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29 August, 2011
Some 400 train drivers and car examiners at Rio Tinto iron ore operations in the Pilbara of West Australia have voted by 82% for a first collective agreement. The union that won those rights, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), now presents the three-year agreement to Fair Work Australia for approval.
“When Rio Tinto gave in principle support for the historic collective agreement back in June (see ICEM report then), it marked a major milestone in industrial relations in the resources sector,” said CFMEU West Australia Mining and Energy Secretary Gary Wood.
We have now “moved a little bit closer to greater workplace protection for the hardworking iron ore miners of the Pilbara.”
Gary Wood
Wood added that the new agreement “and the strong support for it open up opportunities for negotiations down the track for further collective agreements at BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.”
The agreement is precedent-setting because it blows away a major barrier that for decades has stymied collective negotiations and collective action in the Pilbara. That has been the long-standing use of individual work agreements by mining houses to avoid enterprise agreements and to remain union-free. CFMEU breaks that barrier with this agreement and deserves hearty congratulations for doing so.
Many of the 400 transport workers are fly-in, fly-out staff and move a good share of Australia’s resource wealth to global markets. They are also to be commended because their unified vote means that the door has been flung wide open for future collective gains, be them big or small through the CFMEU.