Alcoa workers Steve Harvey from Baldivis and Andy Ranford from Rockingham. Photo: Jess Warriner.
Camera IconAlcoa workers Steve Harvey from Baldivis and Andy Ranford from Rockingham. Photo: Jess Warriner. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Opposition leader Bill Shorten to attend Alcoa workers AWU meeting in Pinjarra

Victoria RificiMandurah Coastal Times

OPPOSITION leader Bill Shorten will make an appearance at an Australian Workers Union meeting that will be held in light of recent Alcoa worker protests at North Pinjarra Oval tomorrow.

Alcoa worker and protestor Andy Ranford sais Mr Shorten would attend the Alcoa protestors meeting from 2pm.

Alcoa protestors will also gather at Pinjarra’s Premier Hotel for the Strike for Your Rights concert this Saturday.

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The concert will be dedicated to local community members and businesses, including the Premier Hotel, who have supported Alcoa workers during recent protests over their proposed enterprise bargaining agreement.

Hosted by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), local bands including Filthy Habits will perform and food and drinks will be shared.

Hundreds of Alcoa workers from multiple refineries voiced their concerns over job security outside Parliament House in Perth last Wednesday.

AWU WA state secretary Mike Zoetbrood told Community News on August 9 that 1600 workers at the Kwinana, Pinjarra and Wagerup refineries and Huntley and Willowdale bauxite mines would be affected.

Mandurah MLA David Templeman and Murray Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke have both expressed their concerns about the impact the current industrial action at Alcoa was having on families and businesses in the region.

“Robyn and I have visited the picket lines, attended the major rally at Parliament House on Wednesday this week and have talked to numerous workers involved in the dispute,” he said.

Mr Templeman said that as local members, he and Ms Clarke needed to express their support for the workers and their families and strongly urged Alcoa management to work with the union to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

An Alcoa spokeswoman said claims by the Australian Workers Union (AWU) that Alcoa was seeking to casualise the workforce were untrue.

“The union is seeking an absolute guarantee that employees can never be made redundant involuntarily,” she said.

Voting for the new EBA was due to open this week.