Rio Tinto provokes another strike

Rio Tinto provokes another strike

By Stephen O'Brien

NEWCASTLE — It was only a matter of time before Rio Tinto extended its offensive against Hunter Valley coalminers. The company has now provoked a strike by its 400 workers at the Mount Thorley colliery, located 30 minutes drive from the Hunter Valley No. 1 mine.

Mount Thorley workers began a week-long strike on October 31 to stop Rio Tinto from sacking 120 (some reports say 230) workers who the company says must go because of the price of coal, operating costs and transport difficulties.

Rio Tinto intends to sack selectively and then have total control over the jobs and rosters of the remaining workers. The company has refused to negotiate with the CFMEU and has rejected an interim arrangement that would have allowed negotiations to continue and avoided lay-offs.

Rio Tinto has applied to the Industrial Relations Commission for an exemption from recent court decisions upholding seniority. It has also announced that it intends to have the strike outlawed.

From GLW issue 296