Comments on: Westgate bridge dispute http://chriswhiteonline.org/2009/04/westgate-bridge-dispute/ Blogging from a life-long unionist Mon, 21 May 2012 06:27:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chriswhite http://chriswhiteonline.org/2009/04/westgate-bridge-dispute/comment-page-1/#comment-474 chriswhite Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:40:05 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=1210#comment-474 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 <http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&se lkey=38762> Article) 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 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
lkey=38762> Article)

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

]]> By: viola wilkins http://chriswhiteonline.org/2009/04/westgate-bridge-dispute/comment-page-1/#comment-473 viola wilkins Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:35:58 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=1210#comment-473 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 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

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