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21 October, 2007
Trade unionists from a number of countries in which mining-energy multinational BHP Billiton operates attended an initial forum in Brisbane, Australia, on 9-11 October. The conference was aimed at constituting a formal network of unionised workers at BHP Billiton. It was jointly conducted by the ICEM and the International Federation of Metalworkers (IMF).
Unions attending included the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) of Australia, the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU); the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA), both of South Africa; Confederação Nacional dos Metalúrgicos (CNM/CUT) of Brazil; Sindicato de Trabajadores de Escondida of Chile; Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de Compañía Minera Antamina (SUTRACOMASA) of Peru; Community (formerly the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation) of the UK; and the United Steelworkers (USW) of the US.
The conference was highlighted by two panel discussions, one detailing collecting bargaining within the Anglo-Australian company, as well as plant closures, industrial actions, and strategies in dealing with a company making unprecedented profit. The second dealt with building union strength in the face of massive labour outsourcing and other attacks on collective agreements.
In country reports, the effect of imposing individual work agreements in Australia in place of collective agreements was discussed, as was health and safety concerns. Several unions reported on the company’s failure to report lost-time injuries in order to be able to report positive sustainability data, and South American unions reported on widespread environmental problems from mines and smelting operations in those countries. NUMSA reported on a high incidence of occupational illnesses stemming from a manganese operation in South Africa.
Company representatives were invited to discuss employment concerns and problems, but declined the invitation.
The unions agreed to hold a demonstration and speak at a November AGM of the company in Adelaide, Australia, and they also agreed to each prepare and distribute written dossiers on work conditions at BHP Billiton mines and other workplaces.
The ICEM and IMF agreed to oversee the running of the workers’ network over the next year. ICEM was represented at the meeting by President Senzeni Zokwana of NUM in South Africa and Joe Drexler, the director of Industry and Corporate Affairs. IMF was represented by Rob Johnston, its director of Steel, Shipbuilding, Non-ferrous Metals, and Health and Safety.