"For almost 20 years now, they have suffered the frustration of the anti-union individual contract system, firstly from the State Liberal Government and thereafter the Howard Federal Government's WorkChoices. But they stood firm and courageously fought for the principle of their right to bargain collectively. Now, for the first time in a generation, we have got Rio to finally commit to bargain collectively", said Gary Wood.
The breakthrough came after our Union sought a majority support determination for workers in Rio Tinto's rail operations through Fair Work Australia, in a bid to bring the company back to the bargaining table in the Pilbara for the first time in almost 20 years.
Rio recently informed workers in an internal memo that the company would negotiate with the Union as the bargaining representative of workers employed as train drivers and car examiners - approximately 300 workers.
The ACTU has also welcomed the move, with Secretary Jeff Lawrence describing it as a "major advance".
