In yet another day of drama in Tecoma, Monday 29th July saw workers aggresively break the picketline with the aid of security and police before all going home for the day by 11AM with the Hazelvale Dairy somehow surviving another day!
B.R. Demolitions, the non-unionised demolition company that has decided to defy the communities wishes and the Trades Hall OHS workbans placed on the site had announced that Monday and Tuesday would see the absestos removed from the Old Dairy and Wednesday would be “D-Day” or the day the buildings would actually be knocked over.
Workers were on site by 5.40 AM including the Director of the company “Bernie” himself. By early in the morning the protest line had also formed at the gate. Some workers were able to enter on foot whilst security and police escorted some vehicles in. One worker decided to assualt protestors on the way through the line pushing one woman in the back and another man to the ground. See footage here.
If you would like to send B.R. Demolitins a polite message asking them to reconsider their business to decision to disrespect the community of the Tecoma and involve themselves in this bitter dispute then please do so via there “contact page”.
Meanwhile, high above the chaos, our “roof angel” continued their vigil on the roof of the old Dairy. They made it through the night with their beautiful singing voice and spirit intact. McDonald’s, in a move befitting a medieval siege, removed the entirety of the verandah at the front of the building further isolating our “angel”.
By 11AM, the workers who had entered the site left for the day and no further work occurred.
Late in the day the campaign also received some welcome news that four members of the Tecoma 8 who whose bail conditions had prevented them from returning within 100m of the site have had their bail conditions altered so that the Supreme Court Injunction and bail conditions are now one and the same. This means we can see their smiling faces within the “approved free speech zones” down at the protest site. Welcome back!
Protests will continue Tuesday 5AM onwards at the site. It appears this epic “David versus McGoliath” struggle continues on!
A quieter moment on the protest line after workers had gone home for the day.
