DELEGATES RALLY 10AM  WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH 2006 DALLAS BROOKS HALL 300 ALBERT ST EAST MELBOURNE This All-Unions Delegates meeting will discuss the ongoing campaign against the Howard Government's IR Laws. AMIEU Delegates will meet at the Union office at 9am. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT AS MANY DELEGATES AS POSSIBLE ATTEND THE RALLY. It is likely that the new legislation will take effect on this day or very soon after. ONGOING CAMPAIGN Senator Minchin, Finance Minister in the Howard Government, has told a recent meeting of the H.R. Nicholls Society that the next step in the Government plans is to remove Awards completely and to abolish the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.  This would complete the Americanisation of the Australian industrial relations system and remove the legal underpinning of every conditions Australian workers have achieved over the last 150 years.   This attack on the fundamental rights of workers must be defeated.  The ACTU-led campaign needs the support of every worker. GATHERCOLE DISPUTE Industrial Action Members at Gathercole's works at Wangaratta and Tatura are currently on strike in support of a new EBA.  Negotiations with Gathercole have continued for a couple of months, but have been unsuccessful.  The Gathercole Agreement at Carrum runs out later in the year. Company Offer Gathercole wants to take away entitlements including Rostered Days Off, Make Up Pay on WorkCover, Butchers Picnic, half the redundancy payment, and 5% off the casual loading.  Both Tatura and Wangaratta have long-standing, stable workforce who have worked in co-operation with the Gathercole Company over many years.  They are not prepared to see their conditions taken from them. Guest Workers Gathercole has recently opened a boning room at Tatura.  They have announced that it is their intention to operate it using a number of workers brought in from China under the Howard Government Guest Worker scheme. OVERSEAS WORKERS New Regulations The Howard Government has recently changed the regulations concerning overseas worker visas to make it much easier for companies in Australia to bring in overseas workers who can work for up to 4 years. Rorting the System The Government is currently issuing up to 8000 of these visas each week.  The visas are supposedly to allow skilled workers to come into Australia because of an alleged skills shortage.  However the Government is allowing the system to be deliberately rorted so that it can be used in conjunction with the Work Choices Legislation. Murray Bridge There are currently more than 200 Chinese workers at the T&R Meatworks at Murray Bridge, mostly employed in labouring jobs.   T&R Murray Bridge works to an AWA with the lowest rates of pay and conditions in Australia.  Meanwhile the town of Murray Bridge has above average unemployment and recently 160 workers lost their jobs when a major employer closed down.  The Chinese workers are being employed to keep the wages and conditions at Murray Bridge at a very low level.  Naracoorte At Teys Bros. Naracoorte, also in South Australia, 20 meatworkers who refused to sign AWAs have been locked out, whilst guest workers from China take their place. This is a blatant misuse of the visa, but it is nonetheless how the Government intends it to be used. Warrnambool Midfield Meats at Warrnambool has had a history of exploiting traineeships.  It has averaged more than 100 trainees per annum over the last 6 years, whilst refusing to employ any experienced meat workers.  It now says that it needs to source workers from overseas. Cranbourne Ralph at Wagstaff Cranbourne has also brought in guest workers from China. No Shortage of Skilled Workers Meatworks that offer proper pay and conditions have no difficulty in recruiting and keeping a skilled workforce. The Union will shortly produce a more detailed document in relation to the use of overseas workers in the meat industry. AMIEU FEDERAL OFFICE New Federal Secretary The Federal Secretary Ross Richardson from the Queensland Branch retired last week. The new Federal Secretary is Graham Bird.  Graham retains his position as Victorian Branch Secretary. Federal President The new Federal President is Kath Evans from the Northern New South Wales Branch.