The company today sent a letter citing rumours and allegations regarding the union holding a community family day during the ballot period for workers to vote on the company’s latest Enterprise Agreement offer.
CFMEU District President Stephen Smyth said the letter showed the company was obviously desperate to curtail voter participation after 92 per cent of its workers rejected a prior EA version at an attendance ballot.
Today the union sent out an open invitation to members to attend a Vote-In Day where workers and their families can come together at their local Lodge and cast their vote.
Attendance was optional and workers would still cast their vote in private like any other ballot, Mr Smyth said.
“BHP took away their workers’ choice of having another attendance ballot because postal ballots have lower participation rates: fact,” Mr Smyth said.
“We know attendance-style ballots have greater voter participation so we’re offering the option for workers to do so at a family-friendly event.”
“If BHP genuinely believed their Agreement was a good deal, they’d welcome greater voter participation. But they don’t.
“Why would they hold a ballot they know has poorer participation on an Agreement that offers less than what was offered last year?
Mr Smyth said allegations that members would need to sign-in were ridiculous.
“It just shows how paranoid the company is of its workers talking to one another,” he said.
“It’s the same reason why Stephen Dumble has never outlined the Agreement in person to the workforce.
“The company knows it’s a bad deal. BHP should treat its workers with a bit more respect and realise that the workers know it’s a bad deal too.
“Let’s just hope Mr Dumble doesn’t disapprove of a jumping castle and sausage sizzle on the day.”
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