BWI OnLine – September 12, 2011
September 15, 2011
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September 12, 2011
CFMEU members at Jeld Wen in Australia are refusing to sign an agreement which would see their wages reduced. BWI just launched a campaign on their web and would like you to sign.
The BWI stands behind the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) members at Corinthian Doors and Stegbar, owned by American company Jeld-Wen, who have been treated with disrespect. Several hundred members, spread over four Australian states, have been locked out of their workplace for taking protected industrial action and refusing to sign an agreement which would see their real wages reduced. The company’s offer is 1% below the current consumer price index for most of the workforce.
Despite members agreeing to moderate wage claims during the global financial crisis in order to help Jeld-Wen to remain competitive and profitable, the company demands workers to accept less. In Australia Jeld-Wen operates the Corinthian, Stegbar, Regency and Airlite, door and window manufacturing brands, and has made a pattern offer of 2.5%, 2.6% and 2.9% over the three year agreement.
The BWI is appalled that a multinational company which has the money and willingness to sponsor professional sporting teams is unable to come to the table and negotiate a fair and reasonable wage increase with the union members who helped build the company.
The BWI supports the CFMEU’s action and pressure on the company and believes it can win a positive result, showing the necessary respect for the workers. Furthermore, the BWI calls on Jeld-Wen, and all Jeld-Wen owned companies, to reward the hard work and commitment of workers and the union to the company.
