Close to 200 workers employed by the global pharmaceutical company Aspen Holdings, in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, took industrial action after months of unsuccessful negotiations. The company had been attempting to extend hours of work and reduce rostered days off. The company had a pattern of employing newly arrived migrants hoping that cultural differences and unfamiliarity with Australian unions would weaken the workforce. To their surprise, all workers went out on strike united. Workers also received a lot of community support. Industrial action at other Aspen sites around the world would have hurt the company most. After ten days of strike, the company relented and workers were able to keep their entitlements.
Close to 200 workers employed by the global pharmaceutical company Aspen Holdings, in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, took industrial action after months of unsuccessful negotiations. The company had been attempting to extend hours of work and reduce rostered days off. The company had a pattern of employing newly arrived migrants hoping that cultural differences and unfamiliarity with Australian unions would weaken the workforce. To their surprise, all workers went out on strike united. Workers also received a lot of community support. Industrial action at other Aspen sites around the world would have hurt the company most. After ten days of strike, the company relented and workers were able to keep their entitlements.
