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

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

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