AMCOR workers campaign for a new agreement

PERTH — Workers at the AMCOR factory in the suburb of Canningvale protested on August 19 to support their campaign for wage rises and a new enterprise agreement. The plant, which manufactures steel cans, had been assessed as one of the most productive in the world but now faces decline because of management intransigence, workers told Green Left Weekly outside the factory gates.

The workers, members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, have rejected management's latest offer. "The company has offered 5.5% per year, but they want to close down our longstanding performance/incentive scheme and take away other conditions", said one striking worker. "We've always had a union EBA here and that will continue. This bargaining process started back in January and we've had enough", another worker added.

One of the banners displayed outside the factory said, "Feed family, Pay mortgage, Buy fuel, No can do!". The AMCOR workers are considering further action.

From GLW issue 764