ALCOA has denied using a health and safety review as a means of deterring contractors from striking at its Pinjarra site after the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union WA (AMWU) said contractors were locked out of the local refinery on Monday, following industrial action at the company’s Wagerup site.
AMWU state secretary Steve McCartney said industrial action had taken place at Alcoa Wagerup as Alcoa's contractor AGC was “trying to cut the real wages of our hardworking members”.
Mr McCartney said Alcoa had "locked out" all AGC contractors at Pinjarra after the mining giant ordered a health and safety review of AGC practises at its Pinjarra site over the weekend.
The union said none of its AGC contractors at the Pinjarra refinery had taken part in strikes, but some Wagerup contractors had travelled to the site on Monday morning with flyers and flags.
“It’s either a massive coincidence, or Alcoa is using health and safety to deter others from taking legitimate protected industrial action.
A spokesperson for Alcoa said it was not true that the company had locked out AGC contractors at its Pinjarra site.
The spokesperson said the dispute involved contracting organisations, not Alcoa employees.
"This is a simple case of protected action by the AMWU in Enterprise Agreement discussions with AGC," the spokesperson said.
"We expect AGC and the AMWU to negotiate in good faith until such time that they reach an agreement."
Mr McCartney said the AMWU believed agreement was possible and its members wanted to return to work as soon as possible.
