Community assembly underway at Swift Australia

indonesia / philippines / australia | workplace struggles | news report Tuesday January 11, 2011 17:49 by Dmitri (editing) - MACG

It is crucial that all supporters go now and stand on the picket line alongside their friends in Brooklyn.

Striking cold store workers at Swift Australia voted against the latest in a string of condescending offers from management today, as Workers Solidarity Network members and union activists assembled at the site.

The workers’ supporters blocked trucks throughout the day, sending a message to the company that endless stalling and bad-faith negotiation must end. Confident despite their five-week ordeal, the workers reminded those attempting to cross the picket that Swift cannot be allowed to set this precedent for the mistreatment of workers, and that ‘touch one, touch all’ applies now more than ever.

ACTU President Ged Kearney was present, promising to do all she could to get more union supporters down to the site and funds raised.

The Western Suburbs Community and Union Coalition, as well as ANF, MUA, ASU, NTEU, CFMEU and CEPU members all came to show their support for the striking workers, even helping to block trucks. All promised to return tomorrow with extra support.

Some workers, while appreciative, questioned why this community support was so long coming. Indeed because the call for community help has come so late in the dispute, it is crucial that all supporters go now and stand on the picket line alongside their friends in Brooklyn.

* This was written by wsn.melb.