Stand against Mirabella’s support for WorkChoices

ACTU media release
Thursday 6 September 2007

Wangaratta community & Bruck workers take stand against Mirabella’s support for WorkChoices

The Wangaratta community is being hard hit by the Federal Govt’s WorkChoices laws which have left around 300 workers at Bruck Textiles without a decent pay rise and some workers now paid below the Federal Government’s minimum Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standards (AFPCS).

The Bruck workers have had no pay rise since 1 December 2004 while the company has refused to negotiate with the union. This means the workers have missed out on the $55 a week pay rise most other low paid workers have received in this time.

The Bruck workers have voted twice to reject sub-standard non-union agreements that would significantly reduce their entitlements and have instead requested the company negotiate with their union, the TCFUA.

But Bruck management is now saying the only way workers will get a pay rise is if they sign AWA job contracts that reduce workers’ rights and entitlements. The company is also making the AWAs a condition of employment for new workers.

The union believes the AWAs even fail John Howard’s fairness test.

Labor’s policy is in stark contrast to the present Howard Govt IR laws that allow employers to refuse to negotiate with a union and give priority to AWA individual contracts. Under Kevin Rudd’s IR proposals the workers at Bruck would gain the right to a union collective agreement in keeping with the request from the majority of workers.

Unions will this week highlight the fact that local Indi MP Sophie Mirabella has voted 23 times in Parliament to support the Howard Government’s unfair WorkChoices IR laws.

Visiting Wangaratta to meet with the Bruck workers, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said: “With many Bruck workers earning only about $15 an hour, the living standards of the families of Bruck workers have gone backwards under the Howard Government’s unfair WorkChoices IR laws.

“The workers have missed out on a pay rise for nearly three years. In this time petrol prices, housing costs, food and other basic living expenses have all gone up substantially.

“John Howard’s WorkChoices laws allows Bruck management to get away with some pay rates below those set by the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standards.

“In contrast, Labor’s IR policy would directly benefit the Bruck workers and ensure their employer sits down at the table and negotiates in good faith to deliver the workers a decent pay rise and good job conditions”

State Secretary of the textile workers’ union, TCFUA, Michele O’Neil said: “Bruck workers have twice voted to reject the company’s sub-standard offer and in favour of a union agreement. Despite what the management have said, there is strong support for the union among Bruck’s workforce.

“It’s about time that Bruck CEO Alan Williamson put aside his prejudices, listened to his workforce and began negotiating in good faith with their union.

“The workers at Bruck are working hard making the material used for uniforms for the Australian Army in Iraq and for the Victoria Police and deserve to be treated with dignity — not in the shabby way the company has treated them under the WorkChoices IR laws,” said Ms O’Neil.

ENDS

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