|
Issue No. 188 | 25 July 2003 |
Solidarity Gets Sexy
Interview: As They Say In The Bible ... Industrial: Just Doing It Unions: Breaking Into the Boys Club Activists: Making the Hard Yards Bad Boss: In the Pooh Unions: National Focus Economics: Pop Will Eat Itself Technology: Dean for President International: Rangoon Rumble Education: Blackboard Jungle Review: From Weakness to Strength Poetry: Downsized
Gloves Off Over Workers� Rights Win for Victims of Rio Tinto "Blood Sport" League Players Join Union Team Kodak Chops Workers from Picture Stool Lady�s Stand Vindicated Nurses Seek Work-Based Elder Care High Tech Pokies Threaten Jobs
The Soapbox The Locker Room Postcard
Does This Make Me a Raving Trot? More on Bullies And More �
Labor Council of NSW |
News Win for Victims of Rio Tinto "Blood Sport"
The full bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today ordered Rio Tinto to give "preference of employment" to the former Blair Athol men at its neighbouring Hail Creek operation. The CFMEU members - "blacklisted" and the victims of management "blood sport", according to earlier findings - battled on as Rio Tinto appealed one decision after another in an apparent bid to lift the financial bar beyond their union's means. The 16 union activists were sacked on July 21, 1998.
Nearly three years later IRC Commissioner Hodder ruled those dismissals unfair. He said the workers had been subjected to "unfair and unjust" treatment because of their union membership. Commissioner Hodder ordered their reinstatement with full back pay. Rio Tinto appealed but Hodder's decision was upheld by the full bench on December, 12, 2002. However, because the Workplace Relations Act restricted unfair dismissal compensation to a maximum of six months pay, the full bench could not impose additional compensation, and refused to endorse reinstatement. If did, however, confirm the sackings had been "harsh, unjust and unreasonable". On February 7, 2003, the CFMEU lodged an exceptional matters application arguing the 16 should be re-employed at Hail Creek. CFMEU Mining president, Tony Maher, said his organisation was "relieved rather than triumphant" about the latest ruling. "These families deserve the chance to get on with their lives," Maher said. "They have been through an enormous ordeal and, despite the suffering and hardship, they want to put the bitterness of the past behind them." The win comes on top of the record $25 million settlement to unfair dismissal claims arising from Rio Tinto's sacking of unionists at the Hunter Valley No 1 and Mt Thorley mines last year. Maher called on Rio Tinto to change tack and "break with the predatory anti-unionism" evident in those cases. "The Commission has thrown down the challenge to Rio Tinto to heal the wounds of the last five years," he said. "The time has come when even the most powerful multi-national must search its corporate soul over the enormous power it wields over the lives or ordinary people."
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|