The AMWU is calling on the Federal Government to reject a five-year, non-union agreement Visy is trying to impose on workers at its Tumut pulp and paper mill.

The mill, which will double in size in August, provides important jobs for the region – but Visy is trying to lock its workers into a WorkChoices agreement.


“This is bad news for Tumut,” says NSW Print Division Secretary Steve Vine.

“Workers in regional towns like Tumut have fewer work options and Visy, the town’s biggest employer, is exploiting that.

“They are trying to drive down wages and conditions.”

"Labor MP Mike Kelly, who won the seat of Eden Monaro on the back of strong anti-WorkChoices sentiment, must fight for the Visy workers’ right to be protected under Labor’s Fair Work laws coming into effect July 1," said Mr Vine.


“The new laws guarantee workers’ rights to join and be represented by a union. The Tumut workers deserve that right.”


The AMWU Print Division represents Visy workers at sites around Australia. The unionised sites have a national agreement offering industry-leading wages and conditions.

AMWU officials will be in Tumut over the coming weeks to speak with the Visy workers and community members about the importance of fair working conditions at the mill.