Union questions printing giant's demise


PM
By Naomi Woodley
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:21pm AEDT

Unions are raising serious questions about the sale and winding up of one of Australia's biggest printing businesses.

The Geon Group went into administration late last month and more than 650 workers now expect to be retrenched.

A competitor, Blue Star Group, has bought Geon's operations in New South Wales and Victoria, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says it is refusing to offer employment to existing staff.
The impasse has prompted Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten to intervene to guarantee Geon staff early access to their entitlements.

AMWU spokeswoman Lorraine Cassin says the union is trying to find out what led to the viable company winding up, leaving workers virtually unemployed.

She says discussions are ongoing about selling Geon's operations in Tasmania and Western Australia, but the union is upset by what has unfolded at the firm's NSW and Victorian divisions.

"Through the receivers, we were informed that Blue Star were going to offer substantial job offers to these employees and we were looking forward to that," she said.

"Unfortunately, we're advised by Blue Star yesterday that they're not going to employ any, or offer any employment, even though there are jobs that they could provide to workers, on the basis that they've got an enterprise agreement and they're not prepared to have that enterprise agreement come across their business.
"So we're pretty upset about the process and what's happened to these workers."

Geon Group employed 678 workers in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia.

She says it is the worst-case scenario for employees and it raises serious questions.

"It's really a major problem from our point of view. We're really bemused at what's occurred here," she said.

"The major competitor has picked up basically all the contracts. It can't be a good thing for the industry.

"There's less people in the industry in competition now and we'd be certainly calling on the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) to have a look at what's occurred here."

The interesting point here is - there are 650 jobs at stake

IF, IF, IF the issue was cost of labour - would the unions be prepared to negotiate a lower wage solution ie 650 jobs at 80% of original salary or lose the whole lot??

Maqqa wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 1:11pm:

The interesting point here is - there are 650 jobs at stake IF, IF, IF the issue was cost of labour - would the unions be prepared to negotiate a lower wage solution ie 650 jobs at 80% of original salary or lose the whole lot??

Hardly! The union heavies are OK. . . good balances in their banks. Why should they care about members?

Maqqa has no idea what is behind this situation, but he happily blames workplace laws. He has no evidence, but what does that matter?

Maqqa is a fraud and a liar. Olde sault is just a sheep who follows along.

Yup, and some of you guys would love to start, with the low income workers.  Then again, why am I not surprised.   :(

Quote:

"Unfortunately, we're advised by Blue Star yesterday that they're not going to employ any, or offer any employment, even though there are jobs that they could provide to workers, on the basis that they've got an enterprise agreement and they're not prepared to have that enterprise agreement come across their business.

read and learn... Blue Star doesnt want the previous enterprise agreement that the union had imposed and was clearly a factor in their demise.

you see, crook, there is a limit to what business can pay.

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 4:40pm:

Quote: "Unfortunately, we're advised by Blue Star yesterday that they're not going to employ any, or offer any employment, even though there are jobs that they could provide to workers, on the basis that they've got an enterprise agreement and they're not prepared to have that enterprise agreement come across their business. read and learn... Blue Star doesnt want the previous enterprise agreement that the union had imposed and was clearly a factor in their demise. you see, crook, there is a limit to what business can pay.

Stop making things up. You are as dishonest as Maqqa.

Peter Freedman wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 4:52pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 4:40pm: Quote: "Unfortunately, we're advised by Blue Star yesterday that they're not going to employ any, or offer any employment, even though there are jobs that they could provide to workers, on the basis that they've got an enterprise agreement and they're not prepared to have that enterprise agreement come across their business. read and learn... Blue Star doesnt want the previous enterprise agreement that the union had imposed and was clearly a factor in their demise. you see, crook, there is a limit to what business can pay. Stop making things up. You are as dishonest as Maqqa.

how precisely, faux journalist, is it dishonest to QUOTE the union guy who said exactly that?

Could you explain, precisely, what you mean by "faux journalist"?

"Unfortunately, we're advised by Blue Star yesterday that they're not going to employ any, or offer any employment, even though there are jobs that they could provide to workers, on the basis that they've got an enterprise agreement and they're not prepared to have that enterprise agreement come across their business.

Most enterprise agreements are left over from the previous system. If they do not transfer this what they will get by default is the modern award or have to negotiate something based on that standard.

It is unlikely that the enterprise agreement is more benificial to the employer than the modern award.

hadrian_now wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 12:54pm:

Union questions printing giant's demise PM By Naomi Woodley Posted Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:21pm AEDT Unions are raising serious questions about the sale and winding up of one of Australia's biggest printing businesses. The Geon Group went into administration late last month and more than 650 workers now expect to be retrenched. A competitor, Blue Star Group, has bought Geon's operations in New South Wales and Victoria, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says it is refusing to offer employment to existing staff. The impasse has prompted Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten to intervene to guarantee Geon staff early access to their entitlements. AMWU spokeswoman Lorraine Cassin says the union is trying to find out what led to the viable company winding up, leaving workers virtually unemployed. She says discussions are ongoing about selling Geon's operations in Tasmania and Western Australia, but the union is upset by what has unfolded at the firm's NSW and Victorian divisions. "Through the receivers, we were informed that Blue Star were going to offer substantial job offers to these employees and we were looking forward to that," she said. "Unfortunately, we're advised by Blue Star yesterday that they're not going to employ any, or offer any employment, even though there are jobs that they could provide to workers, on the basis that they've got an enterprise agreement and they're not prepared to have that enterprise agreement come across their business. "So we're pretty upset about the process and what's happened to these workers." Geon Group employed 678 workers in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia. She says it is the worst-case scenario for employees and it raises serious questions. "It's really a major problem from our point of view. We're really bemused at what's occurred here," she said. "The major competitor has picked up basically all the contracts. It can't be a good thing for the industry. "There's less people in the industry in competition now and we'd be certainly calling on the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) to have a look at what's occurred here."

No mystery here it would be demands from union bosses that cause businesses to close down and down go the union members.

Union heavies are only interested in flexing their muscles, not the people they are supposed to be representing.

Peter Freedman wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 4:08pm:

Maqqa has no idea what is behind this situation, but he happily blames workplace laws. He has no evidence, but what does that matter? Maqqa is a fraud and a liar. Olde sault is just a sheep who follows along.

Really? I, a sheep?

This is what I had been saying long before any of you posters were born.

olde.sault wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 7:15am:

[quote author=Peter_Freedman link=1363402472/3#3 date=1363414115]Maqqa has no idea what is behind this situation, but he happily blames workplace laws. He has no evidence, but what does that matter? Maqqa is a fraud and a liar. Olde sault is just a sheep who follows along.[/qu Really? I, a sheep? This is what I had been saying long before any of you posters were born.

ALLEGORICAL anyone? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

olde.sault wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 7:15am:

Peter Freedman wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 4:08pm: Maqqa has no idea what is behind this situation, but he happily blames workplace laws. He has no evidence, but what does that matter? Maqqa is a fraud and a liar. Olde sault is just a sheep who follows along. Really? I, a sheep? This is what I had been saying long before any of you posters were born.

Back when the employers were allowing people to die in substantial numbers and workplace laws were very basic?

olde.sault wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 7:15am:

Really? I, a sheep?

baaaahh

olde.sault wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 7:15am:

Peter Freedman wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 4:08pm: Maqqa has no idea what is behind this situation, but he happily blames workplace laws. He has no evidence, but what does that matter? Maqqa is a fraud and a liar. Olde sault is just a sheep who follows along. Really? I, a sheep? This is what I had been saying long before any of you posters were born.

Maybe not - can you quack?

olde.sault wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 7:15am:

Peter Freedman wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 4:08pm: Maqqa has no idea what is behind this situation, but he happily blames workplace laws. He has no evidence, but what does that matter? Maqqa is a fraud and a liar. Olde sault is just a sheep who follows along. Really? I, a sheep? This is what I had been saying long before any of you posters were born.

You were saying you were a sheep 65 years ago?