
Issue No 41		26 November 1999

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News

Rio Tinto Sacks 84 for Christmas Eve

By Paddy Gorman

Rio Tinto remained true to its mongrel pedigree when it told 84 mineworkers at its Mt Thorley open cut that they were sacked for Christmas Eve.

The Mt Thorley miners have been in dispute with the company over a new enterprise agreement which has led to a number of stoppages. The arbitrary sackings were announced in the middle of negotiations.

Once again, the non-Union scabs were at the top of Rio's so-called merit based system and the senior executive Lodge officials and the local check inspector were consigned by the company to the bottom - and all were sacked.

The CFMEU Mining Division is taking the company to court having lodged 84 unfair dismissal claims.

The sacked mineworkers were not only devastated by news of dismissals but

were equally disgusted by the manner of it. When they turned up for day shift at 7am, those condemned for the sack were individually brought into the main office, told they were sacked for Christmas Eve, but they were to finish up on that day (17/11).

Each miner was then frog-marched by two people to clean out his basket in the bathroom. Those who had arrived in cars were marched to them and ordered off the mine like criminals. So too were those who got a lift to work with mates - the company had hired cars with drivers to get them off the mine immediately.

On the same day, Rio announced a bonus for company shareholders!

Union offers to Assist in Mine Disaster Aftermath

Meanwhile, the CFMEU has pledged to help with inquiries into the tragic deaths this week of four mineworkers at the non-union Northparkes gold and copper mine in NSW.

The mine opened in 1994 and it is operated by the notorious anti-Union North Limited. Even though Northparkes is a non-union mine, the CFMEU believes that our moral obligation to assist people in times of tragedy transcends all other considerations.

Mining union rescue teams were among the first on the scene when the tragedy occurred. At this stage, it appears that the four men were killed in a massive air blast. The NSW Mines Department has announced it will commence an immediate investigation into the tragedy. North has also announced a company inquiry into the deaths.

The CFMEU with almost 120 years experience in metalliferous mining at Broken Hill has written to NSW Mines Minister Eddie Obeid offering our assistance.

The President of the Miners Union in Broken Hill Eddie Butcher said: "Our Union has had enormous experience dealing with metalliferous mining accidents and fatalities and we are prepared to use whatever knowledge we have gained to help in any way we can to determine the cause of the tragedy and help prevent it happening again".

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Issue 41 contents

Interview: A Bob Each Way
ALP tactician Bob McMullan is responsible for charting Labor industry policy into the next millennium. He tells us where he’s heading.

Unions: Organiser of the Year
Just ten days to go before entries close for our $2000 air ticket. Here’s another nomination.

History: Labour Daze
A report from the 6th National Biennial Conference of the Australian Society For The Study Of Labour and Community.

Politics: Tomorrow’s Questions
While the turn of the century sees Sydney play host to the Olympic games, the International Youth Parliament 2000 will bring world focus to contemporary issues facing young people.

Health: Red Ribbons
December 1, World AIDS Day has a special place in the history of the AIDS pandemic.

International: Organised Chaos
Persistent rumours are floating around Jakarta that the former boss of the official pro-Soeharto Indonesian trade union movement is about to be charged with corruption.

Economics: Seattle Numbers Grow for WTO Protest
News of the agreement to smooth China’s entry to the World Trade Organisation has created its own "China Syndrome" for organisers of the Seattle WTO event.

Satire: Too Many Media Players!
The Productivity Commission has issued a report calling for the abolition of existing cross-media ownership laws.

Review: Leviathan
John Birmingham has lifted the lid on Sydney’s shady past - and found trade unions to be at the centre of the sordid tales.

Deface a Face: Reith Loses His Shine
With his Second Wave looking more like a splash in the bath-tub, Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith still reigns as the union movement’s favourite bogeyman.

» Labor Hire Faces Deregulation

» Democrats Poised to Say No

» Olympic Job Cut Fears

» Inspectors to Act on Ships of Shame

» Grave Concerns About Body Bags

» Former Trades Hall Boss Into Teachers Fray

» Tools for Timor Plea

» Rio Tinto Sacks 84 for Christmas Eve

» Hotel Workers in Unprecedented Action

» Tug Action Hits Sydney Harbour

» Free National Parks Access as Bans Kick In

» Parkers Issue Ticket To Loitering Government

» Stop Forced Repatriation of Burmese Migrant Workers

» Will the Real Casual Workers Please Stand Up?

» STOP PRESS: Labor Wins NZ Election