Contract Blues

Burnie port worker Barry Pateman PHOTO Dale Cumming

Port worker and mobile crane driver Barry Pateman is one of three workers in Burnie forced to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) in May, 2000.

Port worker and mobile crane driver Barry Pateman is one of three workers in Burnie forced to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) in May, 2000.

"We wouldn't have got a job unless we signed an AWA," he said. "We didn't have a choice. It was AWA or no job."

Enterprise agreement negotiations with Port Corp had bogged down when management decided to take advantage of the Howard Government's Workplace Relations Act. Offering job applicants work on condition they signed individual contracts was one way of undermining the union and enterprise agreement negotiations. The men going for a job had no choice.

Branch Secretary Mick Wickham said the company were prepared to offer $12,000 bribes to bypass the union and get their employees to come over onto the contracts.

But the odds were against individual workers being able to negotiate pay rises and conditions next time around.

"At one point some workers were getting a lump sum," said Barry. "We didn't get it. But when we complained they just said stiff. Bad luck. I'd never heard of AWA before. I was just told if I wanted the job I'd have to sign. I don't trust any company."

The plot went awry when one job candidate, casual wharfie Stephen Rolls, took the matter to the union. And the union took Burnie Port Corp to court.

"Everyone after that had to have the choice," said Barry. "And this time around we put up our hands to come under the enterprise agreement. I wanted to come back under the EBA. Management agreed. I just wanted to be in with everybody else."

The individual contract didn't take away too many conditions the first time around -- less annual leave and a longer working week (38 hours, not 35).

"I had to start 15 minutes earlier," said Barry. "I'd hang around the workshop waiting for everyone else to start. You can only sweep the floor so much."

A Latham Labor Government would abolish Australian Workplace Agreements, restore the power of the Industrial Relations Commission and improve job security by ensuring long term casuals get permanent jobs.