Cars ram equal pay picket at BHP

Date: 27 July 2004

An Australian Workers' Union picket line was allegedly rammed yesterday by two management cars at BHP Billiton's remote Yandi iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara.

Witnesses say the cars tried to ram their way through the pickets, but workers stood their ground despite contact with the vehicles. Un-badged security guards also attempted to fight their way through the picket line, where a number of women were present.

The Australian Workers' Union National Secretary Bill Shorten condemned the incidents and said that he was concerned for people's safety at Yandi. "I appeal to BHP Billiton and their contractors to obey police instructions before anybody is hurt. These incidents come despite a commitment from management that they would respect these lawful picket lines," Mr Shorten said.

At least 13 police officers and 12 un-badged security guards were at the Yandi mine today, according to witnesses.

Union workers at Yandi - members of the AWU and AMWU - are seeking the same pay and conditions as offered to other workers under non-union individual contracts (AWAs). The lawful pickets began on Sunday as part of legally protected industrial action in the workers' dispute for equal pay and the right to choose a union agreement.

Workers have also written to mine management expressing their concern over safety breaches at the site. Yandi is next to BHP Billiton's Orebody 25 mine, where a 20-year-old apprentice was killed on May 20 - one of three deaths in as many weeks at BHP Billiton's Iron Ore operations in WA.

Mr Shorten said BHP Billiton and its contractors were attempting to discriminate against workers at Yandi because of their union membership and were refusing to allow new employees their democratic right to choose a union agreement.

"The AWU will never accept that workers be paid less just because they are in a union. BHP Billiton has sabotaged the Yandi workers' legitimate negotiations for a union agreement by refusing to offer them the same pay and conditions as in non-union individual contracts."

The Yandi iron ore mine, about 130 kilometres from Newman, is a fly-in/fly-out operation with about 210 employees. It is operated by contractors Henry Walker Eltin for owners BHP Billiton Iron Ore.

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes
Union:	The Australian Workers' Union
Phone:	03 8327 0888
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au

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