Press Release
Preston Motors workers face bleak Easter as Howard’s IR laws bite
Tuesday April 03, 2007
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Victorian Branch Assistant Secretary Esmond Curnow
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While most Melbournians are enjoying the sweet temptations of Easter eggs and hot cross buns, more than 30 Preston Motors (Part Sales) workers in Campbellfield face far more bitter fare, as the realities of John Howard’s WorkChoices legislation bite.
The National Union of Workers members will likely be continuing to protest outside the Sydney Road dealership this long weekend, over the company’s refusal to negotiate a reasonable wage increase.
The workers began their protest on March 13, and since then the company has refused continued requests to re-start negotiations for a new Union Collective Agreement.
Before the action Preston Motors offered workers a $4-a-week pay increase (to be paid in two lump sums), barely enough to cover a loaf of bread and carton of milk.
Even the Australian Industrial Relations Commission stepped in to try to broker a deal and get the employees back to work.
Commissioner Dominica Whelan wrote to both the NUW and Preston Motors management when she became aware of the issue last week, offering to intervene in the in passé and act as a mediator in negotiations.
The NUW members were prepared to consider returning to work, if this AIRC-assisted negotiation had occurred, however, the company refused to budge, telling the workers to accept the meagre offer – with new concessions to compensate the company for the period of the protest – or remain outside with no hope of negotiation or resolution.
NUW Assistant State Secretary Esmond Curnow said this dispute showed just how inflexible the Australian Industrial Relations landscape was under the Howard Government’s IR laws.
“Taking any form of industrial action is always a last resort,” Curnow said, “particularly now with all the legal hurdles workers have to go through just to have the right to fight for their rights.
“But these workers were prepared to do all of that for the recognition they deserved.
“These workers are not well paid; they are regular mums and dads who have mortgages, schools fees and the like. They are battling under the weight of interest rate rises, higher fuel costs, and the rising cost of living.
“A $4-a-week pay increase would not even cover the rise in their basic weekly shopping bill. They are not asking for a lot. They are asking for a mere $20 a week, or at least the chance to have fair and meaningful negotiations with their employer.
“Preston Motors is spending more money on security guards to ‘police’ the protest, than it would have cost to give the workers a fair pay increase.
“And yet despite the AIRC’s offer of assistance, Preston Motors management has arrogantly refused to even consider re-starting negotiations with these members.
“If this is John Howard’s fair and equitable workplace, then I would hate to see an unequal employer/employee relationship. How do these workers have a say? How do these workers fight for their right to a decent wage in John Howard’s new industrial landscape?
“All they ask is to be heard, and we call on Preston Motors to do them the decency to sit down and listen.”
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Last modified 2007-04-04 09:57 AM
