BY GRAHAM WILLIAMS
GEELONG — The strike and picket by maintenance workers at the Godfrey Hirst carpet factory in South Geelong, which began on August 18, is continuing. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members want better pay and conditions. The company has worsened the dispute by attempting to sell the maintenance section of Godfrey Hirst to labour hire company Skilled Engineering.
The ETU steward Robert Green told Green Left Weekly that the sale will mean that workers will have no job security. "Skilled Engineering will only have a three-year contract and when this expires there'll be performance assessment and cost comparisons of how they've shaped up. If there is another contractor out there who can do the job cheaper, then they'll get the contract. So there'll be more and more pressure on workers with Skilled Engineering to work for less money."
Electrician Justin Langenberg compared the tactics being utilised by Godfrey Hirst with those used during the Maritime Union dispute: "The company is attempting to sack and rehire the workers in order to rid the workplace of union solidarity and decent wages and conditions."
Meanwhile, 800 production workers covered by the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union (TCFUA) at Godfrey Hirst are fighting for an enterprise agreement. They went on strike for 24 hours on September 5.
The company has now announced that it will stand down textile workers because of the maintenance workers' picket and TCFUA bans — a classic attempt at dividing and conquering the workers. However, picketers say that their experience on the picket line has shown that workers' solidarity is increasing every day and stand downs will only strengthen their resolve.
Fundraising to support the workers is being undertaken with barbecues, levies on unionists at other work sites and passing the hat around at meetings. More than $6000 has been raised.