By Vannessa Hearman
More than 60 police were brought from around central Queensland to the Gordonstone coalmine near Emerald on February 11 as 250 unionists solidified their picket line near the entrance to the site. Twenty-two picketers were arrested, but the line held, forcing mine owner Pacific Coal to fly 40 scab workers off the site, rather than attempt to cross the picket.
On October 1, 1997, 312 Gordonstone workers, all members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), were sacked by former mine owner ARCO. The sacked workers have maintained the picket line ever since to demand their jobs back.
Last year, ARCO sold an 80% share in the mine to Rio Tinto-owned Pacific Coal, which has begun employing non-union labour to reopen the mine.
Speaking to Melbourne community radio 3CR's Breakfast Show on February 12, Tony Maher, general president of the mining and energy division of the CFMEU, said ARCO's objective all along was "to get a new work force with a new set of wages and conditions at a lower level. They couldn't do it after 16 months of struggle. Now Rio Tinto believes it can do it; it has secretly hired 22 individuals on a new agreement."
On August 26, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ruled that the 312 workers had been unfairly dismissed and that, should the mine be reopened, the CFMEU workers should be reinstated first. Maher said the AIRC was "scathing in its comments about ARCO's really ugly American industrial tactics ... [and] it was proven that ARCO had sacked the workers to avoid its agreement and legal obligations.
"It's no different to what Patrick Stevedores did last year, just on a smaller scale and over a longer period of time. If that can happen, then workers don't have any rights to this country."
Rio Tinto, as the new owner of the mine, appears to be legally bound by the commission's ruling that ARCO re-hire the sacked workers. "We are now in the Federal Court with an urgent application to get those obligations placed on Rio Tinto", Maher said.
Maher commented on the picketers: "They're tough people and they've had tough times in the mining industry. They've produced some truly admirable members of the community — trade unionists who just won't be beaten and won't be kowtowing to some of the world's biggest companies."
The CFMEU plans to bring unionists from around Queensland this week to strengthen the picket line. All supporters of workers rights are encouraged to phone and/or fax messages of support to the picketers. "It's a long way from centres of population, but members of the public are also welcome to join the picket line and show their support that way", Maher added.
Messages of solidarity will reach the picket line via phoning 0418 759 765 or 0417 742 287, or faxing (079) 824 471.