Unions win landmark 36-hour week

Unions at Alcoa’s giant Pinjarra aluminium smelter have achieved a landmark agreement over the introduction of a 36-hour week which they say they expect will flow-on to other multi-million dollar civil construction projects throughout the state.

About 300 workers represented by the CFMEU, AMWU, ETU and AWU have voted to accept a company offer on the introduction of a 36 hour week after almost a week of protected industrial action.

The deal is a huge breakthrough which is likely to be taken up by workers on other major projects like the Kemerton Power Station, Dampier Port Expansion, Worsley Aluminium Project Expansion and BHP’s Ravensthorp development.

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