NSW: Telecommunications workers to vote on ending strike

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2001
NSW: Telecommunications workers to vote on ending strike

SYDNEY, Aug 14 AAP - A group of striking telecommunications workers will meet tomorrow
to vote on ending their action over workers' entitlements.

The 250 workers at Solectron voted yesterday to strike for 48 hours.

However, after a hearing before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC)
today, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) said it would attempt to resolve the dispute
through private talks.

ETU organiser Matt Murphy said the workers, who manufacture telephone exchanges and
computer components, wanted their entitlements protected by a trust fund.

The union is concerned that Solectron's parent company will not fund workers' long
service leave, annual leave and sick leave if the Sydney-based company goes bust.

"The letter of assurance that the company issued is not worth the paper it is written
on," Mr Murphy said.

"We're seeking some form of protection for workers' entitlements."

Solectron's major clients include Telstra, IBM and Alcatel.

Mr Murphy said the union was calling on the company to protect entitlements under the
union-developed trust fund Manusafe.

"If Manusafe is not a goer, we will explore an alternative trust fund. Failing that,
we will look at an insurance bond - like the one that resolved the Tristar dispute. The
fourth option is a bank guarantee," he said.

Solectron was not available for comment.

Mr Murphy said the union would meet with workers at the Liverpool-based factory tomorrow
morning and recommend a return to work.

He said further talks with the company would be held on Friday, with another AIRC hearing
set down next week.

Mr Murphy said if the dispute was not resolved by Friday week, workers could take further action.

"We will present them with the position tomorrow morning that they return to work tomorrow
and that industrial action cease until Friday week," he said.

The Solectron dispute comes a week after a resolution was reached at Tristar Steering
and Suspension over the same issue.

The Tristar dispute crippled the automotive industry, due to a lack of vital car parts
to manufacturers, and was not settled until the company agreed to protect entitlements
under an insurance bond.

AAP nd/rp/cjh/sb

KEYWORD: SOLECTRON

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