NSW: 14 STP workers sacked as entitlements deal looks shaky

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2000
NSW: 14 STP workers sacked as entitlements deal looks shaky

Some 14 workers from the failed national manufacturing company Steel, Tank and Pipe
(STP) have been sacked three days before Christmas.

More than 200 STP workers have begun indefinite strike action after the company's owners
-- the WEEKS family -- failed to sign an agreement to secure the $3.4 million in entitlements
that's owed to employees.

But Australian Manufacturing Workers Union assistant national secretary DAVE OLIVER
says as soon as the industrial action began, word filtered through that 14 workers had
been immediately sacked.

The latest sackings bring to 24 the number of workers stood down since the company
revealed last month it was in financial strife.

Mr OLIVER says the union is aware that if the existing work contracts are not completed
workers would be stood down, but the workers refused to work for nothing.

He says the banks have told them that unless the WEEKS sign off on the deal there is
no more money.

AAP RTV nd/sb/klw/jw

KEYWORD: STP (SYDNEY)

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