APPM delivers ultimatum to workers

By Dave Wright

HOBART -- An APPM internal company memo from their Tasmanian paper manager Ken Henderson described the Burnie mills performance in September as a “disaster”.

In it he says “we simply can not afford to have a series of stuff ups such as we did during last month”. A stark insight into poor management performance!

Importantly, this revelation comes hot on the heels of Henderson's announcement to workers on November 13 that paper production would halt over the Christmas/New Year period, for 20 days.

APPM at the same time told workers that they would have to accept a 38-hour week instead of the current 35-hour week, and a four-person shift roster, instead of the present five-person roster, from January 4.

An alternative proposal was put to workers by the single bargaining unit, which copmprises the six on-site unions. It recommended accepting the 38 hour week as a trade-off for keeping the five person shift roster, and an 8 per cent pay increase over two years.

350 workers from the Burnie mill voted for this proposal at a mass meeting on November 17.

It would seem that APPM is highly unlikely to give a positive response tothe proposal. Shayne Murphy from the CFMEU said after the meeting with management on Novemebr 19, “On the basisi of their questions and statements during the meeting, it was a fruitless exercise”.

If the company does not accept this compromise position and tries to go ahead with the changes, it is likely that strke action could result.

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page