I work at PPG in clayton, Melbourne,Australia. We are currenly on strike and have been for 5 weeks now. At first we were out rejecting a 2 tier wage system, but now we have capitulated and are desperate to keep what we have. The company is making record profits, and on site we were making record volumes. The reason I am making this call is to see if I can contact anyone else that this has happened to, to see how they felt the union dealt with the issue. I feel that we were sold out early on and the union is ok ( despite protestations to the contrary ) with it all. I have a lot to say about it all but it would bore most people.
Jim Mc
The unions did do a lot of good but I feel that they are now to close to the labour party, ( not much diff from the libs) and they ( labour) have sold out workers by not fixing work choices which was one of the platforms that they won the election on. Next week will be our 6th week. Most are going strong but some not.
Jim Mc
Originally posted by jimmacStrange that I was only talking with someone about this exact situation last week when dropping by a supermarket just off the motorway home, I had a few mins to spare so I listened...it seems it's of concern to those involved with unions even in Bristol, England ( local elections had brought them out )..I'll have to dig out the flyer from my car but I do remember him saying that PPG were notorious for halving wages and benefits for new workers, paying folk half for the same work or threatening closure as PPG 'cannot afford to keep it as is as they have shareholders to satisfy'...they said the union had effectively colluded with PPG but mentioned Keeting and the 'other guy I can't remember' in 80's and 90's Labour government were responsible for letting such practise in through the back door ????
The unions did do a lot of good but I feel that they are now to close to the labour party, ( not much diff from the libs) and they ( labour) have sold out workers by not fixing work choices which was one of the platforms that they won the election on. Next week will be our 6th week. Most are going strong but some not.
Jim Mc
As I say, I'll dig out the flyer and try to reproduce it here...maybe give a perspective of the support in other areas of the world !!
Originally posted by jimmacUnions are pretty powerless nowadays. You have said it yourself 5 weeks out and it got you nowhere other than 5 weeks without pay, or possible some restricted union pay if you are lucky.
I work at PPG in clayton, Melbourne,Australia. We are currenly on strike and have been for 5 weeks now. At first we were out rejecting a 2 tier wage system, but now we have capitulated and are desperate to keep what we have. The company is making record profits, and on site we were making record volumes. The reason I am making this call is to see if I can con ...[text shortened]... ot to say about it all but it would bore most people.
Jim Mc
When you consider the income you have lost for the period on strike, 5 weeks is nearly 10% of your annual salary, it is a lot of money to lose.
Although the company is making "record profits" this does not necessarily equate with the company being "liquid".
Also this link
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/ppg-industries-pay-stoush-threatens-australian-car-industry/story-fn7x8me2-1226034450756
makes interesting reading. $100K a year to fill paint pots - tell me its not true!
The paycut seems to be for new employees to bring the company into line with competitors wages, not existing employees. Are you really that much overpaid compared to similar paid jobs with competitors?
I would vote with my feet and leave the company, if they want to pay peanuts they are obviously after monkeys.
There are more people than jobs these days so you have to set yourself apart form everyone else, with better skills.
If you want to fight for better money, become a boxer because you will never beat the spreadsheet and those that worship it.
I am not trying to be condescending, but the shareholders of this World can kiss my butt, I pay enough in taxes and refuse to get sucked into the business of being streamlined to line somebody else's pocket.
Whenever the words "we need to streamline" get mentioned my resignation goes in straight away, they either back down or let me go.
Its not easy and you have to be strict in living within your means, but more often than not they capitulate and if they don't, I have no problem being a cleaner for a while (in the Electronic/Hardware/Software fields there is quite a lot of work at the moment, so cleaning is always a last option).
Its all about bread and butter on the table and only the foolish rely on the decency of others to put it there.
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Originally posted by adramforallNot only are they (unions) powerless but they've long outlived their time. Keep your union dues in a sock under your mattress for the rainy days you know will, at sometime, come.
Unions are pretty powerless nowadays. You have said it yourself 5 weeks out and it got you nowhere other than 5 weeks without pay, or possible some restricted union pay if you are lucky.
When you consider the income you have lost for the period on strike, 5 weeks is nearly 10% of your annual salary, it is a lot of money to lose.
Although the compan ...[text shortened]... mployees. Are you really that much overpaid compared to similar paid jobs with competitors?
$100K a year to fill paint pots - tell me its not true!The most honest answer would have to be "yes", Though to "fill paint pots" is a contemptuos definition of our work. Over the last 20 years or so ( since ,when we were dulux, the company seperated from the paint makers association) we have negotiated all our pay rates based on productivity gains and other trade offs which now means that we make a lot more paint now ( with less than 300 employees on site) than even ( about)10 yrs ago with 600 on site. We earnt the extra money that they pay us.We also work with a lot of dangerous materials. You can bet your bottom dollar that the execs continue to get paid in line with company profits and any incomming exec WILL get paid more than his/her predesessor before they leave. The $100,000 refered to is not the sort of money that the standard day shift worker gets. We have 24 hr shift coverage covering 365 days per year. Our strike started as one for new employees but time has changed that and some are blaming the current new guys( scabs?) for our plight.
The paycut seems to be for new employees to bring the company into line with competitors wages, not existing employees. Are you really that much overpaid compared to similar paid jobs with competitors?[/b]
Jim Mc
Originally posted by Woodgieoops
I would vote with my feet and leave the company, if they want to pay peanuts they are obviously after monkeys.
There are more people than jobs these days so you have to set yourself apart form everyone else, with better skills.
If you want to fight for better money, become a boxer because you will never beat the spreadsheet and those that worship it.
I and butter on the table and only the foolish rely on the decency of others to put it there.
Originally posted by jimmacWhat does your PPG do there? We have in Pennsylvania a company called PPG but I don't think it is the same, they generate electric power from oil, coal, nuclear, and gas. The full name is Pennsylvania Power and Gas.
I work at PPG in clayton, Melbourne,Australia. We are currenly on strike and have been for 5 weeks now. At first we were out rejecting a 2 tier wage system, but now we have capitulated and are desperate to keep what we have. The company is making record profits, and on site we were making record volumes. The reason I am making this call is to see if I can con ...[text shortened]... ot to say about it all but it would bore most people.
Jim Mc
Originally posted by sonhouseIn Australia we make paint. I believe that is there core business internationally though I am not sure what else they do.PPG stands for Pittsburg Plate Glass though I am not sure if they make glass anymore. There headquarters are in Pittsburg.
What does your PPG do there? We have in Pennsylvania a company called PPG but I don't think it is the same, they generate electric power from oil, coal, nuclear, and gas. The full name is Pennsylvania Power and Gas.
Originally posted by WoodgieYes we are, The company wants to cut our pay/conditions as well. We went out march 28th. These people ( Management) are real b's. it seems the socialist party have latched onto this. I will add a link to a couple of articles that they have posted. http://www3.wsws.org/articles/2011/may2011/ppgi-m02.shtml and http://www3.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/ppgi-a21.shtml. They have a rather interesting take on things. Mabey a bit conspiritalist for me. still thinking about it.
Are you still out on strike?
Jim Mc
Originally posted by jimmacYes, looks mighty similar to the flyer I received in Bristol...a 'socialist workers' affair..
Yes we are, The company wants to cut our pay/conditions as well. We went out march 28th. These people ( Management) are real b's. it seems the socialist party have latched onto this. I will add a link to a couple of articles that they have posted. http://www3.wsws.org/articles/2011/may2011/ppgi-m02.shtml and http://www3.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/ppgi-a21 ...[text shortened]... ng about it.
Jim Mc