorship's purge of critical intellectuals.

Defend Robert Austin Website
Background: Bolt Strike Lecturer | Bolting to the Right | GreenLeft Article | Defend our Universities...

Labels: Community Protest, Robert Austin