FED: ACTU meets to discuss Pilbara industrial campaign

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2001
FED: ACTU meets to discuss Pilbara industrial campaign

The nation's peak trade union body the ACTU, is meeting with West Australian iron ore
workers in Sydney today, over BHP's attempt to introduce individual contracts.

ACTU secretary GREG COMBET and Pilbara union representatives are discussing the next
steps in a workplace campaign, to defy the push for contracts.

Unions notified the Federal Court yesterday that they had dropped an appeal against
a January decision, which ruled BHP had acted legally in offering individual contracts
to 1,000 Pilbara workers.

But union members still refuse to sign individual contracts, saying BHP must respect
their right to collectively bargain.

Today's discussions also centre around a collective agreement and application to the
WA Industrial Relations Commission for increased pay and conditions.

AAP RTV nd/jjs/tso/jn

KEYWORD: BHP (SYDNEY)

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