Press Release
Workers face the force in Police Minister’s electorate
Tuesday September 06, 2005
Workers at a picket line at Smithfield in Western Sydney have been surprised by the tactics of their employer in a battle for wage parity.
Workers at National Parts in Smithfield are puzzled as to why the company has used local police to disrupt a peaceful picket line.
National Union of Workers NSW Branch Organiser Justin Cody said that National Parts was basically using local police as private security.
“This picket is a protected action under the Workplace Relations Act. Workers here are doing nothing illegal. They are acting within their rights as workers and as citizens,” Cody said.
“All they want is parity of wages in their workplace. All they want is a fair go. Yet what they are getting is intimidation from the company and local police.”
Cody is also concerned for the safety of workers after some incidents at the picket line.
“Last night a group of female workers had to dive for cover after a truck reversed at the picket line. Additionally, we are aware that warehouse equipment has been modified to speed up productivity,” Cody said.
Local police have been given a delivery schedule by National Parts so they can escort each delivery with two police vehicles into the company’s premises.
“This is an outrageous waste of police resources,” Mark Ptolemy, spokesperson for the National Union of Workers NSW Branch, said.
“Yesterday alone the police were down at the picket line half a dozen times, threatening arrests and intimidating workers.”
Derrick Belan, NSW State Secretary of the NUW explained, “It is a peaceful picket, a legal picket, and the workers at National Parts have a right to strive for a better outcome from their employer. With the Industrial Relations changes around the corner many employers are champing at the bit to attack their workers.
“Does Police Minister Carl Scully, the local MP for Smithfield, realise that police resources are being spent to attack workers?” Belan asked.
The NUW members on the picket line refuse to disband until the management of National Parts agrees to negotiate a fair outcome.
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Last modified 2005-09-06 01:04 PM
