Union rejects Kemalex claims

MELBOURNE — National Union of Workers Victorian secretary Martin Pakula has rejected claims made by Kemalex Plastics on May 23 that it is a small family-owned company that is struggling to survive.

Kemalex employs 200 people in Victoria and South Australia. "This company boasts about increasing its profits by 150% in the past three years; again hardly a company struggling to keep its head above water", said Pakula.

NUW members have been taking protected industrial action since April 27 over unresolved issues in their enterprise bargaining negotiations. The union is opposing the company's proposal that all workers be forced to become independent contractors, and is demanding a fair wage increase and a better redundancy package.

By converting to "independent contractors", the workers would lose entitlements to sick leave, annual leave and long-service leave, as well as shift allowances and penalties.

The NUW initiated negotiations before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, but the company has refused to participate. Kemalex has escalated the dispute by declaring plans to sack 20 employees as soon as the striking workers return to work.

To offer your support, visit the picket line at Kemalex Plastics, corner of Greens Road and Tatterson Road, Dandenong South.

James Vassilopoulos

From Green Left Weekly, June 1, 2005.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 628