Rio Tinto at it again - fresh scare tactics at Bell Bay

09 February 2012

Rio Tinto has been exposed for its latest round of scare tactics at the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania - including fresh threats to workers' pay and conditions.

The Australian this morning confirmed Rio Tinto has recently:

• Warned employees their current pay and conditions could be under threat if they continue supporting a collective agreement;
• Sent personal letters to homes of employees suggesting it may be a bad time to move towards collective bargaining;
• Engaged AFL Alastair Clarkson to address workers on behalf of the company;
• and Used management to mislead employees on their pay and conditions during 'closed door information sessions'.

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said he was not surprised to see Rio Tinto revert to dirty tricks to undermine their employees' engagement with the union.

"Despite public statements claiming they support freedom of association, Rio is returning to the same old campaign of fear and intimidation," Mr Howes said.

Bell Bay aluminium workers are worst paid in the country

"Bell Bay employees are the worst paid aluminium workers in the country, and yet their employer is one of the most profitable miners in the world.

"This injustice needs to be addressed. Aluminium workers in Tasmania aren't just going to sit down and take it anymore.

"There is close to 70 per cent support among the smelter's 500 workers for a union-negotiated collective deal and an application will be lodged with Fair Work Australia within weeks."

In closed-door information sessions held with workers, Rio managers have told employees "everything goes back to the award'' if the company is required to negotiate a collective agreement with the union.

Explaining what terms and conditions can be covered by the union agreement, the workers were told: "if you start negotiations, all existing terms and conditions, and all benefits, are on the table."

One manager even told workers: "your salary increases, your bonuses that you get will be on the table."

Mr Howes accused the company of misleading employees during the meetings, saying workers could not be left worse off if they shifted to a collective agreement.

No worker at Bell Bay will be worse off

"What Rio Tinto is suggesting to their workforce is simply untrue," Mr Howes said.

"No worker at Bell Bay will be in a worse position under a collective agreement – that's a fact."