18 May, 2010In a "David versus Goliath" struggle, braving a 15-week lock-out, scabs, and attacks by Rio Tinto's union-busting firm, ILWU members at Rio Tinto borate mine secure new contract resisting job outsourcing and attacks on union rights.
USA: "Rio Tinto tried to attack our contract in 81 areas leaving us union in name only. We stood up and fought. With the support of communities and workers all over the nation and around the world, we were able to fight off all of these attacks and preserve our rights," said International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 30 member Kevin Martz.
Martz neatly sums up the significance of the struggle that began on January 31 when Rio Tinto locked out the 570 miners at the Boron facility and ended on May 15, 2010 with 75 per cent voting in favor of the tentative agreement concluded at 1 am the day before.
The new six year agreement:
- maintains protection against dismissal and favouritism regarding promotion, shifts, scheduling, and overtime assignments,
- includes an annual 2.5 per cent wage increases each year of the contract,
- includes a $5000 bonus,
- prohibits subcontracting unless union members cannot fulfill assignments and sets limits on outside work, and
- resists Rio Tinto's proposal to eliminate a day of holiday leave per year.
On the other hand, the agreement also requires workers to give one-week advance notice to the company if they are available for overtime work, reduces sick leave from 14 to 10 days per year in the context of the possibility to bank 200 hours sick leave above the 10 days, and maintains existing employees' retirement pensions but has company-paid 401(k) savings plans for newly-hired workers.
This new contract beats back the multi-billion dollar mining and processing giant's nine months of demanding concessions such as:
- the prerogative to outsource jobs,
- the power to cut anyone's pay at anytime for any reason,
- to make union membership optional which could lead to discrimination against union members, and
- to lay off anyone at anytime without giving legitimate reason.
The fight inspired solidarity from around the globe, from picketing at Rio Tinto shareholders meeting by IMF-affiliated UNITE the union members in London to adoption of Rio Tinto European Works Council statement with press conferences by the Rio Tinto EWC officers in Paris and also by Canadian Auto Workers members in Quebec. On May 17 the 570 Boron workers began receiving their paychecks again, and they report for duty on the May 18 with all scabs being removed from the plant this week.