AMWU members at Australian Aluminium Finishing (AAF) in Wetherill Park have ended their two-week strike at the Western Sydney factory. The workers have reached an agreement with their employer that will see significant increases to their wages and conditions over the next three years.
The workers at AAF create architectural aluminium that has been used in a number of iconic Australian buildings including Federation Square in Melbourne and the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, the majority of workers on site were paid less than $22 an hour, well below the industry rate in construction materials.
The 26 workers at the site began bargaining with management in February. When negotiations stalled the workers voted unanimously to take industrial action – and began an indefinite strike on April 9. After two weeks, the company agreed to their demands.
As a result, workers at Australian Aluminium Finishing have won:
· A restructure of wages that will see the majority of workers on site receiving a 9.6% pay rise over the next three years (other workers will receive between 7.8% and 8.3%)
· Improved redundancy conditions capped at 26 weeks– more than double their current entitlements
· Family-friendly rosters over the site’s shut-down weeks
· Union rights in their enterprise agreement, including delegates leave
· Skills recognition and a classification restructure
· Conversion of labour hire workers into permanent jobs
· Allowances protected in the agreement
· A $1000 sign on bonus in the first year, followed by a $400 bonus in the second year
Quotes attributable to AMWU NSW Secretary Steve Murphy:
"Today is a great result for the workers at Australian Aluminium Finishing. When workers stick together, they win."
"We thank all of those who supported the AAF workers, especially those who visited the picket line or who donated to their strike fund. We could not have won without the support we received from across the unions."
"These workers took industrial action because the bargaining table didn’t work. We need to Change the Rules to make our bargaining system fairer and give more workers the right to withdraw their labour."
"There’s a message to everybody: if you’re sick of not being paid enough for the work you do, you need to join your union and get your workmates to join too."
---
Media
