GEELONG — Workers at Geelong Windows have just re-won a significant pay increase, despite an attempt by the Australian Workers Union (AWU) to trade-off a previous increase.
Geelong Windows has 18 employees. Nine are members of the AWU, and nine are members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Engineering Union (CFMEU).
After one week's strike action in June, Geelong Windows' management agreed in-principle to a 25% pay increase. Days later, an AWU national organiser went to the company without consulting workers and signed off on a deal which delivered 4.5% less than what was originally negotiated.
Workers, and the CFMEU, discovered the deal when it went to the Industrial Relations Commission for ratification. Outraged, the CFMEU demanded a secret ballot of the workplace, which unanimously rejected the deal.
The CFMEU successful applied to the Industrial Relations Commission for protected action. Management responded by locking out the workers from July 23.
A picket line was set up, which received support from the Electrical Trades Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union metals division and the CFMEU construction division. The workers' spirits were lifted by community acts of solidarity — including gifts of food and fire wood.
By July 26, management agreed to an initial 13.3% pay rise, followed by 3% each year for the next three years. This was slightly better than the previous "in-principle" agreement. This time, the workers made sure the deal was properly signed off before returning to work.
At least some of the AWU members at the workplace are intending to switch to the CFMEU.
" This was the Geelong Windows' workers first ever industrial action and they have done themselves proud", Rick Mayher, the furniture division organiser for the CFMEU, told Green Left Weekly.