Melbourne garbage workers strike

Tuesday, October 3, 1995 - 10:00

By Dave Mizon

MELBOURNE — Garbage collectors, members of the Australian Services Union employed by Melbourne City Council (MCC), have been on strike here for over a week, due to the compulsory competitive tendering process which forces them to tender for their own jobs. The process is ostensibly aimed at increasing "efficiency". Workers are forced into a contract for a set period of time after which they must again tender for their own jobs.

The strike began after Berkly Challenge, a subsidiary of P&O, was awarded the lucrative eastern Melbourne run. Melbourne council workers were given the largely industrial and commercial western Melbourne run, together with 31 redundancies.

This dispute will be hard fought, given the council and state government's eagerness to use strike breakers. ASU members employed by the MCC are threatening solidarity actions with the striking workers.


From GLW issue 205