Pilbara unions dispute over members

By Geoff Spencer

PERTH -- The United Mine Workers Union (UMWU) says its decision to recruit in the Pilbara is aimed at re-establishing unionism in the region after eight years of steady decline in union membership.

UMWU forms the mining division of the CFMEU. Its decision is likely to lead to a demarcation dispute with the Australian Workers Union, which has principal union status in the iron ore industry in Western Australia.

Last year, when South Australian and Tasmanian miners decided they wanted to be part of the FEDFA/CFMEU structure, the AWU took the matter to the Industrial Relations Commission, which forced the CFMEU to back down. The AWU is confident that the commission will rule in its favour again.

It is highly improbable that the ACTU is going to overturn its union rationalisation plan just because some rank and file unionists disagree with it. That the demarcation dispute will make it easier for the mining corporations to continue dividing and ruling over the workers is an ongoing concern.

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