On June 10, 50 Carlton and United Breweries workers were told, without prior notice, that they were terminated. The workers were then “invited” to reapply for their jobs with a company called Catalyst Recruitment, which is in the Programmed/Skilled Group.
The invitation to apply for a job came with no guarantees; would be on individual contracts; would be covered by a non-union EBA; and offered worse conditions with a 65% pay cut.
CUB knew the workers would fight, so it engaged a company called 5 Star Electrical Services to provide replacement workers, at rates that severely undercut those of the sacked workers.
The 50 workers are holding firm and there is a community picket at the brewery.
CUB is a multinational beer conglomerate that made $4.4 billion in operating profit in 2015 and whose CEO, Alan Clark, is estimated to receive $62 million in earnings this year.
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