BY ADAM LEEMAN
SYDNEY — "The company is expecting us to give up, but the longer we are out here the stronger we get", a striking worker at picket line outside the Morris McMahon can manufacturing plant told Green Left Weekly.
Sixty-five workers employed by Morris McMahon walked of the job four weeks ago when negotiations with management broke down. The company is refusing to negotiate with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), and is threatening to sack many of the workers involved in the dispute.
The company is trying to force its employees to work a five-day week. Currently workers at Morris McMahon work four 10-hour shifts each week.
The company has given its workers a 2.8% pay increase as compensation for the change in shift conditions. The factory workers are not satisfied with the company's increase. "Wages are so low that most workers would only get $13.07 per hour with the increase", said Keith Brown, a delegate for AMWU. "we are prepared to accept a five day week, but we're asking for an extra $30 to $40 per week", Brown added.
In response to the company's forced change in shift conditions, AMWU members put forward a log of claims for a new enterprise bargaining agreement that includes a 10% wage increase and accepts the companies shift changes.
The strike involves workers from different sections of the factory and involves two-thirds of Morris McMahon's employees. The vast majority of workers on the picket line come from the factory floor, where 90% are women and the majority are from non-English speaking backgrounds. The picket line also involves workers from the store, printing and maintenance sections of the company.
In response to the picket, Morris McMahon has employed 10 private security officers on guard round the clock. It has installed surveillance cameras and employed a full-time camera operator. In addition, the company has engaged a labour hire company and the local police force to bus scab labour across the picket line.
Each day at around 7am, up to 10 cops arrive minutes before an old bus with its windows covered. The police demand and/or force the picketers to move, allowing the bus and three rental trucks to enter the factory.
It is unclear how productive the scabs are; some on the picket believe the company is only employing this tactic to lower their morale.
Morris McMahon is located at 34 Arncliffe Street, Arncliffe, two blocks from Arncliffe station, Keith Brown can be contacted on 0415 651 543. The picket operates 24-hours, 7 days a week. Solidarity and financial support are very welcome and necessary for the workers.
[Adam Leeman is a member of the AMWU and the Socialist Alliance.]
From Green Left Weekly, April 16, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.