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Preston Motors, strike over

The month long dispute at Preston Motors is over. A breakthrought came on April 13 and NUW workers voted to return to work. Lessons learnt Yet again another employer has been forced to negotiate with the relevent union in dispute through community assemblies and wider support. Congratulation to the workers at Preston Motors who stuck together and were successful in achieving a much improved union EBA (Enterprise Bargaing Agreement). more. | NUW statement Labels: Community Assemblies, Preston Motors, strikes

All quiet on the Northern Front

Picket report Wednesday 11 April. Overall a quiet day on the picket, management seems to have given up on trying to move anything through the picket expect for one incident with a confused truck driver. There was also a lack of the usual mouthing off by some of the security staff and sales reps. Signs, perhaps, that management has accepted the picket as a fact. Word came down to the picket that Preston Motors approached the union and were seeking to start negotiating. There is no indication as this stage of how serious Preston Motors are to resolve the issue. Further updates to come… Not much moving at Preston Motors Clear Out Sale, not clearing much out Labels: Community Assemblies, Preston Motors, strikes

Preston Motors workers need your support

Preston 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 Labels: Community Assemblies, Preston Motors

Preston Motor Struggle Continues

Preston Motors 1551 Sydney Rd Campbellfield [Melways: F7, map 7] Another successful community assembly took place on Thurs morning (22 March) with workers from a range of unions attending. The action was mostly free of incident apart from one deliberate attempt to drive a truck through the picket. Luckily no one was injured and the driver after being "politely" asked to move on did so. Over 30 workers working in the spare parts/stores section of Preston Motors began a strike on Tuesday, 13 March, over the company’s continued refusal to negotiate a fair wage increase...more. Further action is being planned to respond to the situation at Preston Motors. Worrying is the legal threats against picketers taking part protected industrial action. The Preston Motors Group has a range of dealerships throughout Melbourne. Preston Motors Group Dealerships more info: NUW- Unionists lend a hand at Preston Motors Labels: Community Protest, Preston Motors

Preston Motors Community Assembly

8-11am 22 March Preston Motors 1551 Sydney Rd [Melways: F7, map 7] Around 70 workers and members of the community assembled this morning (Mon 19 March) at Preston Motors in Campbellfield. The action spread over two hours and two gates stopped deliveries and supplies in support of striking NUW members. Over 30 workers working in the spare parts/stores section of Preston Motors began a strike on Tuesday, 13 March, over the company’s continued refusal to negotiate a fair wage increase. The National Union of Workers (NUW) and its members have been attempting to conclude a new Union Collective Agreement after the previous Agreement expired in September last year. Preston Motors Dandenong & Geelong are also on strike. The picketline is an around-the-clock picket line. Please attend, to show support for these workers. more info: NUW press release | www.nuw.org.au | previous actions at Preston Motors Labels: Community Assemblies, Preston Motors