Workers at ACL Gaskets in Brisbane have welcomed Julia Gillard’s commitment to introduce a ‘Fair Entitlements Guarantee’ if she is re-elected this Saturday.

Around 20 workers at the gasket-producing sister company of ACL Bearings in Launceston, Tasmania, are still working as the company goes through administration.

Joseph Seguerra, a worker with 21 years service said it was a good thing that other workers should not have to go through what his colleagues had endured.

“The laws will be great. All the heart-ache and uncertainty. All the hard work I’ve put into this company here…it’s not fair."

AMWU National Secretary, Dave Oliver, who is discussing key issues with union members at workplaces across Australia in the lead-up to the federal ballot, talked with the workers about the policy on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s an important policy and a great victory for all the workers who have struggled through liquidations with no light at the end of the tunnel.”

But he warned that the policy would never see the light of day if Tony Abbott replaces Julia Gillard.

“After 20 years of campaigning, only one man stands in our way, and we can’t let him take this away from us. If there’s one reason for AMWU members to vote Labor this weekend, this is it.”, he said.

Delegate Harry Faulkner, who has worked for the company for 18 years and like all the workers, faces losing a significant amount of entitlements because of the old scheme, said he hoped Labor would win and bring in the policy as soon as possible, even though it was too late for ACL workers.

“Anything that protects the right of workers has got to be a good thing. Hopefully Labor’s going to go the right way at the election.”

For more information on the policy, see the AMWU leaflet and Labor’s policy factsheet.