Shame file

Tristar workers Marty Peek and Tim White

Entitlement guarantees under threat

About 50 workers, including members of the Australian Workers Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, are affected.

The workers' agreement ran out in September and the company has ceased production in Sydney.

The November 30 rally at Tumbalong Park, Sydney heard from Australian Workers Union member Marty Peek who alleged Tristar was trying to set up business in China.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union reports the union is concerned that if the company's IRC case is successful, the company would get to keep millions of dollars in redundancy payments that it owes to workers under their agreement.

AMWU NSW official Martin Schutz said some workers who are owed up to $160,000 could end up with as little as $12,000.

The workers fear that the new industrial relations laws will leave them with no jobs and no entitlements.

Which bank?

The union says the new AWA removes enterprise bargaining agreement/award rights and offers no overtime payments, no shift penalties or loadings, no weekend or public holiday protections or loadings, and no rostered day off. Hours are to be set over seven days and can be changed at any time (without agreement from employee). The bank can determine the duties of work and the location, which can be changed according to "business needs". After 30 years, paid parental leave is not guaranteed.

The Finance Sector Union reports there is no guaranteed pay increase for the five year term of the AWA, and annual leave loading and allowances are gone.

Defences still to be filed in WA case

The workers face fines of up to $28,600 each for allegedly breaching the Workplace Relations Act and taking "unlawful industrial action". CFMEU Industrial Officer Timothy Kucera said 41 defences had been filed, a further 30 were due to be filed by December 22, and the Court granted a further extension of time to file the remaining defences by January 20.

NSW workers 'going backwards'

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said NSW workers experienced the biggest fall in real wages for full time workers of all the states.

"While the economic boom means corporate profits are at an all time high, there is a growing class of people in Australia that are being left behind," said Ms Burrow.

"Our latest research shows that the Howard Government's unfair IR laws are a contributing factor. "Average real wages for full time workers throughout Australia are failing to keep pace with inflation for the first time since the introduction of the GST.

"Recent data also shows that workers in the hospitality and retail industries are being hardest hit.

"Workers in our shops, cafes and bars are bearing the brunt of the new IR laws. They work in sectors of the economy where many employers have moved to take advantage of the new IR laws by cutting penalty rates, overtime payments, public holiday pay and annual leave loading."

"The Government's own workplace agency (the Office of the Employment Advocate) has admitted that two thirds (63 per cent) of new AWA individual contracts registered under the IR laws scrap penalty rates, a third cut overtime pay, half get rid of shift allowances and another third do away with public holiday payments," Ms Burrow said.

Ms Burrow's warned the current Australian growth phase would not last forever.

"If there is an economic downturn many people will start to feel the effects. Real wages could go down further, people could lose their jobs and Australians who are mortgaged to the hilt could lose their homes and many may be forced to turn to charities for help," she said.

"The Howard Government's IR policy means that in a downturn low paid workers will be hung out to dry when they most need protection and support," Ms Burrow said.

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Last Modified: 07 Dec 2006