Glencore's open cut mines in the Upper Hunter will continue to be hit by rolling strikes following a meeting today at Singleton Showground where there was unanimous support for the union's campaign to negotiate improved enterprise agreements.
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Swapping their high-vis for their Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) jackets and T-Shirts union representatives estimated 1300-1400 Lodge members from Glencore’s seven operations attended the aggregate meeting, a 40 per cent increase on the rally held in June.
At today’s meeting they resolved to authorise the District Executive to continue a coordinated aggregate stoppages strategy and in doing so continue to liaise with other Districts. Furthermore that individual Glencore Lodges continue to take action that they require, in conjunction with Lodge Delegates and their District Official
The main sticking point according to the union is the rise in the use in contract/casual labour by Glencore.
“More contractors means we weaken our union and that’s what they want. Rio Tinto started this cancer but all the companies Glencore, Rio, BHP and Yancoal – they are all up to the same thing,” said CFMEU Northern District president, Peter Jordan.
“We are calling on those contractors to stand up and fight with us now.
“Join the union and be part of a collective. Lets take on Glencore and the other mining companies and protect local jobs and the local economy.”
Mr Jordan was scathing in his response to Glencore’s statement released on Friday saying to cheers from the rally that it was bullshit.
Glencore said “It is disappointing that the CFMEU continues to choose confrontation ahead of consultation over new Enterprise Agreements at a number of our Hunter coal operations.
“It is equally disappointing that union members and the public are being misled with false claims, particularly in relation to the use of contractors at our sites and the employment relationship at the Integra underground mine.
“Contrary to CFMEU claims, at the five Open Cut mines we employ 2580 people, of which 889 (or 34%) are either contractors, supplementary labour or casuals.
“All the workers employed by WorkPac at Integra are fulltime, fixed term, non-casual positions with significant numbers of these people coming from other Glencore mines such as Bulga UG, Ravensworth UG, West Wallsend, Tahmoor and Oaky Creek.
“It should also be noted that people from recently-closed underground mines have secured opportunities to be trained at our open cut mines and that many of the current permanent employees gained a start in the industry as a contractor.
“The CFMEU District Office is saying that Monday’s meeting is to seek direction from the mine site workers. The feedback from our mine sites is that this is a campaign directed by the District Office.”
Mr Jordan said the claim by Glencore that the District Office was directing the campaign ignored the fact that 1000 members voted in support of current actions at their June rally.
“Our members are driving this campaign and we are carrying out their instructions,” he said.
He repeated the union’s complaints about the high number of contractors working for Glencore arguing the the CFMEU calculated across all operations the figure was around 40 per cent.
“The meeting today will demonstrate to Glencore we are fair dinkum about these issues – loss of workers rights and conditions and the casualisation of the workforce,” he said.
“Our resolve is now stronger than when we started this campaign and at the same time we are disappointed Glencore is taking so long to accept and address the issues we have with the EBA negotiations.”
Mr Jordan told the rally he had spoken to Ian Cribb,Glencore’s Australian, coal boss, saying “Cribb said the strike actions were having a minimal impact.”
“Well 1400 guys out and minimal impact. We know its hurting them.”