United Voice News
Wattyl workers take protected action
Workers at Paint manufacturer Wattyl took protected industrial action last week in support of an enterprise agreement. Despite Wattyl Australia Ltd being offered a share price windfall by the US corporation Velspar recently, there has been no such luck for the Wattyl workforce.
When 94% of workers who participated in the ballot voted to take protected action (with 74% of workers taking part in the ballot) they sent a message to all involved they were fast running out of patience.
Workers stopped work for 24 hours on Tuesday 7 July and have continued with daily stoppages of up to four hours at the various Wattyl locations across Australia.
The workers, through their union LHMU, are seeking a three year agreement effective from February 2010 with wage increases of 4% per year. This is consistent with the previous agreement and keeps the workers a little ahead of the cost of living.
Wattyl, on the other hand, have offered annual wage increases of 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.0% which would not even keep pace with the current cost of living. Workers have waited patiently for many months a decent outcome to these negotiations and are anxious to bring the matter to a resolution.
These workers deserve a decent outcome. The Wattyl offer would send them backwards.
US corporation Velspar's offer to Wattyl's shareholders of $1.67 per share, compared to a share price around $0.70 before the original offer, represents a vote of confidence in the future of Wattyl. Surely some of the confidence can be shared with the Wattyl workers.
