Sack threat for asbestos victims

Workers at a German multinational in Victoria became the 
latest victims of the ongoing James Hardie debacle after being 
threatened with the sack for protesting against the asbestos 
giant.

The news comes as legal pressure mounts on James Hardie bosses 
after US based CEO Peter Macdonald stood down last week.

German multinational KSB is taking disciplinary action against 45 
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) members working at 
Tottenham in Victoria, because they participated in a protest 
rally against James Hardie.

KSB Ajax Pumps had demanded that they machine asbestos without 
protection in the past, according to employees. Workers asked for 
asbestos protective equipment at the time but were denied it by 
the company.

AMWU members employed by KSB Ajax pumps stopped work and joined 
thousands of workers at a rally to protest against James Hardie's 
attempt to limit compensation rights of those exposed to 
asbestos.

"The workers and the union gave the company plenty of notice that 
they would be attending the protest demonstration", said Julius 
Roe, National President of the AMWU.

"KSB Ajax Pumps decided to threaten the employment of our members 
for their decision to go to the rally. It issued written warnings 
to the workers and threatened to sack them if it happened again.

"It is the only manufacturing company in Victoria to do so."

Workers at KSB Ajax struck for 24 hours in protest over the 
company's refusal to lift the threat to sack them.

"Many members who have worked for the company for decades with an 
unblemished record are deeply offended that the company have 
targeted them in this way", said Roe. "We believe that this 
company has no right to threaten workers with termination for 
exercising their human right to protest over corporate 
misbehaviour on asbestos."

The Victorian Trades Hall Council executive unanimously decided 
to back the workers at KSB Ajax if called upon by the AMWU.

The AMWU has written to the Chairman of the company in Germany, 
as well as to German trade unionists as part of their campaign.

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Workers Online