Don’t dump on Dandy

By Nicole Williams
DANDENONG workers’ jobs may be under threat.
That was the message from Australia Workers Union National Secretary Paul Howes, who visited the Viridian glass factory to encourage workers to fight for the local industry and their jobs.
The visit was part of a national tour promoting the AWU’s ‘Don’t Dump on Australia’ campaign against illegal dumping of subsidised produce into the Australian market.
The campaign states that Australia has a ‘lax attitude’ to World Trade Organisation free trade rule cheats.
Mr Howes told the 250 union members at Viridian that the campaign was crucial to their industry and their jobs.
“If we lose places like Viridian, if we lose industries like the glass manufacturing sector they will never come back,” Mr Howes said.
“It’s about protecting your jobs and the jobs of your children and grandchildren. It’s about making sure Australia remains a place where a 16-year-old kid can leave school and get the job he or she deserves.”
Mr Howes said union members working in the Dandenong glass factory were fed up with politicians looking the other way while international competitors illegally dumped subsidised products in the market.
Mr Howes called on Viridian workers to support the campaign and sign its ‘Don’t Dump on Australia’ postcards to send to MPs.
“The AWU is mounting a nationwide campaign to lobby MPs to ensure our good competitive local industry is not forced to shut because the rules of the free trade game are being cheated upon,” Mr Howes said.
“We are asking the community to sign our ‘Don’t Dump on Australia’ postcards to flood MPs with protest cards showing them the community wants them to act quickly to protect jobs.”
The AWU is holding a National Roundtable on Dumping next week to find ways to defend the industry.
“I expect some key MPs who understand our concern will join us to discuss the problem and work with us to find solutions,” Mr Howes said.