Vic: State doesn t support today s strike, Bracks

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2000
Vic: State doesn t support today s strike, Bracks

MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - A 24-hour strike today by thousands of Victorian manufacturing
workers did not have state government support and was the fault of the federal government,
Premier Steve Bracks said today.

"I certainly don't support the strike, of course," Mr Bracks told Radio 3AW.

Mr Bracks said the strike was a result of the industrial relations system set up by
the Howard government.

"It's regretful that the federal government system - the Workplace Relations Act -
almost obliges in these bargaining periods industrial action to be taken," Mr Bracks said.

"It's not a system I support."

As many as 40,000 Victorian manufacturing industry workers were planning to walk off
the job today for a 24-hour strike over a new pay deal.

Employers' body, the Australian Industry Group (AIG) said the industrial action could
cost Victorian manufacturers up to $72 million in lost production if all the workers the
unions wanted to stay away from work today went on strike.

AIG Victorian director Paul Fennelly said he believed the strike would be a fizzer
because all the signs pointed to employees being keen to negotiate individual deals with
their employers.

The strike was organised by the Metal Trades Federation of Unions (MTFU) to pressure
employers into signing up for what the union movement calls Campaign 2000 - a deal that
includes a 15 per cent pay rise over 33 months and improved conditions.

AAP tsc/jlw/cd/bwl

KEYWORD: CAMPAIGN BRACKS

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