Since Serco Sodexho took over the multi-million dollar Canberra Defence services contract, workers at Canberra’s Defence establishments have felt the full force of the Howard Government’s Work Choices legislation.
Local cleaners were set to have their wages slashed when Serco Sodexho took over the Canberra Defence cleaning contract on 1st October 2006. With the support of their union the cleaners were able to protect their pay, but are still being refused a collective agreement despite an overwhelming majority asking for one.
“I wanted the protection of a collective agreement but was denied this. I was not prepared to sign and AWA and as a result lost my job,” said Pasquale Ursino. “I will be attending tomorrow’s rally to protest against the new laws that gave me no say in my working conditions and in the end gave me no choice but to leave my job at Duntroon”
Garrison support workers across Australia have also lost important conditions under Serco Sodexho’s AWAs. Munition and store-workers now have no guarantee of wage increases and have lost their normal span of hours. Some have had their wages slashed too.
“This is a classic example of what can happen under Work Choices. Despite the concerted efforts of the NUW these workers have still lost significant working conditions. We are still fighting for a collective agreement,” Doug Stevens, National President of the National Union of Workers, said today.
Senator Lundy has met with many of the Serco Sodexho employees whose rights have been eroded under their new AWAs. “While the Howard Government insists its new laws offer workers more choices, the only choice local cleaners and garrison support staff employed by Serco Sodexho have had is to sign an AWA or lose their job” Senator Lundy said.
“I encourage everyone to attend the National Day of Action on November 30 to help protect the rights of all workers. Even if you don’t think these changes will affect you directly, they will affect your children and grandchildren. We must not pass on a system that gives our children worse pay and conditions than we have had”, Senator Lundy concluded.
Pasquale Ursino can be contacted for comment through Lyndal Ryan (LHMU)
Contact: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295 or 02 6277 3334 (Lundy)
Lyndal Ryan – 0411 643 982 or 02 6120 1202 (LHMU)
Di Lloyd – 0401 548 340 (NUW)
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Hello there,
We are currently undergoing a battle with Serco in Canada regarding a collective agreement. They are very well practiced at cutting jobs by the looks of things. The run the driver examination centers here in Ontario and they are determined to make it a revolving door for employees.
V