Weipa unionists hold firm

By Bill Mason BRISBANE The struggle between Comalco and 78 unionists on strike over wages at the bauxite mining town of Weipa is the first embryonic approach by employers to de-unionise the work force, according to ACTU (Qld) assistant secretary Tim Pallas. The strikers are demanding award pay increases to match $15,000 in rises paid to individual contract workers at Weipa. A blockade by unionists in small boats is preventing tugs and pilot boats from servicing bulk carriers, and holding up the loading of 300,000 tonnes of bauxite valued at $6 million. This company has pockets full of gold as far as contract workers are concerned, Pallas said on November 3. They are trying to buy off the union allegiance of award workers and de-unionise the town so [workers] will not be in a position to bargain collectively any more. n

From GLW issue 210