CFMEU: Rio Tinto Pilbara Agreement

CFMEU members are celebrating a new era in the union’s relationship with mining giant Rio Tinto, and gave in-principle support to a collective agreement covering around 400 workers in the Pilbara region for the first time in 18 years.

After 18 months of negotiation with one of the world’s richest companies, who unleashed its unlimited human resources and public relations capacity, the CFMEU negotiated terms for a new collective agreement on behalf of Pilbara iron ore rail workers.

CFMEU mining division WA Secretary Gary Wood, who led the negotiations, said a major step forward in workplace relations has taken place with the world’s third biggest mining company.

Rio moved to a system of individual contracts in the 1980s.

"First we overcame Workchoices. Then we had to take Rio to Fair Work Australia to confirm our right to bargain on behalf of workers. And finally after 18 months of negotiation we have an in-principle agreement on the table," said Gary Wood.

"Rio Tinto workers will now be treated with respect in their workplaces and have won the right to bargain collectively with their employer in regards to their workplace conditions," Mr Wood said.

"Rio Tinto is a complex multi-national company, our iron ore train drivers are employed by three different Rio Tinto companies, with separate policies and procedures. Under this negotiated proposal all workers will have their conditions protected in a union agreement.

"For the past 18 years, train and car drivers in the Pilbara have been refused this right and have faced corporate hostility when attempting to engage their employer collectively.

"This is a long overdue outcome that would never have been achieved under Workchoices, and has only been achieved because of the Fair Work Act and the determination of the rank and file to stand united in support of their collective rights," said Mr Wood.