Critical Times

MEDIA RELEASE (from the SA Greens website)
SA Labor ignores Tristar workers

12/09/2007 by Mark Parnell

In a remarkable display, Labor members of the SA Upper House have voted against a Greens motion calling on Premier Rann to intervene in support of factory workers caught up in the long running Tristar industrial dispute.

“Whatever happened to the Labor party being the workers’ friend? Not only did they vote against the motion, not one Labor member had the decency to stand up and speak about the issue,” Mark Parnell said.

The long running Tristar dispute has dominated Sydney media since January, with claims that the company has deliberately kept workers on, despite no work, to deny them their rightful redundancy payments. The AMWU, the union representing the workers, has always believed the resolution to the dispute is in Adelaide, as all the company owners and directors live here.

Recently, there has been a breakthrough, with 24 of the remaining 31 workers officially made redundant. However, 7 workers remain in limbo, including Greg Rutherford who bravely came to Adelaide in July to highlight the workers’ plight.

“It amazes me that these workers could be treated with such contempt by representatives of the Australian Labor Party. This issue has been on the notice since July and I have given specific notice on 2 separate occasions that I wanted this issue brought to a vote today.

“Yet Labor Members of the Upper House said they needed more time. What more do they need to think about? Every day this debacle continues, these workers suffer.

“Kevin Rudd has said: ‘This has been a despicable scandal that has gone on for far too long’. It seems his SA Labor colleagues don’t agree.

“Despite his colleagues shameful display, it’s not too late for the Premier to do whatever he can to ensure the remaining seven Tristar workers get treated fairly,” Mr Parnell said.

Information on Tristar dispute