The longest running industrial dispute in Western Australia’s coalmining history ended on February 14 when, after 180 days of protected industrial action, maintenance workers at Griffin Coal returned to work. Workers voted on February 9 to accept a new enterprise agreement that gave them back their family friendly rosters, a liveable wage and entitlements.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Steve McCartney said the agreement was a victory for workers but was critical of the Fair Work Commission and the dispute process. “Our members’ struggle has highlighted a broken industrial relations system, and the need for reform. We should be throwing out the Fair Work Act because it isn’t fair and it isn’t working.”
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