Sue Bull, Geelong
Twenty trade unionists and their supporters held a protest on November 4 outside the Aldi Supermarket in Belmont, a residential suburb three kilometres south-east of Geelong, to highlight that Aldi compels all its employees on to Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).
Geelong and Region Trades and Labour Council secretary Tim Gooden told the protesters: "Aldi is one company that gives its employees no choice but to sign onto AWAs. Union officials that have, in the past, entered the workplace to talk with workers have been charged with trespass. This clearly shows that Howard's Work Choices Bill, currently before parliament, is another big lie. There are no choices for workers in this new legislation, just more cuts to pay and conditions for workers and more hardship for their families.
"Under the new legislation it will be an offence to name companies or workers on AWAs. The discussion or publication of the AWA contents will also be an offence, carrying a six-month jail sentence. So much for free speech in the 'lucky country'!"
The protest was well received by local residents; five pages of signatures were collected on a petition in the first 10 minutes. Many shoppers took leaflets for the November 15 rally against the government's industrial relations attacks. Aldi staff came out to collect leaflets, and to thank the protesters.
From Green Left Weekly, November 9, 2005.
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