ACI workers appeal for support
MELBOURNE — Workers at the ACI glass mould manufacturing plant in Box Hill have been locked out for four months. Below are extracts from an appeal issued by the workers, who are members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU).
Workers and their families from ACI Mould Manufacturing, Box Hill, need help to stamp out the injustice happening in their work place.
Locked out before Christmas even though the courts deemed this action illegal. Reinstated for 10 hours just to be locked out again ... Each month, ACI reissue a new lockout notice. Workers are now locked out until May 27.
The AMWU members put a claim in for a new enterprise agreement in 1999, asking for a pay rise while retaining their conditions under the current award. The company insisted on pushing changes to the agreement that included the freedom to order workers to perform tasks regardless of their classification with no extra wages.
ACI wants to cut costs and increase the workload on those who remain. Workers would have to look after a number of machines and have a range of tasks.
The workers are not against multi-skilling but would like to ensure that this excessive workload not jeopardise health and safety as well as conditions. One would expect to be paid for the increased responsibility.
ACI has been issuing workers with common law orders in an attempt to get workers to do jobs other than their normal duties. This is an attempt to bypass the present award and enterprise agreement. The proposed agreement would leave workers as de facto casuals. Workers could be sent home without pay if they were not required.
ACI has been deliberately provocative, ordering workers to change shifts in breach of their agreement ... ACI wants the right to demand that workers change shifts irrespective of the trauma it causes to the workers and their families ... The company says they will sack any individual who does not comply.
ACI management are going to reduce the number of employees over the coming year and the workers feel that without this clause [preventing forced shift changes] ACI will use the shift changes as a tool to apply pressure to individuals.
Management has refused to pay insurance on workers superannuation. Workers are no longer covered for death benefits under the superannuation policy. Yet the contributions made to the company superannuation policy still bring rewards to the company, while some of the contributors themselves are no longer covered.
The majority of workers are unable to receive unemployment benefits, even though their employer denies them the right to work.
In recent months ACI workers have had some generous support in the way of food and money, from fellow union members, charities and the general public. The workers have set up a picket line that runs 24 hours a day. They have also set up a car wash on site to help with much needed funds. Many workers are now facing financial hardship. We hope you can assist us in carrying on the fight.
Feel free to drop by the site at 38 Lexton Road, Box Hill — you will be most welcome.
Donations can also be sent to the AMWU office, 440 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne (make cheques payable to the AMWU/ACI picket).