Campaign 2000 kicks into action

BY CHRIS SPINDLER

MELBOURNE -- A 24-hour strike at white goods manufacturer Email on August 3 marks the first of possibly many industrial disputes here as manufacturing workers begin their cross-industry Campaign 2000 to gain improvements in pay, hours and conditions.

Industrial action at the company's sites was provoked by Email's failure to agree to workers' demands; similar action is beginning at other sites. Many companies have already agreed to the workers' demands, however, and Campaign 2000 has a very good chance of establishing itself as the industry benchmark.

The Campaign 2000 claims include a 15% pay increase over 33 months, including income protection and improved long-service leave and an extra paid day off. Workers are also demanding more stringent controls on the employment of casuals, limiting casual status to 12 weeks before workers must be offered permanency, and that all contractors enter into agreements with relevant unions to ensure correct wages and conditions.

The Australian Industry Group has been advising manufacturing employers to undercut Campaign 2000 and try to get their workers out of the industry wide campaign. Even if it costs the employers something in this round of negotiations, the AIG states, the isolation of a site from industry wide agreements will allow future gains for the employer.

Bosses' tactics have so far met with little success. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union members are sticking fast to the campaign, which began last year with shop stewards' and mass members' meetings to endorse the claims and tactics.

Shop stewards' meetings will be held within the week to review initial results and plan further action.

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