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Heinemann Electric dispute into 3rd week

category indonesia / philippines / australia | workplace struggles | news report author Tuesday September 26, 2006 15:45author by various Report this post to the editors

Heinemann’s «negotiating» style

The strike at Heinemann Electrics has entering its third week. The spirit of the workers in still strong and united.

The strike at Heinemann Electrics has entering its third week. The picket line has been maintained since September 5th when the workers went on strike after the company docked them a weeks pay for instituting an overtime ban. The spirit of the workers in still strong and united.

Workers maintaining their picketline - now into a third week. The spirit of the strikers was still strong as was their sense of indignation at their bosses stubborness in still refusing to meet their moderate and just demands. Outstanding issues including receiving compensation for the loss of a weeks pay when Heinemann under advice from Freehills law firm told them that it was illegal to pay them for the week they had instiuted voluntary overtime bans. Although there has been movement in the negotiations on a number of issues the company was still holding out on a number of union demands over pay rise rates and protection of entitlements.

Production in the factory is continuing but only at a very small proportion of its capacity. The effectiveness of the picketline and strike in reducing the companies production was heartening for the 46 workers on strike. Other workers such as drivers have generally respected the picket since it began. The level of support and solidarity received by the ETU (Electrical Trade Union) and other unionists including an ongoing strike fund was also sustaining the strikers in their struggle. The workers were very clear that they were struggling on behalf of all Australian workers and if Heinemann could get away with their radical interpretation of the IR laws then other workers would soon be in the firing line. It was inspiring to see the strikers faith in the belief that Unity will bring victory.

So why not go down to the picketline and say hello at 821 Springvale Rd. Public transport is an option with the 888 and 889 busline stopping outside the factory. The 888/889 lines are also accessible from the Frankston, Glen Waverly and Belgrave/Lilydale railway lines. Visit the ETU link below to see how to make donations to the strikefund.

Heinemann’s «negotiating» style

The current dispute at Heinemann Electric Pty Ltd is the result of a lengthy period of farcical negotiations by management. Even before the current EBA had expired, Richard Ross, Heinemann’s general manager, was playing a game of cat and mouse with union delegates who were negotiating on behalf of more than two-thirds of employees. Each time Richard Ross dutifully delivered to his employees the redrafted EBA proposals, supposedly reflecting negotiated changes, employees quickly noticed that other clauses were being changed at the same time.

It appears negotiations were nothing more than a stall tactic, while Freehills, the legal dynamites who helped draft the controversial WorkChoice IR laws, came up with a plan.

Richard Ross even sent a letter to all employees stating that he was disappointed that negotiations had appeared to fail, as he always kept his door open to anyone who wished to talk. While he relied upon his legal advice, it appears that it has hurt his feelings that workers felt the need to have more experienced and educated eyes check his proposals.

In a “door opening?” move, the managing director of Heinemann’s parent company CBI, Mr Helmuth Fischer, made a personal visit to his Australian workforce. At a meeting which was called to attention with a dog whistle personally delivered by Mr Fischer, he asked the Australian workers to please consider the South African shareholder when negotiating it’s new EBA. He pleaded with workers to not participate in industrial action, claiming it was vital that projects not be effected. One project he cited involved 15,000 chickens. One has to wonder if each chicken had a name, or how long they were meant for this world. Would Heinemann’s switchboards be keeping the little chicks warm in a barn so they could grow and prosper, or merely keep them frozen. One has to wonder why a company which showed such concern for 15,000 nameless chickens, has now shown such lack of compassion for all it’s Australian human workers.

In a show of force, Mr Helmuth Fischer concluded his meeting with the phrase, “If you want a fight, we’ll give you a fight!” I’m sure many employees were left with a warm and fuzzy feeling, and felt encouraged to visit Richard Ross’s “open door”.

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