Fletcher’s workers strike, march

Date: 15 March 2002

Hundreds of Fletcher's construction workers are marching on the city this morning in protest at the bastardry of their company, recently sold to John Holland's Constructions.

A month ago the CFMEU was given assurances that Holland's would look after its workforce and that the $100 million worth of work Fletchers currently have would keep building workers busy into the future.

Now, through corporate sleight of hand the $100 million worth of work has magically turned into only $16 million worth and Holland's have told the Industrial Commission that they are only prepared to take on Fletchers white collar workers, leaving its blue collar workforce in a cherry picked shell company and facing an uncertain future.

At a fiery mass meeting on the massive Fletchers Global Switch site this morning
workers resolved to march on another Fletchers site, David Jones in the city. Workers there will also strike and picket the job.

CFMEU State Assistant Secretary Brian Parker Secretary says Fletchers workers will do whatever it takes to get some guarantees from their new employers.

"These guys are furious and set for a long battle"

"The Union will back its members 100%. These are decent hardworking Australians. Take the case of building worker Tony Stone. 25 years with the company, his marriage went bust through the long hours; he has ruined both his knees in industrial accidents. He was promised secure employment and now he is on the scrap heap."

For further information

Contact:	Phil Davey
Union:	CFMEU
Phone:	0414 867188

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