Media release – Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, 24 June 2023
WORKERS GO ON STRIKE AT TASSIES BIGGEST MINING COMPANY IS EPICENTRE OF WAGE CRISIS
The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union and Australian Workers Union members employed by Grange Resources Tasmania are today commencing their first-ever industrial action. They are fed up by the greed and disloyalty shown by the company.
CEPU State Secretary Michael Anderson also says that this situation is yet another example of how employer greed is the driver of the cost of living pressure, not workers’ wages. This action will stop production for 48 hours, which will cost the company more in lost earnings than to meet the workers’ claims for 3 years.
“Grange Resources have been successful over a long period at bluffing workers out of real improvements to their wages and conditions, but enough is enough for the large majority of their workforce.”
“This company begged for understanding, loyalty, and a favour to be repaid during supposed lean years where workers took a real wage cut, but now that business has absolutely been booming, posting $500m in profit and returning hundreds of millions to shareholders, the company is still offering a real wage cut well below CPI,” Mr Anderson said.
Enterprise bargaining negotiations have been occurring for months, with workers basing their claims on inflation plus a small real increase, proper penalties on public holidays, and industry-based allowances.
“These claims are modest, and Grange are absolute hypocrites for their attitude towards CPI. They love it when it’s a low number, but are allergic to it now it’s higher.”
The Union says that looking after a loyal workforce and meeting the workers’ claims is insignificant given the companies financial position. “Workers feel betrayed after the company asked them to cut their wages while things were supposedly tough, and then the company will look after them when they can.”
“Grange Resources workers here are rightly saying enough is enough. Negotiations here have never been about balance or sustainability, and the charade is up. They are showing their hand as just another front parading as a supporter of the community when its sole focus is extracting maximum return to foreign shareholders.”
The Union also warned that now that action has commenced, it is just the beginning.
“It’s a really drawn out, complex process for workers to take legal action in this country, and now Grange Resources have gone through it, they will make it worth their while. Lawful action will continue until these workers win a real, meaningful wage increase which is just a tiny slice of the companies huge wealth.”
