More than 650 of Alcoa’s Western Australian employees have agreed to defer a 4% pay rise in a bid to save their jobs.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union’s (AMWU) State Secretary, Steve McCartney said the workers declined the pay rise they were due this week and have also decided to defer another increase they were to receive in six months.
“They’ve deferred their increase, they feel on that site that if they defer their increase that will help ensure jobs for Alcoa and for themselves,” he said.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union mining division WA secretary Gary Wood told MINING DAILY that the union had also agreed to delay its push for a 33% pay rise.
“Essentially, we have put that on hold for the moment,” Wood said.
“Following on from the presentation Alcoa of Australia managing director Alan Cransberg delivered last week, the Union has decided to back Alcoa in good faith and defer the push for greater pay until better economic times. That said, however, we will continue to have discussions with Alcoa about the state of their company.”
The Australian Workers Union will discuss its options with its workers at a meeting today.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has labelled the decision as responsible union representation.
The ACTU President, Sharan Burrow said unions are focussing their efforts on keeping workers employed in the current economic climate.
“There’s no doubt that wages will be a priority at some point but right now the maintenance of real wages and the maintenance of jobs which guarantees that is essential for working families and it is essential for the economy,” she said.