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Unions defend Age jobs
MELBOURNE — The sacking of 86 printers and maintenance workers at the Age's Spencer Street plant has been stalled by a combination of industrial pressure and legal defence.
In an industrial relations commission hearing on March 9, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and Electrical Trades Union sought to have the threatened sackings classed as unlawful industrial action. The Age was ordered not to sack the workers for the remainder of the agreement, which ends in 2005. The company is appealing the decision.
The Age had declared on February 3 that it would sack the workers on March 12, despite the industrial agreement between unions and the company stating that there would be no forced redundancies.
The AMWU responded with snap strikes on February 6 and February 20 at both Spencer St and the new Tullamarine plant, severely disrupting the Saturday editions of the newspaper. This reportedly cost the Age $8 million.
The dispute continues, as the February 20 strike is likely to have contravened an earlier industrial relations commission order. The Age is seeking damages of $3 million.
Stuart Martin
CFMEU wins right of entry
PERTH — The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has won two important fights to represent its members on work sites.
On March 15, the WA Industrial Relations Commission ruled in favour of CFMEU organisers' right of entry onto the $650 million Burrup Fertilisers ammonia plant, located near Karratha in the state's north west.
The victory followed the escalation of a dispute at the site in January this year, when the company refused to allow CFMEU organisers to talk to 80 construction workers.
The decision has broken the impasse that in effect saw the union locked out of the region since the late 1990s.
In the same week, notorious anti-union builder Gerry Hannsen was found guilty in the industrial court of hindering and obstructing CFMEU organisers' right of entry onto one of his Perth building sites.
Russell Pickering
Rail union faces charges
On March 4, the WA Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) announced investigations into allegations that the Rail, Tram and Bus Union failed to comply with return to work orders in February.
The orders were issued after the RTBU called a February 13 snap strike. Around 20 of the striking drivers failed to return to work until the following Monday. According to the union this was due to a communication breakdown.
The WAIRC initially indicated that it would not pursue proceedings against the RTBU. However, it has come under pressure from the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the West Australian newspaper.
As a small union in WA, the RTBU may be seen as an easy target to make an example of. If the charges are upheld the RTBU faces maximum penalties of a $2000 fine or de-registration.
Chris Latham
Fighting health privatisation
NEWCASTLE — The campaign to save Newcastle's Mater Misericordiae Hospital from privatisation has won its first, partial victory. NSW Premier Bob Carr announced on March 15 that the jobs of 300 health workers at the Mater would be guaranteed under a controversial plan to redevelop the Hospital under a public-private partnership.
While acknowledging the victory, Newcastle Trades Hall Secretary, Gary Kennedy, told the Newcastle Herald on March 16 that unionists and community activists would continue their campaign to stop the redevelopment and keep the hospital in public hands.
Simon Jones
From Green Left Weekly, March 24, 2004.
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