Printing union throws support behind MEAA over Fairfax cuts
Aug 29, 2008
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The Australian Manufacturers Workers Union (AMWU), which represents workers in the printing and packaging industry, has backed the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), as the journalists’ union steps up its campaign against Fairfax’s plans to cut 550 of its own workers.
AMWU national secretary Steve Walsh told ProPrint that “the AMWU is fully supportive of the struggle of the MEAA”.
“In the event that the MEAA put in place picket lines at any of the sites, then members of the AMWU will not be crossing them.”
This could essentially mean a strike for Fairfax’s printing staff if the MEAA chooses to picket Fairfax’s printing operations. The MEAA has said moves to picket such buildings are still being discussed, with striking journalists and photographers already picketing Fairfax’s offices in Sydney and a public rally taking place outside The Age’s offices in Melbourne.
Walsh has described it as “astounding” that Fairfax is still not yet revealing where exactly the mooted cuts will occur.
The union leader also claimed that the media giant had already begun earmarking certain areas of its business for the chop without consulting the union.
“Despite the assurances contained in David Kirk's memo that consultation will occur, the regional areas of Fairfax, particularly in Victoria, are not prepared to sit down and have transparent discussions with the union, and in fact have already begun targeting individuals in a number of sites”, said Walsh.
“We have had some preliminary discussions relating to the metropolitan sites in Melbourne and Sydney and further discussions are scheduled for next week.”
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