In a show of solidarity and strength, over 1000 members of the CFMEU employed at various Glencore open cut mining operations in the Hunter Valley resolved to continue the fight for the formulation of fair workplace agreements when they met in Singleton on Wednesday morning.
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As they prepare to return to work after a 48-hour stoppage across all the sites, the rank and file unanimously endorsed taking further industrial action if necessary in the process of negotiating the expired agreements.
And now the executive has a clear mandate from their members, delegates will attempt to resume talks with the company and address the key issues discussed at the mass meeting.
Their core grievances being Glencore’s increasing use of casual contract labour, redundancy rates, and a “miserable pay offer”.
CFMEU District President Peter Jordan says it’s quite clear from the amount of our members who attended today that they want security around their jobs.
“We have contracting members that have been working at some of their jobs for as long as five to six years and they are still in casual positions. This is simply not good enough,” he explains.
“Glencore is abusing the use of casual labour, this was seen in the setting up of the Integra Underground and the sacking of workers at the Beltana Lodge. Hence we want some clear understanding that this matter is going to be addressed and today’s vote is to clearly push on and have further industrial action in the event that Glencore fails to address that issue.”
When opening the meeting Mr Jordan had expressed his frustration with the company’s decision to restart Integra (formerly Glennies Creek Underground) with a casual contract workforce around the same time 69 workers were made redundant from their Bulga Underground operation.
