Steve Murphy would read articles in the media praising Sensation Yachts and scratch his head.

The company stood down all of its workers several weeks ago, owing them thousands of dollars, due to their inability to pay their water, electricity and Workers’ Compensation bills.
 
As the Newcastle organiser for the AMWU, Mr Murphy had problems with the company that built and refit yachts since its inception, when workers called the union asking for help in negotiating a collective agreement.

“After months of negotiating, they agreed to a collective agreement with good conditions, but they refused to accept the union as signatories.

“The workers were forced into a corner by the company who told them you either accept this or it’s AWAs.”

In November last year, the workers called him to the workplace and informed him that they had not been paid in 8 weeks.

“Trades workers were buying lunch for the apprentices who had no money, some of whom, by this stage, were being threatened with eviction.”

Mr Murphy also discovered that no superannuation had ever been paid.

“We got it all fixed up and got their super paid, then three months later the same thing happened.”

“And then it happened again.”

In the meantime, Mr Murphy did some investigative work on the company.

“Here was a company that was being touted by the State Government and the company itself as the Great White Hope for rejuvenating industry in Newcastle.

“The State Government supported them financially in a number of ways and we were led to believe the company would employ 500 workers when there was only 35 of them at their busiest time.

“And I was in there every few months because the workers weren’t getting paid. Something wasn’t right.”

A quick search on the internet showed that there were a trail of creditors who were owed money by the New Zealand based company.

“They were only paid by going to court and workers employed by the same company elsewhere also went for weeks and months without being paid.”

The AMWU is now fighting to secure the lost wages for the workers who were stood down, some of whom are owed up to $2500.

Mr Murphy says he is surprised the State Government didn’t do their homework.

“I found all this information easily on the internet. You’d think the government would look a little deeper into any company before offering them financial aid.”