Negotiating teams could meet this week to discuss Alcoa strike

THE strike of Alcoa workers seems likely to extend into a second month after they rejected a proposed new workplace agreement.

About 80 per cent of members of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) voted against the new agreement.

The workers have been on strike since early August, claiming the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement did not offer job security.

On Friday, AWU national secretary Daniel Walton met Alcoa managing director Michael Parker in an effort to resolve the situation.

AWU State president Andy Hacking said negotiating teams were likely to meet this week.

Mr Hacking said the union had written to Alcoa saying it was available at any time.

“We are now waiting for a response – hopefully today, ’’ he said this morning.

On Saturday, Canning MHR Andrew Hastie spoke to several hundred AWU members and supporters at his Mandurah office who called on him to introduce a motion in Federal Parliament to ensure the current agreement was not terminated.

A court date for termination is scheduled for September 17.

Mr Hastie’s notice of motion to the next available sitting of Parliament includes recognising the industrial action undertaken by Alcoa workers since August 8, acknowledging the cost industrial action has had on both Alcoa and its work force, noting the impact the high cost of energy has had on working families and Australian industry, particularly alumina refineries, recognising the resolve of the Federal Government to keep prices down and calling on Alcoa and the AWU to reach an agreement that protects job security for workers.

Mandurah MLA David Templeman has written to Michael Parker about the effect the strike is having on the Peel region and on confidence and morale in the community.

He said he had met many workers at rallies and on picket lines and his concern for workers and their families was growing.