Boeing Dispute Update 3

The action of Boeing in this regard followed a similar response by it to members of the AWU on Thursday, 18 May 2005.

As a consequence of both instances, the AWU notified the Australian Industrial Relations Commission of the existence of a dispute and requested the assistance of the Commission to help get both parties to a position where negotiations for a collective union certified agreement could commence.

A number of important matters were raised during the course of the proceedings in the Commission, including:-

· An admission by Boeing that its refusal to negotiate with the AWU and its members was "philosophical" in nature;
· An attempt by Boeing to claim that AWU members were in the minority of persons employed at Williamtown (ie. 45 AWU members out of a workforce of 170);
· An inference by Boeing that members of the AWU were not intelligent or discerning enough to properly understand material provided by the AWU; and
· Commentary by the Commission that the focus group process and the TRP system did not appear to be transparent.

The AWU made a number of submissions regarding the issues in dispute between the parties, namely:-

· Members of the AWU were unwavering in their commitment to achieve a fair and reasonable collective union certified agreement;
· The AWU and its members were not begging or pleading with Boeing for it to negotiate. Rather, members of the AWU would only increase the level of protected industrial action to achieve that result;
· Under no circumstances should Boeing presume to underestimate the intelligence of AWU members at Williamtown;
· The AWU and its members were not concerned with negotiating any agreement to cover 170 persons employed by Boeing at Williamtown (including possibly managers and contractors). Rather, the AWU was only concerned with the 62 employees engaged in connection with the upgrading and maintenance of RAAF F/A-18 fighter jets.

Industrial Action To Persist

Pursuant to a motion passed by members of the AWU on 31 May 2005, protected industrial action regarding timesheets will remain in place
indefinitely.

Contact Details
AWU National Office
Ph:  (03) 8327 0888
Fax: (03) 8327 0899
members@awu.net.au
http://www.awu.net.au/