AMWU delegate Danasa Danasa said that workers are now much better off.
“It was a big concern that there was no union agreement. Everything we gained in this agreement were things we had to do without for a long time. The main reason why people joined the union was for protection - under our previous conditions there was no allowance for union involvement, and now there is.
“This industry pulls a lot of money out of mining, but they seem to have had a tendency not to reinvest in their workers. We felt left behind.
“Now we’ve got this agreement though, everyone’s looking up and feeling like we’ve achieved something.”
Keith Brown, AMWU organiser, added that apprentices on the site would also benefit as a result of the agreement.
Komatsu is a leading construction and mining machinery manufacturer with 35 service depots around Australia.
Workers at the Fairfield site are mainly service technicians and workshop mechanics.
The 19 percent wage rise will be paid over the next four years and improved working conditions for the 27-strong workforce will begin immediately.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union represents over 130,000 workers in all areas of manufacturing.
www.amwu.org.au
Edited by Ellie Duncan
“It was a big concern that there was no union agreement. Everything we gained in this agreement were things we had to do without for a long time. The main reason why people joined the union was for protection - under our previous conditions there was no allowance for union involvement, and now there is.
“This industry pulls a lot of money out of mining, but they seem to have had a tendency not to reinvest in their workers. We felt left behind.
“Now we’ve got this agreement though, everyone’s looking up and feeling like we’ve achieved something.”
Keith Brown, AMWU organiser, added that apprentices on the site would also benefit as a result of the agreement.
Komatsu is a leading construction and mining machinery manufacturer with 35 service depots around Australia.
Workers at the Fairfield site are mainly service technicians and workshop mechanics.
The 19 percent wage rise will be paid over the next four years and improved working conditions for the 27-strong workforce will begin immediately.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union represents over 130,000 workers in all areas of manufacturing.
www.amwu.org.au
Edited by Ellie Duncan
