Fed: Govt's IR system to blame for damaging strike - Labor

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2001
Fed: Govt's IR system to blame for damaging strike - Labor

Labor says a strike threatening Australia's entire car production industry is a direct
result of the coalition government's confrontational attitude towards unions.

Three hundred workers at TriStar Steering and Suspension in Sydney have vowed to strike.

This would halt the supply of parts until at least Monday, with industry leaders warning
that about 50,000 jobs Australia-wide are at risk.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman ARCH BEVIS says the timing of the strike
probably has nothing to with Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD'S current visit to Japan to discuss
Mitsubishi's uncertain presence in Australia.

But he's told ABC radio the government's adversarial industrial relations system is
to blame for the strife.

Mr BEVIS says the workers, the unions and the employers should bwe able to sit down
and negotiate their dispute, but this is not encouraged by Mr HOWARD'S agenda.

He says the strike action is actually legal, and is being taken in accordance with
JOHN HOWARD'S laws.

AAP RTV dep/ rt

KEYWORD: CARS BEVIS (CANBERRA)

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