About: Actions

Union Solidarity aims to build a mass based united front campaign on the ground to defeat the repressive IR laws. Union Solidarity is a wide network of affiliated community and welfare organisations and unions with the single aim of building a broad people’s movement to beat back attacks on workers, unions and communities.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Preston Motors workers need your support

Workers voice their opposition to the tactics of Preston MotorsPreston Motors
1551 Sydney Rd
Campbellfield
[Melways: F7, map 7]

Another successful community assembly took place this morning outside Preston Motors in Campbellfield (Thurs 5 April) as the company still refuses to negotiate with the union in good faith, management have even knocked back an offer by the AIRC (Australian Industrial Relations Commission) to intervene...more

More Support Needed
NUW Workers are entering into their fourth week in dispute over an EBA increase. They desperately require your support after Easter. While the community assemblies have been successful workers on the picket at night have reported being harassed. Bottles were thrown from passing cars and one picketer's car was damaged. We can only speculate whether Preston Motors is or is not behind this violence. A more substantial 24 hours presence will be in place starting from Tuesday 7am, April 10th. We are asking supporters to make themselves available for 2-4 hour shifts on the picket.

Desperate Move
In a desperate move today Preston Motors cut through their own electric fence to move parts via an access road along the Upfield railway line. Eyewitnesses report seeing a convoy exitting the yard swinging onto the narrow and rough unsealed road adjancent the Upfield rail line. Their is no traffic barrier between the track and the railway cutting and one of the trucks nearly tipped over close to the edge of the cutting, this poses a huge safety concern as suburban trains travel in both directions along the single line. Preston Motor's actions could have resulted in either the cancellation of train services or a serious accident. Pictures

Union members in rail were informed and train company Connex reportedly rang Preston Motors warning of legal action if vehicles moved along the road again.

Due to the safety issues involved Workcover are investigating the incident and have issued an order preventing Preston Motors using the route again. The Hume council are also looking into the incident.

Workers can win
Maybe today's action by Preston Motors is a sign that they are close to sitting down and negotiating with the union. One last roll of the dice before accepting the inevitable. Whether the workers can win will depend on how much support they received on the picket next week. Get Involved!

The Preston Motors Group has a range of dealerships throughout Melbourne.
Preston Motors Group Dealerships

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