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AWU signs pact with US counterpart
Brad Norington
February 07, 2005

One of Australia's biggest unions is seeking to increase its bargaining muscle against hostile companies such as BlueScope Steel by forming a pact with its US counterpart to co-ordinate industrial campaigns across international borders.

The Australian Workers Union will today sign a strategic alliance with the 600,000-member United Steel Workers of America that commits both to co-operate in battles against "recalcitrant" companies with employees on both continents.

The alliance is meant to be a new weapon in the union arsenal, putting unfriendly companies on notice that unions will confront their operations globally and not act in isolation during bargaining disputes.

Especially in union sights is BlueScope Steel, which has been involved in a protracted fight with the 130,000-strong AWU over the company's attempts to set different wages and conditions at sites around the country.

BlueScope Steel has operations in the US and other countries that could be targeted in any international union campaign. Other multi-national companies for which the pact could be used include Alcoa, Exxon, Esso and Pilkington.

The pact involves a commitment of the unions to dramatically increase communication, exchange officials and co-ordinate some bargaining across national borders.

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Full Story in The Australian

In an age of globalization this sort of cooperation between unions is long overdue.

[ 07 February 2005: Message edited by: robbie_dee ]