News from the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union

Bargaining is in its final stages. The members appear to have successfully defended all of their established conditions and standards, having fought off an attempt by the company to undermine their popular rostering system. However, the cost of this may well be a very low pay rise - 5% over a 2 year agreement. Significantly, the members have managed, through a commonl law trust deed, to defend established rights to control and where necessary prevent contracting out of work done by the permanent work force. This issue is a prohibited matter for collective agreements in the Workchoices system.