Workers at Visy in Coburg, Victoria have voted to continue industrial action after being locked out for seventy two hours by their employer, following a breakdown in negotiations for a new collective agreement.

The sticking point, according to AMWU organiser Tony Mavromatis is the flexibility clause which workers believe can be used to undermine the collective agreement.

“The workers feel strongly on this issue as well as some other key concerns they have around staffing levels and conditions.”

Visy management sent draft agreements to workers which contained flexibility clauses that had not been discussed in negotiations.

AMWU Delegate at Visy, John, said the workforce was outraged at the behaviour of the company.
“They sent us a draft agreement which looked all right on the surface but, in reality, they took away our ability to collectively bargain.”

John said the negotiating process had been very difficult this time.

“In the first instance we got a lot of crying from them about the global financial crisis even though the company is doing very well.

“We tried to put forward some issues that were of concern to us and were getting absolutely nowhere so we voted to put a ban on.”

The ban was on paperwork which is considered as a ‘soft’ ban as it does not interrupt the operations of the plant.

“The response of the company was to hire goons,” John said. “We had the cast of Underbelly standing over workers threatening them to do their paperwork.

“This was insulting in the extreme. We were, after all, exercising our right to take action under the law and they respond in this manner.”

The workers are maintaining their action and are hopeful that the employer will return to the negotiating table.

“We’re hoping that they will see the light and start to treat this process with the seriousness and consideration it deserves.”