Workers locked out

BY SAM WAINWRIGHT

SYDNEY — Seventy-five workers employed by Nonferral Pty Ltd in Wetherill Park have been locked out for two weeks after refusing to work in unsafe conditions. The workers were concerned about the dangers of transporting molten metal with forklift trucks across the factory's pot-holed floor.

The workers, members of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), took action after management told them that they would have to wait 18 months before equipment would be upgraded.

Nonferral is a division of Tristar Steering and Suspension. When Tristar bought Nonferral last year it acquired the machinery and workers but not the actual company. There are fears that the workers may be sacked and lose their original redundancy entitlements.

The AWU is asking the Industrial Relations Commission to declare the lockout illegal.

From Green Left Weekly, July 10, 2002.

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From GLW issue 499