CFMEU demands justice for retired worker
By Tom Flanagan
SYDNEY — Sixty members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union occupied a furniture factory in Milperra, south-west Sydney, on December 1 to demand that 61-year-old Heather Tubby be paid her long-service leave entitlement of $12,774 by her former employer, McCann & Co.
When the protesters entered the factory, police were already present. Responding to chants of "Pay Heather, pay Heather", boss Jim McCann departed to a more secure part of the building.
Tubby worked for McCann & Co for 18 years, until May 1997. When McCann refused to pay Tubby's long-service leave, and the union was unable to resolve the issue by negotiation, it was referred to court.
In January, a summons was served on the company. Four weeks later McCann applied to have the company deregistered, which proceeded in July. The union pursued the matter and on September 14 the chief industrial magistrate ordered the defunct company to pay $12,774 to Tubby. McCann still refuses to pay.