A company in West Australia picked two young union activists for redundancies despite the fact that older workers put their hand up for a voluntary redundancy.

Webforge, a steel fabrication company with a factory in Welshpool and part of the international group Delta Pic whose headquarters are in London, recently offered voluntary redundancies to its local workforce, citing the global financial crisis as a reason.
 
West Australian AMWU Secretary Steve McCartney said there were a number of workers who put their hands up to take voluntary redundancy including some older workers who’d been with the company for over twenty five years.

“The company decided to pick two younger workers who didn't put their hands up to take a voluntary redundancy and have made them redundant instead.

“They also happen to be union activists.”

The AMWU is taking the case to the Industrial Relations Commission on the basis that the workers were unlawfully terminated.

Mr McCartney said the company’s decision has caused serious anxiety at the workplace.

“Two workers who were willing to stand up and speak out against injustices and other industrial matters were made redundant while other workers who wanted to take the redundancy were by passed.”
 
‘Dudley’, one of the workers who volunteered to go said everyone was surprised by the company’s decision to get rid of the younger workers.

"I volunteered because I am getting older, the younger men should have the jobs.

"I have been working a long time for this company, more than 27 years and I thought it appropriate that someone like me should give younger workers a chance.”