Textile workers win right to pattern bargain
BY SUE BULL
GEELONG — One hundred and ten textile workers at Brintons Carpets here became the first in their industry in the region to win an enterprise agreement which allows for subsequent industry-wide bargaining, after a two-week strike finished on June 30.
The workers' enterprise agreement is set to finish on August 31, 2001, the date set by their union, the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, as a common expiration date to allow industry-wide, "pattern" bargaining. Brintons' agreement to the date will put pressure on other textile manufacturers to fall into line.
Robert Klaus, the union steward at Brintons, said the expiration date had been the most important sticking point for the workers and the reason why they were prepared to lose pay.
"We want the right to choose whether we enter an industry agreement or not", he said. "Most textile workers are sick of enterprise bargaining and the manufacturers keeping all the flexibilities on their side."
"We're not asking for major wage increases", he added. "We want to safeguard the industry, not wreck it, but we do want to set up trust funds for workers' entitlements and save our awards and conditions."
Enterprise bargaining negotiations at Brintons originally broke down on March 31. The company wanted a 24-month agreement, which would have ruled out industry-wide negotiations, and told workers that the British parent company was against pattern bargaining. Workers walked off the job on June 20, setting up a 24-hour peaceful assembly at both entrances to the factory.
The support of the Geelong community, according to Klaus, was fantastic. TCFUA members from other factories, the construction and manufacturing unions and Trades Hall all rallied around the workers. Workers had said they were prepared to stay until Christmas, even putting Christmas decorations up, but management caved in after only two weeks.