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11 July, 2000As dispute deteriorates at Joy Mining Machinery, workers determine a one-month work stoppage.
AUSTRALIA: In support of the locked-out workers at Joy Mining Machinery in Moss Vale, Australia, the International Metalworkers' Federation is embarking on a stepped-up international campaign against Harnischfeger Industries, the parent company of Joy Mining Machinery. The industrial dispute involves members of the IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, which has attempted for seven months to negotiate a new plant-based agreement at Joy. (See IMF website news item dated June 16, or NewsBriefs No. 24, 2000.)
According to the AMWU, the dispute is deteriorating. Joy management gave written notice it would end the lockout by July 4, but based a return to work on certain conditions. A mass meeting for workers was held on July 3, where they overwhelmingly rejected as unacceptable the conditions set by management and determined a one-month work stoppage as of July 4. They have vowed to continue the struggle to protect their terms and conditions of employment.
Part of the IMF's campaign to support the Joy workers in Moss Vale includes asking its affiliates, in particular in the USA and South Africa, to put more pressure on local managements of Harnischfeger Industries to resolve the problems in Australia. The IMF would also suggest bombarding the website of Harnischfeger Industries with protest messages and urge the company to return to the negotiating table and find a solution satisfactory to all.
To send a message, access their website at: www.harnischfeger.com and click on "Contact Us".
IMF affiliates organising workers in Harnischfeger companies are: the IAM, IUE, UAW and the USWA (in the USA), and NUMSA (in South Africa).
According to the AMWU, the dispute is deteriorating. Joy management gave written notice it would end the lockout by July 4, but based a return to work on certain conditions. A mass meeting for workers was held on July 3, where they overwhelmingly rejected as unacceptable the conditions set by management and determined a one-month work stoppage as of July 4. They have vowed to continue the struggle to protect their terms and conditions of employment.
Part of the IMF's campaign to support the Joy workers in Moss Vale includes asking its affiliates, in particular in the USA and South Africa, to put more pressure on local managements of Harnischfeger Industries to resolve the problems in Australia. The IMF would also suggest bombarding the website of Harnischfeger Industries with protest messages and urge the company to return to the negotiating table and find a solution satisfactory to all.
To send a message, access their website at: www.harnischfeger.com and click on "Contact Us".
IMF affiliates organising workers in Harnischfeger companies are: the IAM, IUE, UAW and the USWA (in the USA), and NUMSA (in South Africa).