Unity delivers Xstrata Tahmoor win

Date: 28 September 2010

Tahmoor Colliery workers have proven the value of unity and determination by finally securing a deal with the mine's owner, Xstrata.

After 23 months of bruising negotiation workers voted to accept the latest offer from the Anglo-Swiss mining multinational, which contains significant improvements in conditions to the deal that was rejected at the beginning of the year.

Key concessions include improvements to security of employment, crew manning levels, leave allowance, shift and gate seniority and accident pay.

CFMEU district vice president, Bob Timbs said workers were relieved to have finally secured an acceptable deal.

"Obviously Tahmoor workers would have preferred this agreement a lot sooner, but sometimes you need to take a stand on fundamental matters of principle," he said.

"The deal we have agreed to this week is a long way from what was offered by Xstrata back at Christmas last year. We have now secured concessions on accident pay, employment security, crew manning levels and leave allowance."

"This result just goes to prove the importance of maintaining unity, because without unity it would have been impossible to negotiate any of these concessions.

"This deal is what can be delivered if workers stick together and fight for the just principles of a modern, flexible agreement."

CFMEU Mining and Energy Vice President Wayne McAndrew said workers should be proud of their hard-fought deal.

"Tahmoor workers were able to secure considerable gains over what was previously offered to them by Xstrata management," he said.

"This result demonstrates once again how united workers are able to negotiate from a position of strength, even with a powerful multinational like Xstrata."

For further information

Contact:	Bob Timbs
Union:	CFMEU Mining and Energy Division
Contact Mobile:	0423 828 006
WWW:	http://www.cfmeu.com.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]