CMG closes the gates

BY TERRICA STRUDWICK

ROCKHAMPTON — On July 29, Consolidated Meat Group decided to close
the Lakes Creek meatworks after a seven-month industrial dispute. The 600
remaining staff, including management, have been laid off.

The dispute started in January, when 1350 employees were locked out
from the plant. After being locked out for nearly five months, the meatworkers
returned to work on April 30, accepting an Industrial Relation Commission
(IRC) ruling that they would be employed under the sub-standard pay and
conditions of the federal meat award.

Not all workers were re-employed. Since then, workers have faced unfair
dismissals and horrendous working conditions, resulting in rolling strikes
and overtime bans.

John Hughes, CMG joint chief executive officer, has admitted that the
meatworks was profitable before the dispute was provoked, confirming unionists
fears that it was designed to impose sweatshop conditions on the workforce.

Les Cooke, Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union secretary at the
Lakes Creek plant, told Green Left Weekly: “CMG forced workers into
submission to regulate the meat industry across the country … so that when
bargaining agreements expire bosses can apply to the IRC and force their
employees to work for lower wages and poorer conditions”.

Cooke is not convinced that the closure isn't just another ploy. “I
wouldn't say its dead and buried”, he said.

Given that CMG recently amalgamated with Theise Brothers, who sell beef
to America, closing the second biggest meatworks in Australia seems an
odd decision. But it is more than 1000 workers who are paying the price.

From Green Left Weekly, August 7, 2002.

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From GLW issue 503