The Fight for Fair Continues in WA

The WA branch has been kicking goals this winter in our Fight for Fair in the Pilbara. BHP has now issued a notice to bargain for an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) at their Port Operations after a successful campaign by the WMWA. We’re proudly celebrating 12 months of journey cover in WA, protecting workers both to and from and work.

The Western Mine Workers’ Alliance (WMWA) launched a majority support petition earlier this year, where 74% of the workforce supported our call for a union collective agreement. Now the work will begin as our bargaining team sits down with BHP to negotiate a fair EBA.

Meanwhile, Rio Tinto’s recent actions have driven home why union EBA’s are so important, after announcing their plan to cut worker’s sick leave by 70%. WMWA have raised serious concerns about what this will mean for Rio’s workforce and will do everything we can to stop these cuts.

This has been a sober reminder for workers that employment policies are never guaranteed, and only a union collective agreement can truly secure your conditions and entitlements. Our Fight for Fair at Rio Tinto has never been more important.

The Offshore Alliance welcomed the federal government’s final approval to extend the life of the North West Shelf until 2070. This will secure WA’s energy future, meet rising demand for gas , and create thousands of local jobs powering WA’s economy

We’re gearing up to negotiate for the Gold Fields Australia EBA, which is always a fight. Members have told us they want annual wage increases locked in, rather than at the discretion of their employer. GFA members have some of the lowest wages in the industry and we’ll do everything we can to secure a fair offer for our members.

Our WA Branch has secured solid improvements to wages and conditions in several EBA’s. Workers at Air Liquide have locked in guaranteed wage increases, a classifications uplift for workers stuck on lower levels, a reduction in overall hours, and backpay. Meanwhile at Cleanaway Liquid, thanks to the work of our AWU delegates, members have secured pay rises above CPI, new job descriptions, and increases to all allowances. Thank you to all the members and delegates who have stepped up at the bargaining table to negotiate a better deal on behalf of workers.

Air Liquide members have secured their new EBA

We’ve also seen a strong outcome for our firefighters at DBCA and Parks and Wildlife. Their latest EBA has locked in a 16.8% increase over their three-year agreement, an uplift in allowances and improved working conditions.

Our members fight tirelessly every bushfire season to keep our communities safe and deserve a fair increase!

AWU Civil Construction members at the Acciona Alkimos Seawater Tunnel Project (Desalination Plant)