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6 August, 2001The International Metalworkers' Federation fully supports the workers and the trade union in their campaign to secure entitlements.
AUSTRALIA: Australia is currently seeing a number of industrial disputes over the failure of employers and the government to protect worker entitlements. Some 350 workers at Tristar Steering and Suspension Australia have been on strike for two weeks to protect their rights to such entitlements as long-service leave and superannuation should the company collapse.
In order to secure workers' entitlements, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union and other industry unions have set up a trust fund called Manusafe to which employers are being asked to contribute at the rate of 1.5 per cent of their payroll. If an employee leaves, the employer pays his or her entitlements and claims reimbursement from Manusafe. If an employer goes broke, the trust fund would pay employees their accumulated entitlements.
Although on August 6, 2001, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ordered Tristar workers back on the job by today (August 7) in an attempt to keep losses from mounting in the country's automotive industry, talks between the company and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union are still continuing in an effort to meet the workers' demands.
The strike has shut down three of the country's four carmakers -- units of General Motors, Ford and Mitsubishi -- due to shortage of steering parts for their assemblies.
In order to secure workers' entitlements, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union and other industry unions have set up a trust fund called Manusafe to which employers are being asked to contribute at the rate of 1.5 per cent of their payroll. If an employee leaves, the employer pays his or her entitlements and claims reimbursement from Manusafe. If an employer goes broke, the trust fund would pay employees their accumulated entitlements.
Although on August 6, 2001, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ordered Tristar workers back on the job by today (August 7) in an attempt to keep losses from mounting in the country's automotive industry, talks between the company and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union are still continuing in an effort to meet the workers' demands.
The strike has shut down three of the country's four carmakers -- units of General Motors, Ford and Mitsubishi -- due to shortage of steering parts for their assemblies.