Preston Motors, strike over - workers win : Melbourne Indymedia

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Preston Motors, strike over
The month long dispute at Preston Motors is over. A breakthrought came on April 13 and NUW workers voted to return to work.

Lessons learnt
Yet again another employer has been forced to negotiate with the relevent union in dispute through community assemblies and wider support. Congratulation to the workers at Preston Motors who stuck together and were successful in achieving a much improved union EBA (Enterprise Bargaing Agreement)

Press Release Preston Motors dispute ends

http://www.nuw.org.au/articles/vic/MediaReleases/prestonends

Monday April 16, 2007
Preston Motors workers are back at work after a month-long dispute

Preston Motors’ Campbellfield warehouse workers returned to work today (Monday, April 16) after successfully negotiating an end to their four-week dispute with the company.

The workers met late on Friday to accept a revised offer from the company that resolved the dispute amicably for both parties.

Victorian State Secretary Antony Thow said the settlement was a great outcome for the Preston Motors’ warehouse employees.

“The wage increase the employees have successfully negotiated will make a significant difference when trying to provide for themselves and their families.

“This new Union Collective Agreement will take a lot of pressure off the weekly budgets of these workers and enable them to make ends meet in the face of rising living costs.”

Thow also said the employees had displayed incredible resolve and dignity throughout their month-long protest.

“These workers are not highly paid by anyone’s standards. However, they know they are entitled to wages that reflect their hard work each week.

“The workers’ victory at Preston despite the Howard Government’s attempts to make collective action all but impossible for working people shows the only real way that workers can gain the rights and recognition they deserve is when they act together through their union.”