Victory in Dayson dispute

AUSTRALIA: Good news from the IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union. Their dispute at Dayson has been settled. When the company - the Australian subsidiary of American Standard/Trane - failed to recognise and deal with the AMWU, despite the workers' desire to have the union negotiate an agreement on their behalf, workers began strike action. This was in early June 2002. After over four months, the dispute has now been resolved with the company forced to recognise the union and to negotiate an agreement with the union. The deal includes a very good separation/redundancy package for the workers in the event of redundancy or a plant closure. The AMWU Dayson members are quite pleased with this outcome, and they and the union believe that international as well as national solidarity was very important in this successful result. The company, due to a range of economic and market factors, has decided to close the Australian plant, and following careful examination, the AMWU says there is an inadequate basis economically to be able to sustain a dispute to keep the plant open. The AMWU says it considers American Standard/Trane as a growing force internationally and that their anti-union attitude is not just confined to Australia. The union believes the action of the workers in Australia has opened up the question of a more coordinated approach to organisation in this company internationally. The IMF would like to take this opportunity to thank its many affiliates who took solidarity action in support of the Dayson workers during this conflict.