August 8 2018 The Mail
Alcoa workers strike over negotiation breakdown   



Alcoa workers gathered at Pinjarra Oval on Wednesday to take part in an industrial strike after the company and workers failed to settle on a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

The new agreement is being established for the mining giant’s Western Australian operations.

Negotiations between Alcoa and Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) have been taking place for the past 18 months, however, both parties are yet to reach an agreement.



About 1200 people gathered at the local sporting grounds to show their support.

Workers have also walked off the job at Kwinana, Wagerup, Huntly and Willowdale.

At this stage, workers are taking part in the strike indefinitely.

An Aloca spokeswoman said the company was aware of the industrial action.

She said Alcoa would ask employees to vote on a new agreement later this month.

“Our sites have contingency plans to ensure they can continue to operate during industrial action,” she said.

“Alcoa is seeking to establish an EBA that provides employees with competitive pay and conditions, allows us to manage our operations more efficiently and productively, and enables us to adapt quickly to changing market and operating conditions.

“Our proposed EBA will ensure that employees continue to receive very generous conditions and benefits.”

AWU WA state secretary Mike Zoetbrood said after offering numerous concessions to the company, workers had no choice but to strike.   

He said the company had refused to offer workers any level job security in the new agreement.

“Workers will not accept an agreement that offers them zero in the way of job security,” Mr Zoetbrood said.

“Our members are sensible and only want what is fair and reasonable – a secure and good job.

“But members won’t accept the company using the threat of termination as a means of pressuring the workforce into accepting sub-par working conditions.

“If the company will not offer workers any job security then the agreement is not worth the paper it’s written on.

“People can’t work knowing that at any stage they could be shown the door.

“This is a fundamental principle and it is not one workers will budge from.

“You can’t negotiate down the barrel of a gun.   

They should just wait until after election as we're doing for a much better deal

Quote:




I once went through a process where management made almost identical claims (lies).

In the case I was involved in Competitive pay and conditions were in fact worse that the previous award and lower than any agreement in the industry. People were going to end with less take home pay.

In the case I am referring to more flexibility was code for less safe rosters less notice on shift change and the removal of penalty rates, PH rates and such.

The process is very likely the result of an negotiated agreement where the employer has written the document very likely at the advice of shonky consultants taking all they want with no genuine negotiation. The Employee / Union is left fighting a defensive battle trying to get a little back instead of negotiation a reasonable agreement.

An example that I faced was managed in this manner.

enables us to adapt quickly to changing market and operating conditions.

This very likely means having people work any hours they like at no cost to the company - Penalty rates, overtime Public holiday ???

Typically employees and unions will support a fairly negotiated agreement. This looks like an employer only agreement being bullied through possibly illegally.