Throughout the strike at Boeing (April 2008) Union Solidarity received messages of support.
If you still wish to express your support for the dispute and the stand the Boeing workers took send a message to boeingdispute@unionsolidarity.org

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Mon, April 28, 2008:
I am a firefighter and union official from NSW.

On behalf of members across the Illawarra region, please know that our
thoughts and support are with you.

We are keeping an eye on the dispute, and will be passing the hat around
soon.

Stay united,

*Darin Sullivan*

Secretary - Illawarra Sub-Branch
State Committee of Management
Fire Brigade Employees' Union

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Sun, April 27, 2008

I'm hearing about your strike from fellow Wobblies. Keep on keepin' on fellow workers.

An injury to one is an injury to all,
Mike B)

http://iamawobbly.multiply.com/
Mike Ballard

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Friday, April 25, 2008 11:58 PM

Our strong solidarity and support for comrades and workers at the boeing
factory in Port Melbourne. Keep stand up for your rights. We shall overcome!

MERICIO AKARA

Activist, Timor Leste,Luta Hamutuk

The Timor Leste Institute for Research, Advocacy and Campaigns (Luta Hamutuk) is a non-governmental organization formed on 20 June 2005 by several Timorese activists, who are committed to carrying out activities and programs related to the National Budget, which can contribute to social and psychological development in Timor Leste.

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Sat, April 26, 2008

Striking Boeing workers at Hawker de Havilland Port Melbourne

Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) would like to express our solidarity with workers at at the Port Melbourne-based Boeing subsidiary Hawker de Havilland who have gone on strike since 9 April.

PSM condemns the anti-worker law than fine workers for participating in industrial actions. PSM urges Kein Rudd's government to abolish such laws which has passed down by the previous right-wing government.

We are looking forward to get more update on your struggles.

In solidarity,
Choo Chon Kai
International Bureau
Socialist Party of Malaysia / Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
visit our website at:
http://parti-sosialis.org/

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Sun, April 27, 2008

Dear Comrades,

Please pass on my greetings of solidarity to the striking Boeing workers. They have my full support in their struggle.

I would like to assist financially and hope that this will be possible via telephone and credit card as I am currently overseas.

In solidraity,
Bea

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Wed, April 30, 2008
Dear Comrades,

At its meeting of 16 April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Central Office Subsection Delegates Committee unanimously decided to send you the following message of support. Please accept our apologies for the delay in sending it.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Central Office Subsection Delegates Committee congratulates the striking AMWU members at Boeing in Fisherman's Bend for your courageous stand in taking industrial action in support of workmates sacked in violation of the EBA. Mutual support is the fundamental principal of the labour movement and it is
encouraging to witness workers who still put this into practice. Your action sets an example for us all.

An injury to one is an injury to all!

In solidarity,
Pierre Sibilant, Secretary

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Below is the array of legal action that Boeing has initiated against their own workforce since the dispute started.

Federal Court Order 14 April 2008 | Covering Letter Federal Court Order 14 April 2008 | 12 April 2008 Larissa Tilley-Smith Letter | Federal Court Order of 11 April 2008 - HdH v AMWU| Federal Court Application | AIRC Order | AIRC Recommendation

Boeing won an injunction in the Federal Court that could make rank and file members of the AMWU liable for company's losses (Boeing claims about $1m a day).

A trial on May 7 (with May 8 and 9 set aside if needed) will hear Boeing's case for damages.

April 17
Boeing promised to drop all legal action but only if workers behaved themselves.

"If employees return to work and stay at work through the life of the current EBA, all legal proceedings, against all working employees, will be dropped." [letter of intent April 17]

However on April 16 Boeing promised to pursue the AMWU and individual rank and file member for damages.

"Today I have asked our lawyers to pursue contempt charges against the AMWU and certain members we believe are responsible for leading you down this reckless and destructive path." [letter April 16]

more on legal situation...

Labels: Boeing, legal

The following article from Workplace Express outlines the legal situation facing the striking Boeing Workers.

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Monday 14th April 2008 7:03 pm EST

The Federal Court will tomorrow conduct a full-day mediation in a bid to end the stoppage at Boeing Commercial Airplanes subsidiary Hawker de Havilland's site in Melbourne, after the company today won an extension of an interlocutory injunction that potentially makes individual workers liable for the company's losses of about $1m a day.

The company initially won a s496 order last Tuesday after some 800 workers at the Fishermens Bend aircraft components manufacturing facility walked off the job on Monday.

The order, against the AMWU and the individual workers eligible for membership of the union, took effect on Wednesday. Workers returned to the job that day, but later went out again.

The company then won an interlocutory order, again against the union and the individual workers, from the Federal Court's Justice Shane Marshall on Friday.

Justice Marshall extended the order today and set the matter down for an expedited trial on May 7 (with May 8 and 9 set aside if needed).

He directed the parties to undergo a full day of mediation tomorrow, before the court's Victorian district registrar, Sia Lagos.

AMWU Victorian branch secretary Steve Dargavel today addressed a mass meeting at Fishermens Bend and informed members of the terms of the orders, but after he left the workers voted by an overwhelming majority to stay out.

Dargavel told Workplace Express that the union had consistently sought dialogue with the company over the dispute, but that Boeing had consistently resisted.

The dispute arose after the company dismissed a cell leader (supervisor) and an employee over alleged irregularities in his recording of employees' timesheets.

Boeing spokesperson Ken Morton today said the company couldn't tolerate dishonesty.

He said the company "reserved its position" on whether to pursue damages against 800 individual workers named in the orders.

Case No. VID210 of 2008

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more info: Boeing Actions Archive | www.unionsolidarity.org

Labels: Boeing, legal