Workers at HPM at Auburn in Sydney will vote on their first collective agreement since joining the AMWU in June this year.

AMWU NSW organiser George Simon said that workers were looking forward to securing the pay and conditions enjoyed by HPM workers at the Waterloo site who have had a Union agreement for some time.

“We first heard about the workers at Auburn from AMWU members at Waterloo and approached them about joining the union and resolving some longstanding problems on site.”

Mr Simon said it was initially difficult to convince workers to join the union and only a few signed up.

“It was obvious that they felt intimidated and it wasn’t until they saw the union in action in the workplace and solving problems that they began to move.”

The problems included hours of work, not having appropriate breaks and having to meet unreasonable production targets.

“There was also a problem with pay rates. We organised a pay increase for everyone and after that all the workers joined. There was no hesitation.”

Since then, two delegates have been elected and attended training for their new roles. An OHS committee and a Workplace Committee have been established where workers can have a say about issues affecting them.

“They have a stronger voice now and it’s important to them,” Mr Simon said.