Fifty Tristar workers, many with over 30 years service face losing up to $200 000 each in redundancy payments owed to them because of a technicality in John Howard's WorkChoices laws.

Tristar management have ceased operating at their Marrickville factory, but instead of making their longest serving workers redundant, they have kept them on the payroll - doing nothing! - until the agreement that guarantees their entitlements expires.

Then the company will be able to pay them only 4 weeks pay, the new low standard under WorkChoices.

The AMWU is demanding that these loyal, hardworking and long-serving employees get their entitlements, which for most are their only savings for retirement.