W.E. Smith workers saga continues

Image credit: W.E Smith website

UPDATE: 1:18pm

The Australian Manufacturing Worker's Union has confirmed that overnight all signage from the W.E. Smith Engineering facility in Boambee was removed.

The Union says action was taken without any consultation with workers or themselves.

"The last day of work at the site was on the 16^th December 2016," the AMWU said in a statement. "Workers were told to take unpaid leave over the holiday and that leave was extended by two weeks in January. The factory was scheduled to reopen on January 30^th."

"If this move represents the closure of the factory, then management should inform the workers immediately to allow them to move on with their lives. On top of any redundancy conditions."

According to the Union, workers are currently owed 3 weeks of wages, seven months of unpaid superannuation form last year and several more from 2015 and leave entitlements. 

Last June, the Fair Work Ombudsman made the 85-year-old business pay 83 of its workers nearly $800,000 in unpaid entitlements, and it has previously struggled with solvency issues.

12:12PM:

Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker says a meeting has been scheduled between W.E Smith staff and the AMWU on Friday, after workers were apparently locked out of their own workplace in Boambee this morning.

Mr Hartsuyker said the workers deserved better.

“The workers at WE Smith have cooperated with management and made numerous sacrifices over the last few years to give the company a chance to survive. They’ve accepted fewer hours, taken longer holidays, agreed to generous payment plans for their unpaid entitlements, and generally done everything possible to help the company stay alive,” he said.

The situation continues to develop, with reports saying the workers were asked to take extra unpaid leave in January and that wage payments have been delayed.

EARLIER:

Workers at the Boambee-based manufacturing business W.E Smith have been left confused, after they turned up to work this morning to find the business had supposedly moved.

The ABC reports the gates were locked and signage indicated the business had moved to a new address at 51 Grafton street.

W.E Smith has been contacted for comment, however their phone appears to be constantly engaged.