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19 January, 2000Unions are attempting to prevent the mineral and metals multinational from introducing individual contracts for staff in BHP's iron ore mining operations in western Australia.
AUSTRALIA: An update from the IMF's Australian affiliates on BHP's anti-trade union actions reports police attacks on picket lines at plant sites in Newman and Port Hedland, in western Australia. (See associated link for earlier news item on BHP.) Following 24-hour work stoppages at each of BHP's Australian steel division centres over the last few weeks, union members at BHP's iron ore operations in both Newman and Port Hedland last week endorsed taking four-day strike action.
The Newman strike started on January 17. Although the picket line stopped plant operations on the first day, police wielding batons assaulted pickets the following day and made arrests. An organiser for the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) who was on the picket line today, January 20, was run over by a four-wheel drive car and had to be taken to the hospital, unconscious and with a broken leg. Seven pickets were arrested.
At Port Hedland, the four-day strike started today. So far, police have forced their way through the picket line to allow buses through. Three union officials and four rank-and-file unionists have been arrested there.
BHP has informed AMWU officials in Perth that they are seeking a Supreme Court injunction against the picket lines.
In support of its Australian affiliates -- the AMWU, the Australian Workers' Union and the Communications, Electrical, Electronic Energy, Postal, Plumbing Union (CEPU), the IMF is coordinating international action to disrupt BHP iron ore shipments out of Australian ports. In a letter to the affiliates, Marcello Malentacchi, IMF general secretary, commends them for taking such a determined, principled stand. He says "it is clear the BHP management, in following the strategy adopted by Rio Tinto, is seeking to completely eliminate any form of collective representation in the iron ore mining sector in Australia and is intent on preventing any return of trade unionism in this important sector for the foreseeable future."
If BHP is successful, it will only be a matter of time before it and other companies seek to take advantage of the anti-union legislation introduced by the extreme right-wing government to undermine the basis of collective representation.
The Newman strike started on January 17. Although the picket line stopped plant operations on the first day, police wielding batons assaulted pickets the following day and made arrests. An organiser for the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) who was on the picket line today, January 20, was run over by a four-wheel drive car and had to be taken to the hospital, unconscious and with a broken leg. Seven pickets were arrested.
At Port Hedland, the four-day strike started today. So far, police have forced their way through the picket line to allow buses through. Three union officials and four rank-and-file unionists have been arrested there.
BHP has informed AMWU officials in Perth that they are seeking a Supreme Court injunction against the picket lines.
In support of its Australian affiliates -- the AMWU, the Australian Workers' Union and the Communications, Electrical, Electronic Energy, Postal, Plumbing Union (CEPU), the IMF is coordinating international action to disrupt BHP iron ore shipments out of Australian ports. In a letter to the affiliates, Marcello Malentacchi, IMF general secretary, commends them for taking such a determined, principled stand. He says "it is clear the BHP management, in following the strategy adopted by Rio Tinto, is seeking to completely eliminate any form of collective representation in the iron ore mining sector in Australia and is intent on preventing any return of trade unionism in this important sector for the foreseeable future."
If BHP is successful, it will only be a matter of time before it and other companies seek to take advantage of the anti-union legislation introduced by the extreme right-wing government to undermine the basis of collective representation.