About: Union Solidarity

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.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Phonetec action set to continue

Ongoing Assembly @ Phonetec Nunawading All day. every day from 8.45am Starts Monday 8/1/07 370 Whitehorse Rd Nunawading. (near crn of Springvale Rd) Optus World shop shut early by protest Community action in support of a union member unfairly dismissed at Phonetec continued today (Fri Jan 5) on three fronts. There was an assembly at the Phonetec repair centre in Nunawading. OptusWorld in Footscray was disrupted for a couple of hours. Finally a planned protest at 4pm in the city shut down one store directed by Gary Chan (Optus World, Elizabeth St) and saw the early closure of another. An ongoing assembly at Nunawading will kick off Monday (Jan 8) and remain until the issue is resolved. All the actions are part of a campaign to reinstate a worker who was sacked unfairly three days before Christmas. The worker went to the union and complained over a number of issues include the non-payment of overtime. Rather than resolve the issues fairly her boss raised spurious claims of poor work performance and sacked her. Protesters in the city were pleasantly surprised when the shop in Elizabeth Street was already shut. The logical decision was made to move to another store directed by Phonetec's manager, 'Yes' Optus in Russell St. After an hour of leafleting that shop also closed early. Next week will see a range of activities kicking off with an ongoing community assembly at Phonetec in Nunawadding. More info: Phonetec Website Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Action against Phonetec set to escalate

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Phonetec dispute at crucial stage

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

More pressure needed on Phonetec

Community Assembly @ Phonetec 8.45am Weds January 3, 2007 370 Whitehorse Rd Nunawading. (near corner of Springvale Rd) A community assembly today [Tue Jan 2 2007] was once again set up outside Phonetec in Nunawading to fight for Maggi Li’s job. Maggi, who has worked for Phonetec for 6-years was sacked just before Christmas. Gary Chan only hours after agreeing to reinstate Maggi on December 22 told CEPU officials that the deal was off. The union tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to negotiate with Chan to reemploy Maggi. Phonetec’s work practices leave a lot to be desired. Only a quarter of the workforce is in the union. Most workers are paid $12 an hour, in fact the basic wage. Many workers come to work early and work unpaid to keep up with quotas. Phonetec employs many workers on dodgy traineeships (some only get paid $10 an hour) that grossly underpay workers. Up to 30 members of the community and members from a range of unions assembled from 8.45am only to meet by an agitated Chan who a hurled union flag, spear like, onto the footpath. Many of Phonetec’s customers decided to go elsewhere and some delivery drivers also supported the assembly. There are a number of Optus dealerships that are in fact connected to Phonetec operating under the name of Masterlink. They are: OptusWorld, 253 Elizabeth St, City. ‘yes’ Optus, 195 Russell St, City OptusWorld, 580 Station St, Box Hill. OptusWorld, Shop 3, 275 Springvale Rd, Springvale. OptusWorld, 183 Barkly St, Footscray. To continue the pressure on Phonetec a community assembly is scheduled for tomorrow [Wednesday Jan 3]. Please show your support by attending the assembly and not doing any business with Phonetec. Stay in contact with website for future actions. Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Friday, December 29, 2006

Phonetec reneges on deal

Community Assembly @ Phonetec 8.45am Tues January 2, 2007 370 Whitehorse Rd Nunawading. (near corner of Springvale Rd) In a disappointing development Garry Chan, manager of Phonetec, has backed out of a deal to reinstate sacked worker Maggi Li. On Friday December 22 Garry Chan agreed to reinstate Maggi and the union (CEPU) agreed to work constructively with Phonetec to resolve issues around training. Chan initially backed down after a community assembly forced him into negotiations with ACTU president Sharon Barrow and the CEPU. It now appears that with the pressure off Phonetec, management feel they have a free hand with their workforce. Some people could come to the conclusion that Phonetec is planning to put all their employees on Australian Workplace Agreements. Getting rid of union members who stand up for their rights would be the first step. Please come and support this assembly, on the 22 Dec [2006] we forced Phonetec to back down, we can do it again. Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Friday, December 22, 2006

Phonetec reinstates sacked worker

A community assembly successfully won a workers job back at today (Fri 22 Dec) at the Phonetec repair centre in Nunawading. Maggi Li who has worked for the company for 6 years was sacked last night. She didn’t even have time to say goodbye to her fellow workers. We believe she was sacked because she resisted a proposed pay cut. The assembly got underway a 9am and was disbanded at around 2pm, after management agreed to reinstate Maggi. ACTU president Sharron Barrow addressed the assembly and together with a CEPU official entered into discussion with Garry Chan manager of PhoneTec. Garry Chan agreed to reinstate Maggi and the union agreed to work constructively with the PhoneTec to resolve issues around training. This is a fantastic development given that Mr Chan had previously boosted that Howard’s new IR law gave him the power to sack any worker without due process. Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Phonetec sacks worker on the eve of Christmas

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Community Assembly to protect conditions at Port Campbell

About one hundred union and community activists, from Portland, Geelong, Warrnambool and Melbourne successfully stopped construction work at the Woodside Gas Plant in Port Campbell yesterday (Wed 13 Dec). The action was in response to a continuing campaign by management and sub-contractors at the plant of reducing working conditions and undermining of union activity. Recent developments has seen workers being obliged to work six to seven days a week on 12 hour shifts, mass sackings of trade union members, intimidation of an Occupation Health and Safety delegate and workers being informed that if they take an agreed industry holiday they will be viewed as “abandoning their employment”. A community assembly covering three gates was established by 5am well before the scheduled starting time. The action took management totally by surprise and there was no organised attempt to break the line. Construction workers listened to speeches and indicated their desire to take the industry holiday break rather than being forced back to work shortly after New Years Day. One worker expressed thanks, the day off gave him a chance to send some quality time with his family and attend his daughter school sports day. Again the community have stood up and taken action to protect decent working conditions. Wednesday’s action was the third community assembly at plant since October 2006. Background: October 20 Assembly | November 10 Assembly Labels: Community Assemblies, Port Campbell

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Port Campbell standing up to IR bully

Union Solidarity turned up to the Port Campbell Woodside Gas Plant construction site on Friday 10 November for another round in the fight against IR consultant Colin Milne. For those of you who aren't up to date with Milne, he is the IR consultant and an anti-unionist responsible for getting rid of, now, well over 150 workers at the construction site in Port Campbell where decent workers are being forced to work 56 hour weeks. A number of different site supervisors tried to harass workers into pushing through the community assembly, but it would seem the workers have had enough of Milne's scare tactics and his ruthless pursuit of good, honest union people because they refused...read more background: Port Campbell community stand up to IR bully Labels: Community Assemblies, Port Campbell

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Community Action Targets Alcoa

Monday, November 06, 2006

100 support Feltex workers

enlarge image Feltex workers were definitely feeling the love on Friday, 3 November, when around 100 hundred people from Union Solidarity and the greater community turned up to a solidarity breakfast held in their support. The workers face loosing all their entitlements now that Feltex have gone into liquidation and Godfrey Hirst has bought the company, for a song, through a shelf company with conveniently limited funds. Evidently, the shelf company cannot afford to pay these workers for the many years (up to 40 years) service they have loyally given Feltex. And, now they expect the workers to sign AWAs that will effectively cut their terms and conditions, including their redundancy package entitlements based on the number of years they have served at their workplace. The AWAs are a condition of continued employment, which may be all very legal under Howard's WorkChoice laws. Just another example of how these laws undermine the rights of Australian workers. The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia are taking the company to the Federal Court to test the legality of requiring employees to sign AWAs in these circumstances. Watch this space. more info: Textile workers suffer AWA carpet burn | TCFUA Labels: Community Assemblies, Feltex

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Community Solidarity Breakfast

Friday, October 27, 2006

Latrobe Valley workers keep pressure on Elliot's

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Port Campbell community stand up to IR bully

All work came to a halt at the Port Campbell Woodside Gas Plant construction site on Friday 20 October 2006, as over 300 members of Union Solidarity and the general local community rallied in a community assembly that stopped all traffic from entering or leaving the site. This action was taken by the community in support of site workers who have been victimized by Colin Milne, an IR consultant and renowned union head kicker, who was hired by the company because the site was behind schedule. Milne's reputation is a cause for concern, as he was the IR consultant on another petro chemical construction site that carried out unsafe work practices, one incident resulting in a number of workers suffering from gas poisoning...read more Labels: Community Assemblies, Port Campbell

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Heinemann Strikers Solidarity Breakfast

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Community Assembly at Toyota Altona

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Community Assembly at Hawker De Havilland

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Amcor workers hold their nerve

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Amcor Workers on Strike Urgent Support Needed

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Save Sunshine Pool

The Save Sunshine Pool Community Committee have just set up a community picket line to stop Brimbank Council demolishing the old outdoor swimming pool. Council started cutting down trees around the pool in preparation for the demolition. The VTHC, CFMEU, AWU and several other unions are respecting picketline established by the local community. The Save Sunshine Pool group is calling on local residents, community groups, unions, schools and local small businesses for support on the picket line. If you can help on the picket line or assist in any other way please phone the Save Sunshine Pool Hotline: 0408 521 913. more info: Save Sunshine Pool Website | Picketline roster hotline 0408 521 913 Labels: Community Assemblies, Sunshine Pool

Monday, June 05, 2006

Political & Industrial Protest at Preston Motors

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Finlay Engineering Workers Back On The Job

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Community assembly to save 3 AMWU members jobs

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Sacked for answering back

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Community Assembly to protest unjust sackings

Friday, January 27, 2006

Action to protect delegates job continues

Picketing action to support CEPU (Communications, Electrical and Postal Union) shop steward Peter Vining continued today at the Fitzroy Delivery Centre. During today’s action the Chairperson and President of the Atherton Gardens Residents Association visited the picket. The Residents Association together with Councilor Steve Jolly and Union Solidarity proposed a B.B.Q with the Australian Post workers at the delivery centre for Wednesday 1st of February at 1pm. Peter Vining was sacked before Christmas for allegedly upsetting a customer. A Board of Reference was convened on 5 January 2006 to review the decision to terminate Mr Vining's employment. The following day the Chairman of the Board of Reference decided that the dismissal was harsh. However Peter was a transfered to a lower level, in Australia Post, a Mail Officer at the Melbourne Parcel Facility (MPF). According to Jennifer Porter, Corporate Lawyer for Australia Post "The CEPU objected to the transfer to MPF and asked the Chairman of the Board to reconvene the Board to reconsider Australia Post’s decision. The Chairman invited the parties to address him on the issue and Australia Post submitted that custom and practice is that a transfer means a transfer to another facility. The Chairman declined the CEPU’s request to reconvene the Board in the knowledge that Mr Vining was to be transferred to another facility." So a delegate gets sacked on verbal evidence that the union has always contested. The union is prevented from taking industrial action due to legal threats and falls back internal mechanisms. Even chairman of the Board of Reference decided that the dismissal was harsh. However based on evidence presented Peter Vining is busted down to lower job in a different workplace. The union is now expected to cop it sweet and not complain. The sacking of militants in Australia Post and the open harassment and legal threats against the CEPU is in violation of international human rights. It's important that all unions oppose and are seen to be opposing this fundamental attack on workers democratic rights. If you are in a position please attend and advertise this event. Solidarity B.B.Q. with Australia Post Workers Australia Post Delivery Centre Cnr. Gore & Argyle Sts, Fitzroy. 1pm Wednesday, Feburary 1. Please keep visiting the website as further solidarity action to reinstate Peter Vining to his former position are in the pipeline. Labels: Australia Post, Community Assemblies, Peter Vining

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Community Assembly to protect Delegates job

A community assembly was held today (Wed 25 Jan) to stop the forcible transfer of union delegate, Peter Vining from the Fitzroy Mail Delivery Centre. Australia Post sacked Peter late last year on trumped up charges. After a campaign by his union Peter got his job back but Australia Post are insisting on transferring him against his will to another centre. The assembly/picket started at 5.30am and ran till 1.30pm. We were successful in disrupting the operation of the Mail Delivery Centre and several staff refused to cross the picket line. At this stage it is unclear whether today’s solidarity action will be enough to protect Peter’s job. Union Solidarity supporters are urged to regularly visit the website for updates and future actions. Background | Australia Post at it again. Labels: Australia Post, Community Assemblies, Peter Vining

Monday, December 12, 2005

Colrain workers urgently need support for picket line.

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