Sacked workers reinstated after protest

Sacked workers reinstated after protest

SYDNEY — After lively protest actions at Woolworth stores, involving
building workers and other unionists, students, activists and parliamentarians,
around 30 workers sacked by Metro Shopfitting have been offered re-employment.

The terms of the settlement negotiated with the Construction, Forestry,
Mining and Energy Union included the offer of re-employment, reinstatement
of the union's enterprise bargaining agreement and the sacking of the body-hire
agency.

The CFMEU organised the protests after the sacked workers were replaced
by casual workers employed by a body-hire agency on lower rates of pay.
The action included the picketing of Woolworth's George Street store, with
contingents of placard waving protesters walking through the store making
their demands known to shoppers.

CFMEU NSW construction division secretary Andrew Ferguson pointed out
that the victory demonstrates the value of decisive union action. "It
also shows the value of combined worker and student activity, and the union
is very appreciative of all the people who joined our demonstrations",
Ferguson said.

From GLW issue 365