State Print operations handed over to WA Coventry Group Ltd

30/1/95

The State Government today officially bowed out of the commercial printing business.

Services Minister Graham Kierath said the hand-over of State Print's commercial printing operations to the West Australian Coventry Group Ltd would return $3.2 million to the Government, plus about $800,000 for sundry stock and consumable inventory items.

Mr Kierath said that of an estimated 71 employees working for the new printing operation, Allwest Print, 46, including five apprentices, were State Print staff who had accepted offers of employment with the new owner.

Of the remaining staff at State Print, 96 had been registered as redeployees.

Allwest Print would continue to operate out of the State Print Wembley site pending the completion of its new premises in Osborne Park.

This would release the Wembley site for the Subiaco 2000 redevelopment project.

"The sale of State Print and securing jobs for many of its employees is a most satisfactory result, achieved despite a negative campaign by the unions," Mr Kierath said.

"The unions' campaign of disruption, using their members as pawns in the process, resulted in ongoing and unnecessary uncertainty.

"Union members at State Print were 'led up the garden path' by union officials.

"The PKIU promised its members voluntary severance payments by seeking coverage under a Federal Award which gained them nothing more than they would have received under the Public Sector Management (Redeployment and Redundancy) Regulations 1994.

"These actions have only caused further stress and anxiety to its members and the union should be held accountable for this by its membership."

Media contact:  Brian Coulter (09) 222 9595 / 481 2133