ABM Plastics settlement reached

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:00

MELBOURNE — The picket line at the ABM Plastics factory in Braeside ended on April 20. It had run continuously since January 21 in support of the demand for the payment of $2.5 million in entitlements owed to the workers when the company went into receivership.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Jamie Bellerby told Green Left Weekly that an "amicable" settlement had been reached, but said a confidentiality clause prevented him from giving details.

Bellerby praised the determination of the workers, saying, "The guys took on the corporate heavyweights for 13 weeks and kept them at bay".

On April 14, supporters of the ABM workers' struggle established a community protest outside the K&K Plastics factory in Clayton, and succeeded in turning away a truck delivering a new machine intended to do work previously done at ABM Plastics. Despite denials, workers believe that the two companies are linked.

Chris Slee

From Green Left Weekly, April 27, 2005.

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From GLW issue 624