BY MICHELLE BREAR
SYDNEY — Workers are continuing their actions against swimming costume manufacturer Speedo, which shut the doors of its South Windsor factory on March 2, leaving 65 workers without jobs. Sixty of the workers were women who had been working at the factory for periods of up to 19 years.
Adding insult to injury, the workers were escorted from the factory by security guards at the end of their day's shift.
The company's action was in defiance of the terms of both the Workplace Relations Act and its own enterprise bargaining agreement. The workers' union, the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, took immediate action in the Industrial Relations Court to have the closure postponed and was granted a one-week extension on the original closure date.
However the enterprise bargaining agreement states that employees are entitled to five weeks notice of such a closure, not just two weeks. It also specifies the need for Speedo to inform employees immediately of any decisions about factory operations which will affect the workers.
"Despite having decided some time ago to shut its last factory operating in Australia, and move operations offshore to increase profitability, Speedo failed to consult with factory employees or even inform them of their decision", said the TCFUA's Steve Davies. "We are continuing action in the Industrial Relations Court as this breaches the company's enterprise bargaining agreement."
Speedo hopes the closure of its South Windsor factory will boost its profitability. The company plans to transfer manufacturing to China, a country notorious for the greater ease with which employers can exploit their workers.
Speedo will also try to cut manufacturing costs within Australia by contracting out more work, a method which they already use. Outwork is far cheaper for manufacturers because the conditions and pay of employees are more easily reduced. Five contractors who make Speedo products are currently being prosecuted in the Industrial Relations Court for doing just this.