In early March the multi-national construction giant John Holland sacked 39 Westgate Bridge workers because they refused to take a cut in their wages and conditions below industry standards.
The 39 sacked Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) members were employed last December by Civil Pacific Services, the company sub-contracted by John Holland, under the “West Gate Bridge Project Agreementâ€, which was signed by the respective unions and Civil Pacific Services.
John Holland responded by presenting the employees with an inferior agreement and told them they would be members of the industrially weaker Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) on this particular worksite, thereby attacking their right to freedom of association.
The workers refused to accept the agreement, which led to Civil Pacific Services terminating their employment on March 2.
The sacked workers are demanding –
* their jobs back on wages and conditions that meet the industry
standards appropriate to this type of project
* all their shop stewards and OHS representatives be reinstated
John Holland is taking advantage of the economic crisis, rising unemployment and job insecurity to wipe out hard won rights and conditions of working people.
Already scenes of a vibrant demonstration by union members and their supporters at the bridge every morning and have pledged to continue their demonstrations until a satisfactory settlement is reached with the company.
John Holland’s willingness to enter into negotiations might have been motivated by the fact that the company has been unable to replace the sacked workers with a big enough scab labour force willing to cross the picket line and start work on the project.
John Holland has initiated legal proceedings against three union officials, threatened some of the sacked workers with legal actions and issued court orders against four workers, preventing them from participating in the community protest at the worksite. Its targeting of the four workers smacks of intimidation tactics against union activists.
The company has started to sue the unions for millions of dollars damages for an unlawful dispute. But it is Howard’s law that is wrong as workers deserve to be able to freely withdraw their labour without their union being penalised…and financially destroyed. The new Fair Work Act contains the same ant-strike provisions!
Nevertheless, workers do strike and their struggle receives community support.
If John Holland gets away with slashing Westgate workers’ wages and conditions, union rights and job security this will spread to other workplaces and industries. This is a fight for all working people and communities. United we stand, divided we fall.
These courageous workers deserve wide community support!
The Westgate Bridge is the site of the worst industrial disaster this country has ever seen. A disaster that cost the lives of 35 workers. For John Holland to use our bridge to cut people’s wages and conditions is an insult to the memory of anyone associated with the building of Westgate Bridge and the people of western suburbs communities.
Defend Workers’ Rights Defend Community Living Standards
For further Melbourne information: Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition 0417 456 001
Support Westgate Bridge Workers and Their Families
Community Picnic
Sunday 26 April
12.00 pm onwards
Yarraville Gardens
Cnr. Hyde Street & Somerville Road,
Yarraville, Melway 42, C8
BBQ, Food, Drinks
Speakers include Westgate Bridge Workers, Fr Bob Maguire & others
Music, bands,inc. Chris Wilson & more. Children¹s activities
joe hill
Good on you for educating your readers about this injustice, the organisation of the workers on the site and in society at large is all that prevents wage cuts and poor health & safety.
Together we will win.
keep up the good work & PLAY
later agitator
V
Construction company John Holland has called in the police over fears about the so-called safety of workers entering its Westgate Bridge upgrade construction site.
Most of the workers protesting outside the Melbourne site are former
employees of labour-hire firm Civil Pacific Services (Vic) who were
dismissed after the company agreed to a replace its AWU pay deal with an AMWU/CFMEU agreement (see Related
John Holland refused to authorise the higher pay that would flow to workers under the new agreement, leading to the labour-hire firm leaving the site and the workers losing their jobs.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed police had been called to the site yesterday and this morning, but said they were there to ensure employees were able to enter the site and not to break up the protest or remove protesters.
The protest has been peaceful and there had been no arrests made, she said.
She said police would attend the site if they were called to do so but did not know if they would be there again tomorrow.
The Victorian branch of the CFMEU construction division criticised the use
of police at the protest, with a spokesperson saying they were being used as
a private security force by the company.
“We don’t believe it’s appropriate and the police presence is unwarranted for what a has been a peaceful protest,” the spokesperson said.
She emphasised that the protest was “in the hands of the community” and not being run by the union, which is under court orders not to be involved with the protest