Alcoa workers Steve Harvey from Baldivis and Andy Ranford at a union protest at Parliament House.
Camera IconAlcoa workers Steve Harvey from Baldivis and Andy Ranford at a union protest at Parliament House. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Union head and Alcoa boss meet after workers vote against EBA

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

AUSTRALIAN Workers Union National Secretary Daniel Walton is meeting with Alcoa managing director Michael Parker in Perth this afternoon in an effort to resolve the issue of striking workers at Alcoa.

The workers have been on strike since early August following a protest meeting at North Pinjarra oval aimed at ensuring job security and the maintenance of current conditions.

About 80 per cent of members have now voted against a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

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An Alcoa spokeswoman said given the outcome of the vote, Alcoa welcomed an alternative proposal from the AWU that supported its (Alcoa’s) objective to establish a competitive agreement that would help ensure the company continued to provide well paid jobs for many years to come.

She said Alcoa understood and was concerned by the impact continued and unnecessary industrial action was having on employees.

“We invite them back to work so they can restore their livelihoods while working to bring this matter to a resolution,’’ she said.

“Our sites have contingency plans to ensure they continue to operate during industrial action.”

The company estimated the industrial action impacted alumina production at WA refineries by 15,000 tonnes in August of about nine million tonnes produced annually.

Alcoa said that despite efforts, it had been unable to reach an agreement with the union and would continue to monitor the situation.