THE Australian Meat Industry Employees’ Union NSW Branch held a meeting of about 50 workers at the front gate of Burrangong abattoirs at 1pm on Friday.
The meeting was addressed by union orgniser, Mark Perkins, Burrangong receiver, Alan Hayes and the director employee entitlements branch of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relationships, Mike Moore.
Mr Perkins said that at last count his union had between 70 to 80 members working at Burrangong.
“It wasn’t as many as we would have liked with a workforce of 300,” said Mr Perkins.
“Unfortunately we had strained relationships with the company, it didn’t like the unions for reasons that are starting to come out now, I guess.
“What I have tried to do today; we’ve been inundated with calls to our Sydney office about more information in regards to how the GEERS program works.
“I don’t think that was explained well enough last time, it was a very quick meeting and it sort of went over people’s heads.
“A lot of them didn’t hear what had happened as well, so what I have tried to do today is get Mike and Alan down and have a talk in a better conversation and explain how it all works.
“The other thing that I’ve advised the employees to do is to become creditors and what we’re asking them to do is nominate the union on their behalf as a proxy voter, so we can be a part of those meetings with the liquidators and administrators.
“They have 18 days to sent their paperwork out to the employees, so once that’s done the employees will contact us and we will advise them from that point onwards.
Mr Perkins said it is his hope that if Burrangong re-opens under a new owner his union will be able to build a strong working relationship with the management but agreed there would be a lot of work to be done.
Worker’s opinions of the meeting varied significantly, so from that point of view it was probably worthwhile and no doubt there were some who are now better informed.
Ex-worker, Russel l Horne said he took a lot away from the meeting.
“It’s informative, very informative,” Mr Horne said.
“Workers are only just talking over things they have heard from rumours, this is trying – trying to get the truth to us,” he said.
Ex-worker Anne Johnston said she needed a little more than just the truth at the moment.
“I’ve got no money and I think it is so hard, I can’t pay rent,” said Ms Johnston.
“I only get half a pay off Centrelink next fortnight, not next week, and the girl told us down there yesterday that this GEERS has a four-months back-up so they don’t know how long,” she said.
Tammy Percival is also an ex-worker with two children who said she really didn’t get anything out of the meeting.
“Not anything I didn’t already know,” said Ms Percival.
“Life’s bloody hard at the moment, none of us have been paid for any of it, I’ve only worked here for 18 months so I’m not entitled to much.
“Even what you’re entitled to you won’t get for over two years,” Ms Percival said.
With a laugh Ms Percival said she found the union meeting ‘entertaining’.
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