Bob Carr meets workers threatened with sack

Eighteen employees of Appaloosa Holdings' stationery warehouse in Banksmeadow were recently told to sign Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) or lose their jobs. The AWAs cancel all awards, and only guarantee an hourly wage rate.

Eight who are yet to sign the contracts were suspended from work, were granted a reprieve by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission which sent them back to work pending further hearings next week.

NSW Premier Bob Carr met the warehouse workers and said their plight sounded a warning against the industrial relations regime being planned by the Federal Government:

"This is precisely how it would work. If John Howard's takeover goes ahead these workers would be forced to sign up to agreements - individual agreements - or they would get the sack."

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