Workers give $100,000 in tsunami aid

Date: 10 January 2005

A group of workers from Geelong in Victoria are giving $100,000 to help victims of the Tsunami disaster in Indian Ocean countries

The Operators at the Shell oil refinery in Geelong are presenting a cheque for $100,000 to Australian Red Cross officials at their workplace this morning (9am AEDT Monday January 10, 2005).

The Refinery Operators, members of The Australian Workers Union, decided to make the donation at a union meeting last Thursday. Workers at the meeting voted unanimously to reject an original proposal for a $10,000 donation and instead to give $100,000.

"When the proposal to give $10,000 was put forward, people said it was not enough - everyone insisted on giving 10 times as much," said AWU delegate Neville Denton.

AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said the Geelong Refinery Operators' donation is largest known gift from any similarly sized workplace. "The donation typifies the generosity of Australians' response to the Tsunami disaster, particularly that of workers and unions," Mr Shorten said.

The AWU is encouraging donations to Tsunami appeals and last week donated $25,000. The Australian trade unions' overseas aid organisation, Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA, is collecting donations for relief work in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Donations can be made by phoning free call 1800 888 674 between 8am and 6pm.

For further information

Contact:	Jeremy Vermeesch
Union:	The Australian Workers' Union
Phone:	03 8327 0888
Contact Mobile:	0431 942 977
Fax:	03 8327 0899
Email:	jeremy.vermeesch@awu.net.au
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au

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