'scab busters' claim victory in Mobil dispute

BY BRONWEN BEECHEY

ADELAIDE — The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has claimed victory after a strike at Mobil's Port Stanvac refinery. The strike was part of a long-running dispute with Mobil over plans to reduce the work force at Port Stanvac from 31 to 12, a move that would have seriously compromised safety standards.

The strike began in April when the AMWU uncovered a plan by Mobil to secretly train contract staff to scab on unionised workers during any strike action.

On May 2, Mobil and the AMWU agreed that nine workers would take voluntary redundancy and four new apprentices would be employed. The deal also provides for a 10.5% pay rise over three years.

AMWU organiser Ian Curry told Green Left Weekly that the union was "very pleased" with the outcome of the dispute. "We were able to minimise job losses, make four apprenticeships available and scuttle Mobil's scab-training scheme, as well as winning a pay rise for the workers and ensuring that a disaster won't occur due to understaffing and reduced safety standards. Not only has Mobil lost this dispute, we understand that the whole exercise cost them in excess of $300,000 dollars."

After voting to accept Mobil's offer and return to work, AMWU members proudly posed for a group photograph under a banner that read: "Who ya gonna call? Scab-busters!"

From GLW issue 448