Drivetrain Systems picket

indonesia / philippines / australia | workplace struggles | news report Thursday February 26, 2009 17:55 by "Los solidarios"

in Albury, Australia

On Friday (20-02-2009) 208 workers were sacked at Drivetrain Systems in Lavington. 130 workers only have jobs for another eight weeks... as management proceeds to strip the factory of an estimated $17 million in assets.

On Friday (20-02-2009) 208 workers were sacked at Drivetrain Systems in Lavington. 130 workers only have jobs for another eight weeks... as management proceeds to strip the factory of an estimated $17 million in assets.

The sacked Drivetrain workers are owed $5 million in entitlements, which the administrator of Drivetrain Systems says they won't receive. Workers are angry that the administrator has retained the entire executive and managerial staff AMWU shop floor delegate: "“that members were angry that they were all stood down without pay but all the former executives and managers had been employed by the administrator”.

" AMWU Website: “Some workers have up to 30 years service and about $5 million is owed to workers in entitlements.” There is now a picketline at Drivetrain Systems on Kaitlers Rd in Lavington, 2641

Kieren Bennett writes: " I will be heading over tomorrow to see if there is any support I can offer. " Border Journal is published by Kieran Bennett who can be contacted at kieranbennett @gmail.com or on 0430509913.

* THIS GROUP IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVETRAIN WORKERS PICKETLINE.

* No platform for fascists or union bashers. Families are struggling for their livelihoods, this ain't the time or place.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66430513376

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Update: Border Mail reports that the AMWU will be leafletting in Albury and Wodonga at lunch today, and that workers will be meeting to decide whether or not to head back to work later in the day. http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/wo....aspx

More: http://www.borderjournal.com/2009/02/23/drivetrain-work...cket/ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/23/2498900.h...urray

Please visit back at a later time or phone +61 (3) 8456 5800 to talk with one of our team members about your enquiry. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Our contact details are: DSI Head Office Engineering Research & Development Centre 1661 Centre Road SPRINGVALE VIC 3171 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 (3) 8456 5800 Facsimile: +61 (3) 8456 5899 Email: mailto:info@dtsysint.com

DSI Albury Facility Kaitlers Road LAVINGTON NSW 2641 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 (2) 6022 7200 Facsimile: +61 (2) 6022 7640

COMMENT: What a blow, from "safety" here in Melbourne can I suggest you do not let the Bosses remove the assets as you will after Court/Arbitration only get a few cents in $ of what you are owed. Furthermore please consider occupying the site and invited your families, friends, local supporters/suppliers/customers/unions network to send delegates to site and have an assembly to dicuss what you want to do. A cooperative where you make what you decide can be done & is useful is the option many workers on the planet are undertaking as the economy skips a few beats. Maybe what the bush fire devastated communities need could be made by yourselves, transported to site of reconstructing towns and some $ from the appeals pay your bills, local Albury Council, State Government and Federal regime could kick in to support your efforts!