About 60 supporters gathered outside Elliot Engineering* on Friday May 11 between 6 am and 12 noon. Delivery trucks were turned away by the peaceful Community Assembly.

* Elliot Engineering is part of a group of companies behind the outrageous lockout of union members in the La trobe Valley

48 workers from Mechanical Engineering Services have been locked out for 34 weeks from the Yallourn Workshop in the Latrobe Valley. According to Gippsland Trades & Labour Council, the company has used Howard’s Treacherous IR laws against these workers and is refusing to negotiate on a new enterprise agreement. [read more]

The peaceful community action was halted at midday when the police intervened on behalf of management to allow a truck to exit the premises. Numbers on the Community Assembly had dwindled by this point, making it difficult to maintain an effective presence.

more info: MEC La trobe Valley lockout | Donation Request Form | http://gippslandtlc.com.au | Report on employer violence at Elliot Engineering

Labels: Community Assemblies, MEC

Community Assembly
6am-2pm Friday
May 11
Elliot Engineering
176 Colchestar Rd Kilsyth

In response to the employer violence on the picket last Friday and in support of the workers in Latrobe Valley who have been locked out for 34 weeks a community assembly will be held outside Elliot Engineering in Kilsyth.

* Elliot Engineering is part of a group of companies behind the outrageous lockout of union members in the La trobe Valley

Union Solidarity will not be intimidated by thuggish behaviour of any employer. Police are in the process of laying charges against Elliot and possible civil laws suits are being considered.

We expect a much larger turn out this Friday and the safety of protesters will be guaranteed. The right to picket and protest by workers outside their employer’s premises is one of the few democratic rights left. It is vital that this right is protected. If this action is not possible either due to anti-union laws or physical violence by the employer then tyranny will reign.

Union Solidarity has been privileged over the past two years to stand shoulder to shoulder with workers on community assemblies. In many cases the picket or protest outside the workplace was the only thing standing in the way of their employers completely destroying hard won conditions.

Along the way those workers brave enough to strike in spite of anti-union laws, to picket regardless of legal threats and to seek wider union and community support actually found themselves on the winning side.

Up until now community assemblies that Union Solidarity have been involved in have mostly been non-violent and well organised. We have cooperated with the police and done our upmost to ensure the safety of everyone involved. For this record to remain intact we need greater numbers on pickets and assemblies.

If you are in a position to please attend the assembly on Friday and pass this message on.

Union Solidarity.

more info: MEC La trobe Valley lockout | Donation Request Form | http://gippslandtlc.com.au | Report on employer violence at Elliot Engineering

Labels: Community Assemblies, MEC