May 1, 2007

Factory workers locked out on May Day

Multinational packaging company Amcor has locked out more than sixty Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members from its Albany site after they refused to accept company demands that would have put their health and safety at risk.

The lockout means the workers will be literally locked out of their workplace without pay until they submit to management's demands. Many of these workers have been at Amcor for more than 20 years and have no other source of income.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says Amcor's move is disgraceful.

"These workers have negotiated in good faith and have been met with a level of employer militancy unseen since the Progressive lockout last year. The fact that Amcor is doing this on May Day, a day when we are supposed to be celebrating workers' rights, is particularly cynical.

"Amcor's idea of 'flexibility' means cutting their workforce and squeezing more work out of the remaining staff. This has serious implications for the health and safety of our members and they refuse to put themselves at risk.

"We will be supporting these workers and calling on the public to support them too so we can once again show that Kiwi workers and their communities will not be bullied by corporate militants."

The locked out workers will take part in tonight's May Day march in the Auckland CBD starting at 5:30pm and will be picketing their factory from 8am tomorrow morning.

ENDS

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