NSW: 140 workers strike over "scrooge" employer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2000
NSW: 140 workers strike over "scrooge" employer

SYDNEY, Dec 18 AAP - Only months after fulfilling the world's biggest bedding contract
for the Sydney Olympic Games, 140 Pacific Dunlop Bedding workers have walked off the job
claiming their employer is a scrooge.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy (CFMEU) organiser Eddie Harris said the workers
at Pacific Dunlop Bedding at Warwick Farm, in Sydney's west, have walked off the job indefinitely
after the company demanded employees work unpaid overtime to make up for time lost attending
the work Christmas party.

"The company in its ultimate wisdom has decided to make workers work an extra two hours
on their last day to make up the time for the Christmas party after the workers worked
all year on the Olympic bedding contract," Mr Harris said.

"These workers feel betrayed now. They produced the contract on time and on budget
and this is how they are rewarded.

"The company is penny pinching for a couple of hours off each worker - they've just
proven that they are scrooges."

Mr Harris said the contract to provide mattresses for Olympic athletes and officials
during the September Games was the biggest bedding contract in the world.

"This company poured $20 million sponsorship into the Olympics and now they are trying
to squeeze the workers," he said.

Mr Harris said the union was continuing negotiations with the company today, but he
expected the afternoon shift would join the strike action.

Comment was being sought from Pacific Dunlop.

AAP nd/jjs/cdh

KEYWORD: DUNLOP

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