Talking union
ADELAIDE — Mitsubishi workers at two plants walked off the job here last week. About 1000 stopped work at the Lonsdale iron foundry in response to management attempts to cut penalty rates and change work patterns. About 200 trim line workers held a stop-work meeting at the Tonsley Park car plant over work conditions. They demanded that more people be employed on lines, or their speed slowed.
- About 2000 workers rallied at the SA Parliament House on March 30 to oppose cuts to WorkCover, the state workers' compensation scheme. Proposals include slashing payments for injured workers to 85% of weekly earnings after three months and 75% after 12 months. More drastic cuts are projected after two years as well as more stringent tests for long-term or stress-related cases. Employer levies for WorkCare are to be cut by more than $20 million from July.
ALBURY — The Aywon clothing plant is to close with the loss of 90 jobs. The company has announced that its Melbourne plant will continue operating.
BROKEN HILL — Mineworkers are fighting Pasminco over victimisation and unfair sackings. United Mineworkers Broken Hill secretary Eddie Butcher says the company is attempting to victimise active unionists, including the local president of the FEDFA. In one case an official roamed among a group of mineworkers tapping those to be sacked on the shoulder.
CANBERRA — A recent meeting of 10 unions decided to proceed with establishment of a provincial Labor Council in Queanbeyan. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the ACT and Goulburn Labor Councils.
- Trouble is brewing in the ACT public transport system following a recent 48-hour strike over threatened cuts to an already poor service. On April 2, ACT minister for urban services Terry Connolly threatened that the service could be privatised unless it became more efficient. The cuts, to save $2 million, will apply from July 1 and affect about 90,000 commuters. The Transport Workers Union says the strike was the only way of drawing them to public attention, because the government was trying to impose them quietly.
NEWCASTLE — The Leamington underground coal mine is to close on July 1 with the loss of 206 jobs. The Exxon-owned mine was expected to close in two years as deposits were exhausted, but the company moved early because of a 7% drop in coal prices.
SYDNEY — Members of the Australian Journalists Association have voted for amalgamation with Actors' Equity and the Theatrical Employees' Association (ATAEA). The vote in NSW was close, with a bare 51% in favour. In Victoria, 75% supported amalgamation, while the yes vote averaged 61% nationally. The AJA federal leadership insisted the amalgamation was necessary under the 1988 federal Industrial Relations Act because the union has less than 10,000 employed members due to the fact that freelancers are not counted as members under the act. NSW secretary Gavin is position after campaigning unsuccessfully against the amalgamation.