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More than 260 workers in hearing aid manufacturer Cochlear’s plant in Sydney, Australia have launched an international campaign to defend their contract.

Cochlear, which manufactures hearing aids for 80,000 people across the world, recently tried to terminate its collective bargaining agreement and impose “individual common law contracts.” When workers voted down the company’s proposed system, Cochlear demanded a second vote, in which the overwhelming majority of the workers again voted “no” on June 29.

Meanwhile, the workers voted twice by secret ballot to be represented by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), but the company claimed that under recently passed federal industrial relations laws it does not have to respect the workers’ decision. “Work Choice Laws,” which were implemented last year by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, allow employers coerce workers into signing “Australian Work Agreements” (AWA’s). AWA’s are individual contracts between employers and workers that override any pre-existing collective bargaining agreement. This allows employers to essentially gut union compensation and working conditions at their whim.

Cochlear workers are strongly resisting the company’s contract proposal, as well as its proposed shift-work system. Under that system, workers will have different schedules each week, alternating clock-in times between early morning and mid-afternoon. Most workers in the Sydney plant are women with infants or school-aged children. They say the system will make it almost impossible for them to arrange child care.

The workers are asking for support from the local community and their union, which launched an international email campaign to put pressure on the company. Please show your support by visiting AMWU, clicking on the “Listen Up Cochlear” link, and telling the company to respect its workers and their union.

Expiration Date:
Sun, 09/30/2007 - 11:59pm