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ETU members at QAL - Rio Tinto recently had a huge win in their EA campaign Under the previous system, the employer decided each year the percentage value of their pay rise in line with QAL management’s own ‘market appraisal ’ Members then had to attend a PER (personal evaluation review) interview with their superintendent to decide what percentage of the market percentage they would receive. This disadvantaged anyone who raised safety issues that could be seen as ‘troublemakers’, anyone who had personality clashes with bosses, and led to favoritism given to bosses mates

QAL ETU members were understandably frustrated, and this was the number one claim in their log of claims, and, after a year of negotiating, being brushed off by management and the agreement being voted down numerous times, members voted to take protected action. Actions included: no working overtime, no higher duties, no working with contractors, and a number of rolling stoppages with Scabby the Rat in attendance Geez, don’t the Rio’s of the world hate Scabby rocking up and standing side by side with disgruntled workers! AMWU members were also involved, but, unfortunately the third union represented onsite was busy hiding under a rock and was nowhere to be seen.

Bay Coal Terminals EBA with both of these expected to be finalised by the time this goes to print

We’ve also got a couple of new union EBAs in the contracting group training space over the line with apprentices now working under ETU documents which see them getting industry standard entitlements well above the award, and jump-up provisions ensuring they’re paid in-line with host agreements

There is no reason any apprentice sho working in our industry under bare aw conditions, and we need to continue to agitate on the job to change it Better rates and conditions are there for the taking, apprentices just need to be willing to get involved, stand up together as union members with their union and take them!

LukeEllis

EAs in progress

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