Govt must eliminate artificial restrictions on competent union OHS people

The AWU, Australia's mining union, has called for the elimination of artificial restrictions on the right of our union's OHS people, and key officials, to represent mine workers facing workplace health crises.

Ben Swan, AWU Assistant National Secretary

" We are particularly angry that AWAs are being used as an artificial way to restrict the genuine concerns of miners to have an effective OHS voice in their workplace," Ben Swan, AWU Assistant National Secretary, said.

The AWU leader was responding to the tragic death of a young man, married a week ago, who was killed in a workplace accident on a Pilbara mine site in Western Australia .

" This is an extraordinary event. It is a tragedy which not only is painful for the families of the young worker, especially his new wife, but it is painful for all the communities of the Pilbara.

• Take a stand for workplace health and safety - join the AWU today

Billionaire boss must open genuine OHS talks with union and the community

" Andrew Forrest, one of the richest men in Australia, cannot hope to continue policies which deny working families the right to have competent union OHS people and other officials meet with workplace reps on their sites, to find ways such tragedies can be avoided.

" Unfortunately this is just another tragedy highlighting the urgent need to rectify the WorkChoice laws which undermine deceny OHS standards in our workplaces," Ben Swan said.

• Read the AWU's letter to the Executive Director of Fortescue Metals Group calling for the AWU's access to their workplace because of this health and safety crisis

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