BY SAM WAINWRIGHT
SYDNEY — Twelve workers from the Dayson compressor manufacturing plant at Rydalmere have been on strike for more than four weeks. The strike began when seven workers, including two union delegates, were sacked without notice on May 21.
The sackings followed the workers' rejection of a pay offer by Dayson management, in the form of a non-union agreement. The workers, who joined the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) last year, have been on individual contracts. Dayson has refused to accept the workers' wish to be represented by their union and to have a union negotiated enterprise agreement.
Dayson is a subsidiary of the US corporation Trane. The strikers have twice held protests outside Trane's offices in North Ryde. With Trane's slogan, "An American way of doing business", as a backdrop, the workers and their supporters pledged to continue the fight until Dayson accept the workers' democratic right to be represented by the union. On each occasion, the doors have been locked and management has refused to meet a representative.
The strikers have worked hard to publicise their case and gather support. Each Thursday, there is a barbecue attended by workers from nearby sites. They have also been on leafleting blitzes outside businesses, such as McDonald's, which use Dayson products. Most truck drivers have refused to cross the picket line. Delegate Serge Polyakov told Green Left Weekly that one truckie even stormed into the office to give management a blast before driving off.
The workers have received a second letter offering their jobs back if they return to work on a non-union agreement. "In their second letter they even agreed to a collective agreement, but not one negotiated by the union. This shows they are starting to weaken. You even see the psychological signs, they are not coming out and pointing at us and smiling and joking like at the start", said Polyakov.
Maintaining the picket is not easy for only 12 workers at a site with four large entrances. Supporters are encouraged to drop by with material and moral support. In particular, Sydneysiders are encouraged to attend a community mobilisation at 6.30am on June 27 and July 4. The Dayson picket is at 30 South Street, Rydalmere. Phone Serge on 0401 086 164 or Harry on 0419 402 650.
From Green Left Weekly, June 26, 2002.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.