Vic: Workers keep canteen vigil over job losses

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2000
Vic: Workers keep canteen vigil over job losses

By Heather Gallagher, Industrial Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Aug 14 AAP - Workers at the soon to be closed Heinz Watties cannery have
vowed to continue a sit-in at the company canteen while union officials attempt to save
their jobs.

Almost 200 workers are set to lose their jobs when the Dandenong plant closes in November,
transferring most of its production of baked beans, tinned spaghetti and soup to New Zealand.

But the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) has written to Premier Steve
Bracks asking him to intervene and help keep the outer eastern suburbs plant open.

AMWU state secretary Craig Johnston said that workers would continue to occupy the
canteen and maintain a picket line outside the plant, while 11th hour talks with the company
continued.

He said that workers were ordering in food and planned to sleep over in the canteen tonight.

They would stay for "as long as it takes".

"Where there's a hope (of saving their jobs) there's always a chance ... so we haven't
given up on anything yet," Mr Johnston told AAP.

Another AMWU organiser, Ray Campbell, said that the chances of workers getting new
jobs in the lead-up to Christmas were minuscule.

Meanwhile, union work bans which have escalated since early August have forced the
plant to stand workers down and stop production for a week.

Heinz Watties' spokeswoman Glenda Orland said that the bans were affecting all manufacturing
operations, including product quality tests.

"Suspending production is a very serious step that we have taken as a last resort,"

she said in a statement.

"We are seeking urgent talks with the unions so we can resolve this matter and bring
our people back to work."

Ms Orland said that the company had worked to ensure workers were employed until the
factory's ultimate closure.

Heinz Watties have offered eight weeks severance pay and four weeks pay for every year
of service.

The company has also agreed to negotiate a lump sum cash settlement for workers.

"By any industry standard what we are offering is very generous," said Ms Orland.

She said that the stand-downs would not affect supplies of baked beans, tinned spaghetti
and soup.

Premier Steve Bracks was unavailable for comment.

AAP hmg/ra/mg/de

KEYWORD: HEINZ NIGHTLEAD

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