By Geoff Spencer

GEELONG -- After four weeks on strike, the morale of workers at EP Robinson, a wool scouring plant here, is still high. According to Shearers and Rural Workers Union (SRWU) Assistant General Secretary, John Morgan, the company's decision on March 21 to sack some of the strikers has only hardened the workers' resolve to win.

The strike began on March 5 with a 24 hour walk-out over management's decision not to recognise the fact that 45 workers were now members of the SRWU and not the Australian Workers Union (AWU). Upon their return to work, two fork lift drivers were sacked and members of the SRWU have been on strike since.

"The SRWU now covers 95% of the workers at EP Robinson", Morgan told Green Left Weekly. "The workers voted two weeks before the strike began to join the SRWU. The AWU was just not meeting their needs. A lot of them have been here 10 to 12 years and they are still permanent casual. The AWU organisers prefer to hold meetings with management rather than their members. The workers here know you never join a union your boss chooses for you."

Solidarity for the wool scourers fight is encouraging. Rope workers at Kinnears who left the AWU last year to join the metalworkers union have been very supportive. "The workers at Black Rock are pledging $20 per week. There is a construction job at Altona where the workers are also helping us out. Solidarity is not dead."

The SRWU is holding a solidarity rally on April 3 at 3pm at the picket line at EP Robinson's, 13 Bridge Street, Newtown. Donations to the strike fund should be sent to the SRWU, PO Box 428, Ballarat 3353.

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