BY BILL MASON
BRISBANE — A pregnant diesel fitter, sent on unpaid maternity leave by her employer Mount Isa Mines, has successfully appealed to the Queensland industrial commission against the giant company. The commission on November 16 ordered MIM to offer the worker a clerical position at the Mount Isa plant.
Sharelle Grech, who is 14 weeks' pregnant, had worked for MIM for nine years and had been employed underground until a month ago. Her union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, had been barred from representing her before the commission because the rival Australian Workers Union has sole official coverage of the Mount Isa site.
After applying for, and being refused three surface jobs, Greche was put on unpaid maternity leave. "MIM are claiming that the underground environment could endanger her. It's more likely the stress of having no income and having to fight in the commission could endanger herself and her baby", AMWU assistant state secretary Rene Veltmeyer said.