SYDNEY WASTE WORKERS TO STRIKE TODAY: JJ Richards refuse to admit WorkChoices is dead & deny workers’ legal right to collectively bargain for fair union agreement
Sydney waste workers will stage a 24 hour stoppage and rally in the city
today: taking protected action for their right to a fair enterprise
agreement as company JJ Richards continue to refuse to negotiate. Waste
workers from throughout Sydney and around the state will join the rally
to support JJ Richards workers taking protected action.
Press conference and rally: 12.30pm, outside Local Government Association building, 28 Margaret St, Sydney
TWU Senior Official Michael Aird said,
“In 2011 the TWU has already negotiated in principle agreements covering major transport companies in Australia and the thousands of drivers who work for them: however after 12 months the union is still fighting to get a fair deal for Western Sydney waste workers from JJ Richards.
“JJ Richards want to return to the days of slavery, and we won’t let this happen at the expense of our members.
“The TWU has been trying to progress enterprise agreement negotiations for workers on the JJ Richards Canterbury Council contract for over 12 months. JJ Richards continues to refuse to progress negotiations.
“These people do a hard and dirty day’s work. All they ask for is a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work under a fair agreement negotiated with their union.
“JJ Richards are ideologically opposed to workers’ rights and a fair go, and refuse to accept the post WorkChoices system. Their un-Australian attitude belongs in the John Howard era, not now in 2011.”
JJ Richards workers voted ‘yes’ to strike action in their protected action ballot on 3 March.
This is the second protected action ballot which JJ Richards workers have voted on and in both ballots workers’ support for protected action was overwhelming.
Following this the Western Sydney JJ Richards workers were the subject of extensive media attention with employer organisation such as AMMA attacking their right to take protected action for a fair deal under the Fair Work Act: despite the fact these workers have voted ‘yes’ to protected action and have been fighting for an enterprise agreement for over 12 months.
The crisis in Sydney’s waste industry is endemic across companies who compete in a race to the bottom in wages and conditions for Sydney working people who do a job which is physical, hard and dirty.
The TWU will call on the NSW Local Government Association to work with the TWU to stop the JJ Richards disease spreading.
TWU Senior Official Michael Aird said,
“In 2011 the TWU has already negotiated in principle agreements covering major transport companies in Australia and the thousands of drivers who work for them: however after 12 months the union is still fighting to get a fair deal for Western Sydney waste workers from JJ Richards.
“JJ Richards want to return to the days of slavery, and we won’t let this happen at the expense of our members.
“The TWU has been trying to progress enterprise agreement negotiations for workers on the JJ Richards Canterbury Council contract for over 12 months. JJ Richards continues to refuse to progress negotiations.
“These people do a hard and dirty day’s work. All they ask for is a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work under a fair agreement negotiated with their union.
“JJ Richards are ideologically opposed to workers’ rights and a fair go, and refuse to accept the post WorkChoices system. Their un-Australian attitude belongs in the John Howard era, not now in 2011.”
JJ Richards workers voted ‘yes’ to strike action in their protected action ballot on 3 March.
This is the second protected action ballot which JJ Richards workers have voted on and in both ballots workers’ support for protected action was overwhelming.
Following this the Western Sydney JJ Richards workers were the subject of extensive media attention with employer organisation such as AMMA attacking their right to take protected action for a fair deal under the Fair Work Act: despite the fact these workers have voted ‘yes’ to protected action and have been fighting for an enterprise agreement for over 12 months.
The crisis in Sydney’s waste industry is endemic across companies who compete in a race to the bottom in wages and conditions for Sydney working people who do a job which is physical, hard and dirty.
The TWU will call on the NSW Local Government Association to work with the TWU to stop the JJ Richards disease spreading.