AMWU Members Say Rio Tinto’s Alcan Alumina Spills Not Uncommon

Representatives of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) say it has not been uncommon for Alcan, the steel and aluminum subsidiary of Rio Tinto, to lose alumina hydrate into coastal waters while loading ships in the Northern Territory.

But on 13 April, something more grievous occurred. While loading a ship near Alcan’s bauxite Gove refinery in Nhulunbuy, workers were ordered by a manager to dump a ship-loading conveyer containing 80 tonnes of alumina into Melville Bay after the load became contaminated with water. The AMWU-represented workers protested the decision, but the manager called the lead supervisor who ordered it dumped into the harbour.

The incident went unreported for two weeks until a whistle-blower informed the news media. Alcan management then responded by saying the 80-tonne figure was wrong – that it was only 30 tonnes.

Rio Tinto Alcan could face a maximum A$1 million fined by the Northern Territory Environmental Ministry if the company is found to have illegally dumped harmful substances. Alumina hydrate contains caustic soda, which can cause severe burns.

AMWU members working at Alcan at Gove say it is common for two percent of loads to be lost due to wind or negligence. The AMWU is standing behind Gove workers as they provide evidence to the territory’s Environment Department. A union representative said it was the company’s inaction over a number of years that caused workers to go to the media over the April incident.