AMWU to Swedes: Stop being tools

Date: 06 December 2010

The AMWU has called on Swedish tooling company Sandvik to deliver an equal Christmas to its workers in NSW by signing a new union collective agreement before the end of 2010.

Since March AMWU members at mining and construction sites in the Hunter Valley have been negotiating a new agreement ahead of a $33 million facility proposed for construction.


The company's decision to wind back redundancy provisions within those agreements has baffled the workforce, according to AMWU organiser Cory Wright.



"This has the potential to drive a wedge between workers. 
 


"You will have one set of workers receiving above-standard set of redundancy provisions, then another set of workers entitled to significantly less." 



In recent weeks 200 workers walked off Sandvik's sites in protest at the company's unwillingness to implement standard entitlements and conditions. 
 


Members have since returned to work in the hope of achieving an outcome, however further industrial action, including a 24-hour stoppage and overtime bans could be possible.

"The AMWU is calling for intervention from the company's international management to resolve the dispute," said Mr Wright.

"Sandvik Global in Sweden need to be fair and reasonable and ensure that every worker, regardless of what site they work on, receives the same degree of security and protection as the next worker.

"The AMWU has always maintained, one site, one set of conditions. Sandvik's bosses must implement that urgently to give the workers security going into 2011."

If you would like to show your support for Sandvik workers seeking equal entitlements and conditions please send an email to the company's Swedish head office: info.smc@sandvik.com

For further information

Contact:	Dave Oliver
Union:	AMWU
WWW:	http://www.amwu.org.au/

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