Update on Dayson dispute

AUSTRALIA: In an update on the situation at Dayson Pty Limited, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union reports it has won an interlocutory injunction to stop the company from dismissing 11 workers who, since early June, have been on strike at the company's Rydalmere plant in support of a union enterprise agreement. Dayson - a subsidiary of the U.S. air-conditioning transnational Trane, one of the principal businesses of American Standard Companies Inc. - has now given notice that it intends to close down the Rydalmere plant because a feasibility study had shown it was not viable. The union has argued that the company breached the Workplace Relations Act by discriminating against the workers because of their union membership and because they were engaged in protected industrial action. The Court found the union only had an arguable case with regard to discrimination for union membership and has issued an injunction until the case goes to trial on November 18. Although workers at Dayson chose the AMWU to represent them, the company has been refusing to speak with the union, much less negotiate, and fired the workers, all union members, including two union delegates.