Davids workers stop the trucks
By James Vassilopoulos and Gail Lord
SYDNEY — July 3 was a great day for the National Union of Workers members in a four-week long dispute with Davids.
On that day, 800 picketers, other unionists and community supporters linked arms to stop all trucks and scab labour from entering the Blacktown work site. Previously, trucks had driven in and out to retail supermarkets escorted by the police.
The union is trying to stop Davids from being able to hire an unlimited number of casual workers, introducing a system of two warnings and then the sack, and increasing the working week from 36 to 38 hours.
By 7.30am on July 3 there were 200 NUW members and supporters on the picket line. Fifty NUW members from Franklins' warehouse at Ingleburn marched to the picket line — Franklins has delayed negotiations on an enterprise agreement pending the outcome of the Davids dispute.
Soon after, the picket line was swelled by a 200-strong contingent from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, chanting "NUW, here to stay too".
An hour later, 200 Maritime Union of Australia members from Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle arrived. The MUA donated over $7000 to the picketers.
This support greatly increased the morale of the picketers who have been without wages for the four weeks.
A rally heard speakers, and Frank Belan, NSW secretary of the NUW, thanked the supporters. Belan has been charged for breaking a court injunction forbidding him to block trucks.
Paul Gibson, NSW MP for Londonderry, said he had rung Premier Bob Carr every day since the dispute began, but Carr has not returned his calls. One NUW picketer told Green Left Weekly, "This dispute could be over and we could win if the NSW Labor government called off the police".
A retired miner from Wollongong was applauded loudly when he said: "Do not ever give up the conditions you've got. We fought for them 60 years ago and we won them by sacrificing our lives."
At 12.30pm the police handed a summons to one picketer, who was then taken to a paddy wagon. The wagon was immediately surrounded by workers and after a tense stand-off the detained worker was released. Already, 250 people have been arrested on the picket line.
The next day, a 30-strong picket line was still intact and no trucks or buses of scab workers had attempted to cross it.
It is reported that the Retail Traders Association is bankrolling Davids in this dispute in order to achieve a win which can be extended to the rest of the industry.