By Jack Weston and Anthony Thirlwall
ADELAIDE — "This is the deal:, agree to our enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) and Mr Muluihill can have his job back", explained Terry Pethebridge, Transfield industrial relations manager, to a meeting of members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
Michael Muluihill, an Aboriginal employee, had earlier been dismissed for abandoning his employment during a time of family crisis. This "offer" was rejected.
Seven workers were sacked by the company on March 28 after further attempts to force through the same package. All those sacked had vocally opposed the deal; they included the shop steward involved in the EBA negotiations since they began last August.
Twenty-three sandblasters and painters contracted to the Australian Submarine Corporation have been on strike since then. The strike has stopped the completion of the first Collins class submarine.
Davey Thomason, state organiser for the CFMEU, told Green Left Weekly that the sackings "follow earlier threats to the workers that if they did not accept the proposed EBA they would all be out of a job".
The rejected EBA would significantly reduce all shift loading and eliminate fares and travel subsidies as well as the allocation of special rates. In return, workers were promised a small increase in wages for day work.
No notice was given to the workers or the union even though the company has since attempted to explain away the sackings as due to a downturn in work.
Other unions on the site have provided important financial and moral support to the strikers and their families. Generous support has also been provided by building site and timberyard workers throughout South Australia. Union members working on Transfield projects interstate have been holding rolling stoppages in solidarity.
In Melbourne, 400 workers at the Williamstown shipyards went on strike on April 28 after Transfield refused to discuss a 4.5% wage claim. They plan to hold out until May 3, when their federal Industrial Relations Commission hearing will be held.
The Adelaide dispute is due to go before the Industrial Relations Commission on May 2. Those sacked hope to be reinstated with no loss of pay.
Those who can offer financial or other support should contact the CFMEU on (08) 231 5532.
[Jack Weston is the sacked shop steward.]