Underpaid tech workers who were being informed of their roster via text message will be entitled to a raft of rights and conditions under a new union collective agreement.  

Last year AMWU News reported on the plight of workers from the computer assembly factory Foxteq in Sydney’s west whose situation had been likened to that of dockworkers on the infamous Depression era Hungry Mile.

Despite the efforts of the company and job agency Westaff to undermine the workers’ rights AMWU Organiser George Simon said the agreement would pave the way for a better future.  

“It was very, very difficult to get this agreement up. Without the workers uniting behind the campaign, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this result. It’s a credit to them,” Mr Simon said.

Under the agreement, workers will now be paid up one dollar an hour extra. They will be offered permanent employment including entitlements to long service leave and redundancy packages back dated to the duration of their time as casuals.  

Workers will also be eligible to accumulate RDOs and will be offered an annual 4% pay rise on the anniversary of the agreement.

Their plight has generated world media attention because of the company’s connection with the controversial Chinese IPhone manufacturer Foxconn.

“These workers were being treated disgracefully. You wouldn’t think this sort of thing could happen in this country,” said Mr Simon.

“We’ve made a big difference here and we’ll continue to fight for others in the same boat.”