The AMWU has condemned the Royal Automobile Club of WA’s move to close their vehicle inspection unit, costing up to 13 longstanding jobs.

The RAC workers have been told they’ve been made redundant with their positions terminating in 8 weeks time.

 “These workers have shown the RAC a great deal of loyalty over a long time,” said AMWU West Australian Secretary, Steve McCartney.

“This decision is a disgrace.”

The redundant workers have been told that they can apply for other jobs in the company provided they meet medical and other requirements.

But in a further blow to the workers, they were told that if they are successful in winning another job they will be paid less, lose working conditions and redundancy provisions.

According to Mr McCartney, the RAC has been employing these tactics in order to pay their workers less.

“In recent times the RAC has employed this kind of approach to pay their workers less and force them into non-union agreements, offering little ongoing job security.”

“These workers take pride in their jobs servicing the WA community and deserve some respect from the RAC in return,” said Mr McCartney.

A number of the workers affected are the longest serving employees with the RAC.

“There are guys who have been there 18, 20 and 30 years. It would be a different situation if the RAC was not making a profit. They are using the world economic downturn to get rid of some people and pay them less.”

The AMWU has encouraged RAC Roadside Assist members to contact the company and voice their concerns about the shoddy treatment of these workers. The RAC can be contacted by calling 131 703.