In a statement released today, Fuji Xerox said in addition to the temporary fill ins, there are also 7 technicians from New Zealand who are temporarily in Australia to "alleviate the workload left by the 130 technicians currently on strike".
The Australian Services Union members went on strike last week after talks for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) failed. One of ASU's contentions over the EBA was the claimed refusal of the photocopying giant to sign a clause that would protect employees from being monitored by the Global Positioning System (GPS) units which Fuji Xerox planned to install in vehicles and laptops.
Fuji Xerox defended itself saying they feel that the real reason for the strike is primarily "to negotiate larger pay packets".
Fuji Xerox added that it has "no plans to implement GPS to track the whereabouts of technicians and the union is aware of this".
The ASU has accused Fuji Xerox of being "un-Australian" after it flew overseas workers to Australia to help minimise disruption caused by the strike.
Fuji Xerox said that some of the technicians are in Australia as part of the company's official "On The Job" training program, where overseas technicians are trained on new technologies and learn best practice processes by working in Australia.
The other overseas technicians, Fuji Xerox said, "volunteered to come to Australia to help minimise disruption for the customers during the current industrial action".
The company emphasised that "the agreement negotiated so far will continue to maintain those terms and conditions, however, we won't be held to ransom by demands that are unreasonable and unsustainable for our business".
the technicians are from singapore and malaysia. there is no such thing as an 'on the job training program' - its just an excuse to import a scab workforce.