Tiwai smelter workers stand tall on global day of action against Rio Tinto

Union members at the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point have held a stopwork meeting today as part of a global day of action against smelter owners Rio Tinto.

“Across the world, Rio Tinto are infamous for undermining good work conditions and robbing workers of job security,” says Trevor Hobbs, EPMU organiser for the Tiwai workers.

“Rio Tinto replaces employees with contractors, drives down wages, and attacks any attempt to join a union.

“Health and safety is a big concern at the smelter. The company doesn’t seem to take it seriously, despite a number of injuries occurring. Our members want ACC and WorkSafe to start paying attention to what’s going on.”

Smelter workers want NZAS and Rio Tinto to start working constructively with the union to improve conditions.

EPMU members at the smelter are still waiting for a resolution in their case against NZAS for underpaid lieu days. When the smelter moved to 12-hour shifts, lieu days continued to be paid out at 8 hours, not fairly rewarding the workers for being on duty on public holidays.

“We’ve won every step so far, but the company just keeps refusing to give its workers a fair deal,” says Trevor Hobbs. “This is the kind of behaviour Rio Tinto is infamous for around the world.”

ENDS

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