Latest news with #AustralianManufacturingWorkersUnion
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Tools down for manufacturing workers
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Yesterday was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," Mr Clements said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike yesterday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," Mr Boman said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald yesterday. Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Yesterday was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," Mr Clements said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike yesterday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," Mr Boman said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald yesterday. Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Yesterday was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," Mr Clements said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike yesterday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," Mr Boman said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald yesterday. Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Yesterday was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," Mr Clements said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike yesterday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," Mr Boman said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald yesterday.
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Respect we deserve': Hunter mining manufacturing workers walk off job
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. "In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday. Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. "In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday. Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. "In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday. Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge. Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings. Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution. "Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said. He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours. Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action. Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said. "The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said. Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement. Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said. "We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said. "We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that." Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises. "We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said. Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by. "We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said. "I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve." He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay. "In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said. Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
7NEWS
21-07-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Aussies could soon have a four-day working week, in new push announced to boost productivity
Australians could soon enjoy a four-day working week, as unions make a fresh push for shorter working weeks and more holidays over tax cuts to help improve Australia's productivity. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation launched the push in response to the Productivity Commission, which will set the agenda for next month's economic reform roundtable. AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy told The Australian last week there needed to be a discussion about cutting hours in response to increased productivity, which will benefit Aussie workers. Murphy has argued there is a variety of ways to reduce working hours without cuts to pay, which included four-day week, nine-day working fortnights, or a 35-hour week. Murphy argued that work-life balance was more important to employees than a cut in income tax or company tax, arguing most working Aussies were fine paying taxes to fund government services or infrastructure. 'We're not one of the advocates that says we should pay less tax,' Murphy told the publication. 'One of the ways that we can share in productivity, if we're more productive over the course of the week, is to work less hours. That would be a great outcome from a productivity discussion. 'Or (if) we were able to have more annual leave to spend our time with the people that we love and care about.' On Monday, Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek joined a Sunrise panel the government was open to ideas. 'We'll listen to all views respectfully (at the roundtable),' Plibersek said. 'The Treasurer's roundtable on productivity, I think, is a great way of bringing unions and business and other groups together to discuss how we make our economy stronger and more productive. 'What we won't be doing to improve productivity is ask people to work longer for less. 'That was the policy of the previous government. 'We want to invest in our people, boost training, invest in technologies and new ways of working, make sure that we're playing to our competitive advantages as a nation. 'That's how we boost productivity.' Previously, Skills Minister Andrew Giles said key trades to boost productivity in the country will be electricians to help build homes, as well as more people to work in aged care, childcare, health and disability sectors. Parliament will resume on Tuesday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to introduce legislation to cut student debt by 20 per cent, end subsidies for childcare centres that fail to meet safety requirements, and prevent penalty rates from being lowered by the Fair Work Commission.
