By Rose McCann
SYDNEY — Late on the afternoon of May 8, clerks employed by the Building Workers Industrial Union (BWIU) and the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association (FEDFA) learned they had won their strike. The 36 clerks had been picketing for six weeks over the principle of workplace seniority in redundancy and in protest against the victimisation of two workers, including an FCU delegate.
Two weeks ago, the clerks and the NSW leaders of the BWIU-FEDFA agreed to a proposal for independent arbitration put forward by federal officials Stan Sharkey and Jack Cambourn. Both sides accepted an arbitration panel consisting of NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Easson, Paula Sharkey and painters and decorators union official Alf Rankin.
While the FCU members did not win payment for the time they were on strike (a demand they were forced to drop as a precondition for the panel meeting), they did win voluntary redundancy, seniority in redundancy, pro-rata conditions for part-time workers and the reinstatement of retrenched workers, including FCU delegate Judy Whitehead.
The BWIU-FEDFA management refused to allow the panel to rule on the issue of the sacking seven weeks ago of a young BWIU office worker for receiving a week's pay in advance — a common practice known as a "sub" in the building industry.
This issue will now go before the NSW industrial commission. The FCU members are demanding that the young man be reinstated with full back pay, and have voted to levy themselves to make up his wage until he receives compensation. A victory party will be held on May 15 to which all supporters of the FCU strike are invited. For details and venue, phone Ian Fraser on 560 5115.