NEWCASTLE — Workers at Forgacs Engineering in Hexham are close to settling an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) after lengthy and heated negotiations. The EBA period began in mid-July after workers forced management to begin negotiations. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union shop steward TOM NIKIC spoke to Green Left Weekly's JANE BECKMANN.
Nikic explained that the company had made it impossible for workers to negotiate. "During the bargaining period, the company repeatedly tried to stall the negotiations and intimidate workers into accepting the company's offer, which was unacceptable to the workers. Twice the management reneged on meetings with workshop delegates. When they reneged a third time, we walked off the job. The company then refused to talk to the AMWU state organiser, and this led to a further stoppage.
"In response to this, the management issued seven-day lockout notices to the work force over what they claimed were 'wildcat strike actions'. At the same time they tried to intimidate me by giving me a written warning of possible sacking and the threat of more to come."
The dispute then went to the Industrial Relations Commission, which directed Forgacs to rescind the lockout notice and bargain in good faith.
Nikic explained, "We then had a further two fruitless weeks of negotiations. Forgacs wasn't going to bargain in good faith. The company refused to negotiate more than 8% over two years, and we refused to accept this. They continued to intimidate us. They refused to allow us radios and began docking people for being three minutes late. They lied to the workers, saying that we, the delegates, had accepted the agreement. The dispute went back to the commission.
"While the dispute was in the commission, the company's attitude took a drastic change and eventually they agreed to the majority of our proposals. I'd say this was because we had made it clear that we were not going to accept Forgacs' offer and we were prepared to fight it out with them, so the commission put pressure on Forgacs to negotiate."
Forgacs was forced to offer an 11% pay rise over two years and an increase in the base rate, and a guarantee of award conditions, including apprentices' conditions, even if the federal industrial relations bill becomes law.
"This proved to the workers that with perseverance, unity and strong leadership there is no reason to be conned into accepting second-rate proposals. The right to strike action is important to these negotiations. If we can't strike, then how can we win?
"The dockyards, a subsidiary of Forgacs, are currently negotiating their EBA and preparing for a fight. Both workplaces are having a hard time now, but what will it be like in two years time, when we negotiate again, if the industrial relations bill is in place?
"The unions should be flat out opposing the bill and any restrictions on workers' ability to defend themselves. What it will do is cut out almost a third of our core conditions. The conditions that have been removed will be up for negotiation in two years, and you can be sure the company will oppose us getting any of them again. That's when we'll really feel the effects. There'll be a lot of workers angry with union leaderships by then."