Bridgestone to suspend tyre production over industrial Actio

[pies4ever]

Bridgestone to suspend tyre production
March 27, 2007

TYRE producer Bridgestone will suspend production at its Adelaide plant for three days in the face of ongoing industrial action.

The company is locked in negotiations with the 600 workers at the Salisbury plant with unions instigating an industrial campaign earlier this month in support of a new enterprise agreement.

Unions want an annual four per cent pay rise over the next three years while the company has offered a total of six per cent over the same period along with cash incentives and productivity bonuses.

The company today said the industrial campaign had caused significant disruption to production this month with the action including overtime bans and four-hour stoppages.

"Despite further discussions between the parties, an escalation in industrial action this week has forced the company to inform its employees that it has suspended production for three days, commencing this evening," Bridgestone said.

The company said the decision would not disrupt customer supply and delivery.
It also reiterated that its pay proposal provided a framework for necessary productivity improvements and a package which offered financial reward to employees.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21454286-5005961,00.html