United Voice

In this issue:

1. Flour power

2. A thirst for change

3. We weathered the storm


Dear member,

In unity there is strength. That message rings out across our manufacturing industries.

The strength we’ve forged together has been our key to winning better jobs and stronger industries.

It is strength that delegates like Dylan Kinden at Bread Solutions, a new bakery, are determined to build.

They’ve done amazing work unionising their workplace, so they can have a say in the future of their jobs and their industry.

And it is strength that members at Moorabbin’s Coke factory are determined to rebuild, in the aftermath of the Liberal’s unfair IR laws.

Coke members are pushing for a new agreement that will restore full-time jobs and allow them to restore union power on site.

It was strong, united workplaces that allowed manufacturing members to steer their way through the rough waters of the Global Financial Crisis, with their above-Award pay and conditions still intact.

Now the crisis is over, our strength leaves us in a great place to push hard to improve jobs across our industries, and ensure the benefits of the economic recovery are shared fairly.

In unity,

Jess Walsh
Branch Secretary,
LHMU Victoria


VICTORIAN BRANCH ELECTION REMINDER – VOTE NOW

All Victorian LHMU members have been sent a ballot paper for our union election. 

Your vote is important. This election will decide who will lead our union for the next four years.

The ballot paper has names on it. You need to place an X next to your choice for the union’s leadership positions.

Once you have filled in your ballot paper, put it inside the small envelope provided and then sign the back of this envelope.

You then need to put the smaller envelope inside the larger reply-paid envelope provided and put it back in the mail.

Flour power

Workers at a new bakery discover the power of standing together.
 
Bakers from Bread Solutions in Braeside are unionising their workplace so they can have a say about the future of their jobs and their industry.
 
Three delegates have worked hard to get union membership to 75% of the workforce. But they don’t plan to stop there.
 
Bread Solutions delegate, Dylan Kinden has been baking for more than eight years. He knows the benefits of a united workplace.
 
“When we are in a union, workers are able to build a voice that allows us to be treated in the same way as management,” Dylan said.
 
“I have been telling my workmates that we need to ensure we also get to enjoy the benefits of the company doing well.”

With delegates from bakeries around the state working together for one high industry standard on wages and conditions, members say it’s vital that new bakeries also join the movement.

“It’s important to have everyone on the same level so that bakers can move from site to site without fear their wage will fluctuate,” said Tip Top delegate, Ben Good (pictured).

“It also ensures bakeries delivering fair pay and conditions aren’t undercut by non-union bakeries.”

Around 70 workers, from bakers to packers, keep the factory churning out par-baked bread to major supermarkets around the state.
 
Dylan believes a united workforce will ensure the business continues its steady growth.
 
“It increases the support employees give the company — when everyone feels they are fair done by they are more willing to be as productive as they can be.”

A thirst for change

Coca Cola members aim to restore permanent jobs in their next agreement.

Members at Coca Cola’s Moorabbin factory have begun campaigning for a new agreement.

They say their main aims are to rebuild union power on site and restore conditions lost under the Liberal’s unfair IR laws.

Delegates Ian Lake, Philip Anderson and Michael Vekic have 70 years of experience between them at the factory.

 “The members want to preserve current conditions and regain what we lost under WorkChoices,” said Ian (pictured, centre).

“We especially want to gain more full-time jobs,” said Michael (pictured, third from left).

“WorkChoices gave Coke the opportunity to bring in more casuals and that took power away from us because many casual aren’t union members,” Ian said.

The delegates did our Powerhouse Training in April and are now ready to sign up the casuals.

“The knowledge that we gained in pre-bargaining training gave us a lot more confidence,” said Phil (pictured, second from left).

Ian has been a delegate for 20 years and has negotiated six agreements. He knows what it takes to win.

“We need to keep up the solidarity amongst union members,” Ian said.

“We can also show casuals the benefits of being in a union and being able to fight with us for fair pay and conditions,” Michael said.

“The energy and determination of these delegates to win better pay and conditions is just fantastic,” said Jess Walsh, LHMU Victorian Secretary.

We weathered the storm

When the going gets tough, members get tougher.

When the Global Financial Crisis hit, many members feared losing their jobs — especially in our hardest-hit manufacturing industries.

As production slowed, the threat also increased of employers trying to cut pay and conditions.

But members stood strong, united and made some smart decisions along the way.

Early last year, members at automotive lighting manufacturer Hella faced possible closure.

Hella delegate Jim Madhawan was worried. With his son wanting to study he needed job security.

“The head office in Germany said they might move production out of Australia,” Jim said.

“So we negotiated a compromise and got a guarantee the company would stay in Australia.”

“And we went for a two-year deal so we weren’t locked into weak pay increases.”

Members at the Laminex factory in Cheltenham did the same thing: they negotiated a one-year deal.

“People were worrying because they have mortgages and families,” said delegate Ken Christodoulou (pictured).

“Under those circumstances it was best. We’re in a much better position this year.”

“Because of their strength and their smart decisions, as we emerge from the GFC these members have their jobs, their hard-fought conditions and above-Award pay all intact,” said Jess Walsh, LHMU Victorian Secretary.

Laminex members will bargain for a new agreement this year; Hella members next year.

“Business is booming again so we’ll ask for good pay increases,” Jim said.

“Now the economy has lifted, we can push for better pay,” Ken said.