Opinion piece by AWU WA branch president Andy Hacking
The negotiation process between Alcoa and the Australian Workers Union started when the current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement expired.
Since then, Alcoa have gone through the existing agreement with a fine tooth comb and they have clearly decided it doesn’t do what they want it to.
They want to change everything to give them more flexibility in all financial climates.
There is nothing wrong with the current agreement. We, the workers, have been through the highs and lows of the market over the years.
As such, we are not going to accept massive changes to the agreement. They want to just wipe everything out.
Alcoa have seen what is going on in the industrial landscape around them - unfortunately, there is almost a template out there that can be followed for workers to have to cop a diminished deal.
If they don’t accept, the company in question files for termination of the existing EBA and the workers then must go back to the award – which is a worse deal.
It is almost like industrial blackmail.
Our members are doing it tough.
That said, there is a really strong resolve from everyone to try and get some middle ground here.
They know what Alcoa is asking for is way too much – that is why the industrial action is not in its sixth week.
It is not about the money, job security is key – that means no forced redundancies in the future for our members.
The AWU have offered Alcoa a three-year wage freeze and have come to the negotiating table.
But, we want to maintain conditions built up over 30 years of negotiations and to protect our future.
We have a lot of people questioning if they want to work for the company anymore because the process over recent weeks and months has been so stressful and upsetting for them.
We are really disappointed – but we are hoping to secure a fair offer that we can take to our members soon.
Alcoa made $1.1 billion in profit last year – it is hard to take on the chin that a company needs to be ‘flexible’ when it is making so much money.
Andy Hacking is the Australian Workers Union WA branch president.