Snap strike over injured worker's job loss

The Herald
Written by: IAN KIRKWOOD AND TYRON BUTSON
16/07/2009

UP to 200 United Group Rail Services workers have gone on a snap strike
over the reported sacking of a fourth-year apprentice injured in a workplace
accident.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Daniel Wallace said it
was the first strike at the train-builder still known popularly by its old
name Goninan in at least eight years.

Mr Wallace said the action was taken to support fourth-year boilermaking
apprentice Skii Webster, of Warners Bay.

He said Mr Webster had injured his back lifting at work in 2006, early in his
apprenticeship. To help settle the resultant workers' compensation claim,
Mr Webster agreed to voluntarily terminate his apprenticeship in exchange
for the company giving him a full-time job in the stores, where he had been
working on light duties for some time.

Mr Wallace said the company reneged on that arrangement and dismissed
Mr Webster on Tuesday.

Management refused a compromise proposed by the union, and the day
shift of about 120 workers walked off the job at 12.30pm yesterday.
The afternoon and night shifts would also strike for four hours, Mr Wallace said.
He said the dispute was heard at an urgent hearing of the Fair Work Australia
tribunal last night, where vice-president Watson issued "interim orders" to
cease industrial action for 48 hours.

Mr Webster, 19, said his dismissal was "underhanded" and "out of the blue".
"About a month ago I was sent to another specialist who said I could not
continue my apprenticeship but I was never shown the report. I was just told
I couldn't finish it because of my back, that there were no jobs available and
that I was gone," Mr Webster said."

The Herald was seeking comment last night from United Group