Vic: Bracks denies he is siding with company on power dispute

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2001
Vic: Bracks denies he is siding with company on power dispute

Victorian Premier STEVE BRACKS denies he is taking the side of power company Yallourn
Energy in its long-running dispute with unions representing maintenance workers.

He told reporters he is not taking sides but the Australian Industrial Relations Commission
should resolve the matter.

However, he says he believes there are some rogue elements in the Australian Manufacturing
Workers Union involved in the dispute.

The AMWU represents maintenance workers at the plant, as does the Electrical Trades Union.

Mr BRACKS' comments follow his complaint last week to AMWU federal secretary DOUG CAMERON
about the behaviour of some elements within the AMWU state branch.





About 65 maintenance workers walked off the job at the Yallourn power plant yesterday.

The action followed an application by the company to the AIRC to have the dispute bargaining
period ended.

The application, due to be heard today, could make industrial action by the unions illegal.

AAP RTV bp/jlw/aa/jh

KEYWORD: YALLOURN BRACKS (MELBOURNE)

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