Paragon workers stranded as boss flees
Workers stood down at Paragon Printing Ltd and Moore Office Systems in Wodonga are holding a determined protest outside the Paragon factory, while being owed millions in unpaid entitlements by the collapsed company.
The devastated workers face being made redundant without receiving entitlements totalling $9 million, including superannuation which has not been paid since December.
Protesters are continuing their struggle to keep assets from being stripped from the worksite despite a court order to ban AMWU officials and organisers from the site. AMWU organiser, Leigh Diehm, said of the groundswell of support for the workers and their families: “It's a community protest now and people are showing they don't like what is going on," he said.
The day after placing both companies in administration, the owner, Amir Hyster, fled overseas. The administrators say it’s likely that Paragon Printing was trading while insolvent, and the company has not paid tax, superannuation or salary-sacrificed payments.
“It’s just wrong,” said Natalie Tyrrell, who has worked at Paragon for 11 years.
“I can’t believe the government lets this happen. Why isn’t he [the owner] brought back and made to face the consequences?”
AMWU Victorian Secretary, Steve Dargavel, said the union was concerned the company had been stripped of assets in order to avoid paying the workers’ entitlements.
“It is morally corrupt for a director to deliberately create a situation where a company cannot pay its workers the money it owes them.”
Jane Kernaghan has worked for Paragon Printing for 15 years and she said she feels betrayed by the company director.
“Most of the people have worked here for between ten and 40 years of their life. They’ve given everything. We’ve gone without pay rises and made sacrifices to keep our jobs and keep the company going and this is the thanks we get.”
“If the government stood up for us we wouldn’t be in this position,” she said. “It’s just wrong.”
The AMWU is fighting for a universal, employer-funded scheme which will guarantee Australian workers 100% of their rightful entitlements if the company they work for goes into insolvency.
Contact Person: Jemina Wilson
Contact Email: news@amwu.asn.au