Mt Isa tense despite return to work

Issue 

By Jim McIlroy

BRISBANE — A crane driver was stood down at MIM's Mt Isa mine in the days following the return to work, accepted at a mass meeting on May 22, despite a 14-day cooling off period agreed to by unions and the company to end the lockout at the mine.

The action by MIM has increased tensions after union leaders persuaded the 2750-strong work force to call off its 13-week campaign of stoppages and bans in return for MIM ending the 11-day lockout.

Many MIM workers and some union officials remain sceptical that peace will prevail long enough to allow resolution of a new enterprise agreement and a dispute over union coverage rights.

"People are tense; the adrenalin is still pumping", Mt Isa combined unions joint disputes committee chair Roy Harris said on May 26.

The crane driver was stood down after refusing to instruct his supervisor on how to carry out certain work. Training of staff by award workers to allow them to maintain essential production during strikes is a highly controversial issue at Mt Isa.

Unions officials, led by ACTU president Martin Ferguson, pressured the Mt Isa workers back to the job at the May 22 meeting under the threat that they would be on their own if they continued the struggle.

The agreement brokered by Ferguson involves establishment of a single bargaining unit to negotiate a new agreement with the company. It would include Australian Workers Union and Manufacturing Workers Union (metalworkers) officials, and local reps from the three other unions previously excluded from talks with MIM.

There would also be a no-strike period while new enterprise bargaining negotiations are under way.

The other main issue of annual family airfares to Brisbane is still unresolved.

Mt Isa workers are clearly determined that enough extra money will have to be offered by the company to compensate for the loss of the airfares, or the dispute will flare up again.

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