With Glencore employees set to beginning deciding this weekend on a new Enterprise Agreement, the Australian Workers Union is recommending its members to vote against the idea.
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Voting goes from Saturday to Wednesday and the AWU says workers at Mount Isa Mines face being ripped off under the Agreement which does not lock in any pay rises over the life of the agreement.
AWU Queensland Branch Secretary Steve Baker said that Glencore was letting down its workforce, calling the proposed Agreement "a kick in the teeth for local workers."
"If the Agreement's voted up, it'll mean four long years without a single guaranteed pay rise for hardworking AWU members," Mr Baker said.
"The idea that Glencore can make $15.8 billion but can't afford to pay its workforce a pay rise is just ludicrous. AWU members at Mount Isa Mines do tough, hard jobs which create huge profits for Glencore. "The very least they deserve is a fair pay rise that helps them keep up with the cost of living and rewards their hard work."
Steve Baker said that the AWU was ready and willing to negotiate a workplace agreement that locked in a fair pay rise and working conditions for AWU members while securing the long-term future of Mount Isa Mines.
"We're not in the business of making companies unproductive or unprofitable - we just want our members to get paid what they deserve," he said.
"Unfortunately, Glencore have shown time and time again that they just aren't interested in doing the right thing by their workforce and our members. We're making it clear to all our members: until Glencore come back to the table with a decent offer that locks in a pay rise, they should be giving this EBA the treatment it deserves by voting it down."
Glencore said negotiations have been taking place over the past 12 months to develop a new Enterprise Agreement.
Matt O'Neill - Chief Operating Officer, Glencore Copper Assets Australia said they were committed to finalising a new Enterprise Agreement for Mount Isa Mines workers.
"The proposed new agreement retains all of the key existing benefits for employees, bonuses will increase under the new agreement and wages will be reviewed each year taking into consideration market conditions, commodity pricing and operational performance." Mr O'Neill said.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
