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5 July, 2001Following a nine-week lockout, 87 workers at Friction Dynamics Ltd have been sacked.
GREAT BRITAIN: An increasingly bitter dispute is taking place in North Wales where two-thirds of the workforce at the Friction Dynamics plant in Caernarfon have been locked out for the last nine weeks in a dispute over working conditions. The workers are members of the IMF-affiliated Transport and General Workers' Union.
In late April 2001, workers at the company, which is also known as Dynamex Friction, a car parts manufacturer, took industrial action for one week in a dispute over health and safety working conditions, impossible work targets, and attempts by the employer to break existing workplace agreements. Upon their return on the job, the workers were locked out by management which said it would only sanction a return to work if the workers accepted a 15 per cent pay cut and changes in conditions.
On June 29, the 87 workers at Dynamex were fired and became the first to be dismissed under employment legislation which was initially aimed at giving protection to anyone taking industrial action. This Employment Relations Act, passed in 1999 to "give protection" to workers engaged in lawful industrial action, stipulates that strikers cannot be sacked for eight weeks. The case in point, however, proves the legislation gave "no protection".
Commenting on this dramatic turn of events, IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi said "the IMF fully supports the dismissed workers and the TGWU in their struggle against Dynamex. The dismissals prove this legislation is inadequate."
A rally is being organised on Saturday, July 7, in Caernarfon.
A special website - http://www.frictiondynamex.co.uk - has been set up to give information about the dispute and to promote the rally. Messages of support can be posted in the guest book on this site and would be greatly welcome.
For further information, contact Tom Jones, TGWU, on the following e-mail address: [email protected]
In late April 2001, workers at the company, which is also known as Dynamex Friction, a car parts manufacturer, took industrial action for one week in a dispute over health and safety working conditions, impossible work targets, and attempts by the employer to break existing workplace agreements. Upon their return on the job, the workers were locked out by management which said it would only sanction a return to work if the workers accepted a 15 per cent pay cut and changes in conditions.
On June 29, the 87 workers at Dynamex were fired and became the first to be dismissed under employment legislation which was initially aimed at giving protection to anyone taking industrial action. This Employment Relations Act, passed in 1999 to "give protection" to workers engaged in lawful industrial action, stipulates that strikers cannot be sacked for eight weeks. The case in point, however, proves the legislation gave "no protection".
Commenting on this dramatic turn of events, IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi said "the IMF fully supports the dismissed workers and the TGWU in their struggle against Dynamex. The dismissals prove this legislation is inadequate."
A rally is being organised on Saturday, July 7, in Caernarfon.
A special website - http://www.frictiondynamex.co.uk - has been set up to give information about the dispute and to promote the rally. Messages of support can be posted in the guest book on this site and would be greatly welcome.
For further information, contact Tom Jones, TGWU, on the following e-mail address: [email protected]