AWU glass workers vote to walk

Date: 11 July 2002

Australian Workers' Union glass workers at Pilkington's Dandenong plant have voted to take industrial action from 6am tomorrow after the company failed to give workers a commitment about their job security.

More than 100 workers voted overwhelming this morning at the Dandenong plant in support of the industrial action following the break down of Enterprise Bargaining Agreement talks. Glassworkers at Pilkington's two Sydney plants, Ingleburn and Alexandria also voted to take industrial action and will walk off the job from Monday morning.

AWU Victorian President Mick Eagles said the Pilkington workforce had almost halved over the past two years and workers were fearful about their job security.

"The workforce has suffered job losses and we are seeking a commitment from the company that there will be no more forced redundancies,'' he said. "We do not want to disrupt other industries, we want to get back to work quickly but we need some assurances that more jobs will not go,'' he said.

The AWU's Melbourne glass organiser Michael Borowick said members were very concerned about their jobs and the company's attitude towards the independent umpire the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

"As well as job security, we are concerned that Pilkington's is not genuinely interested in using the powers of the Commission to resolve industrial disputes,'' he said. "We are seeking a commitment from Pilkington's that it will not marginalise the role of the Commission when disputes arise,'' he said.

Pilkington workers make glass for Australia's major automotive companies and building industry. Their Enterprise Bargaining Agreement expired in June.

For further information

Contact:	Andrea Carson
Union:	Australian Workers Union (National Office)
Phone:	039 3298733
Contact Mobile:	0407 041933
Fax:	03 9329 2871
Email:	awu@iprimus.com.au
WWW:	www.awu.net.au

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