Dispute at Trane subsidiary

AUSTRALIA: The IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) is facing a bitter recognition dispute with an American multinational company. The company is called Dayson, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trane (TDU). Dayson is a small operation in Australia which tests heat exchangers imported from Trane plants in the USA and France. According to the AMWU, the dispute, which is now in its third week, is a result of Trane's refusal to allow its employees to be represented by the AMWU in agreement negotiation. The company has now terminated seven workers who are union members, including the two AMWU delegates. In a circular letter, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, has asked IMF affiliates (particularly those with members in Trane in the USA and France) to intervene with their local unions to put pressure on the company to resolve this dispute in Australia. Affiliates are requested to send letters of support to the AMWU in Australia directly, by fax: +61 2 98979274 or e-mail: [email protected].