Industrial Crisis Hits Armaguard

Date: 21 August 2001

Members of the Australian Services Union (ASU) have begun a campaign of rolling protests against Armaguard - the cash transportation arm of Mayne Logistics. This comes hot on the heels of the strike action of TWU members last Friday.

250 ASU members employed in the key cash room areas have begun a campaign in support of winning redundancy recognition from their employer by walking off the job in Armaguard's largest Melbourne Metropolitan branch.

The rolling campaign began today when the major Melbourne Metropolitan site at Altona walk off the job. Other Branches are expected to follow over the next few days.

This campaign has thrown cash transportation to thousands of banks and retail operations into chaos.

ASU President Martin Foley said today:

"Our members at Armaguard are staring redundancy in the face. Because Armaguard have gone back on their word to provide an industry standard redundancy we have no choice but to fight for a fair settlement."

Armaguard is facing massive job losses following the loss of many major contracts in the Bank cash transportation business to the competitor Chubb Security.

"As a result hundreds of workers - many with over 20 years of service - will be thrown onto the scrap heap with nothing." Mr Foley said.

"Working people are not simply pawns to be pushed around the Corporate Australia Chessboard and to be thrown away when not needed any more." Mr Foley said.

"Major employers like Mayne Nickless need to get the message clear - going back on your undertakings to workers is not acceptable."

Mr Foley predicted that if the campaign continues on then cash supplies will quickly begin to dry up.

Other Armaguard Branches are expected to join the campaign of stoppages over the coming days.

For further information

Contact:	David Leydon
Union:	Australian Services Union - Vic MEU Private Sector Branch
Phone:	03 9342 3410
Contact Mobile:	0408 998 849
Fax:	03 9342 3499
Email:	dleydon@meupsvic.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.asuvic.org/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]