Bilan
9th August 2008, 05:31
BHP Billiton trying to force 12 000 workers onto AWA-like agreements
Aug 07, 2008
BHP has used gaps in the new IR laws to create a new AWA like employment contract that will apply to 12,000 employees in West Australia for the next five years.
In a letter to employees explaining the new 'enterprise workplace agreement' or EWA, BHP admits that the conditions in new agreement are 'identical to those of all existing AWA(s)'.
The agreement was voted on by 46 new employees without any consultation with the rest of the workforce.
AMWU West Australian President Steve McCartney said that the company took advantage of getting new employees to vote on the EWA because they are not as aware of their rights and less likely to act against the wishes of an employer.
"If people are new to a place and the boss says, here sign this, they're not likely to question it."
The AMWU has joined other unions in West Australia to mount a campaign to challenge the deal struck at BHPís Iron Ore operation.
"This is BHP thumbing its nose at the Australian public who voted against WorkChoices at the last election," said Mr McCartney.
Resolutions are being passed at BHP workplaces around the state, rejecting the deal and petitions and surveys are being organised by workers.
"This new BHP contract is a thinly-veiled AWA. At the last election people voted in favour of having a say in the agreement that applies to them. BHP have corralled a small number of new employees, got them to agree to a document, which the company then applies to all their employees for the next five years. Where is the fairness in that?
"What the company have done is legal, but itís completely immoral. The legislation must change to prevent this happening again."
Unions have written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible, Julia Gillard, to seek her view on this strategy and are urging the Federal Government to move on passing fair laws that protect workers from this kind of treatment.
AMWU (http://www.amwu.org.au/read-article/news-detail/161/BHP-Billiton-trying-to-force-12-000-workers-onto-AWA-like-agreements/)
Aug 07, 2008
BHP has used gaps in the new IR laws to create a new AWA like employment contract that will apply to 12,000 employees in West Australia for the next five years.
In a letter to employees explaining the new 'enterprise workplace agreement' or EWA, BHP admits that the conditions in new agreement are 'identical to those of all existing AWA(s)'.
The agreement was voted on by 46 new employees without any consultation with the rest of the workforce.
AMWU West Australian President Steve McCartney said that the company took advantage of getting new employees to vote on the EWA because they are not as aware of their rights and less likely to act against the wishes of an employer.
"If people are new to a place and the boss says, here sign this, they're not likely to question it."
The AMWU has joined other unions in West Australia to mount a campaign to challenge the deal struck at BHPís Iron Ore operation.
"This is BHP thumbing its nose at the Australian public who voted against WorkChoices at the last election," said Mr McCartney.
Resolutions are being passed at BHP workplaces around the state, rejecting the deal and petitions and surveys are being organised by workers.
"This new BHP contract is a thinly-veiled AWA. At the last election people voted in favour of having a say in the agreement that applies to them. BHP have corralled a small number of new employees, got them to agree to a document, which the company then applies to all their employees for the next five years. Where is the fairness in that?
"What the company have done is legal, but itís completely immoral. The legislation must change to prevent this happening again."
Unions have written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible, Julia Gillard, to seek her view on this strategy and are urging the Federal Government to move on passing fair laws that protect workers from this kind of treatment.
AMWU (http://www.amwu.org.au/read-article/news-detail/161/BHP-Billiton-trying-to-force-12-000-workers-onto-AWA-like-agreements/)