Rio Tinto's Gove redundancies "absolute disgrace"
NT News Article 4 April
RIO TINTO GIVES GOVE REFINERY WORKERS 28 DAYS TO FIND NEW JOBS AMID REDUNDANCIES
THE ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION HAS SLAMMED A ROUND OF REDUNDANCIES IT FEARS WILL CAUSE DOZENS OF WORKERS TO HAVE TO UPROOT THEIR LIVES. LATEST UPDATE.
NT News article
The Electrical Trades Union has condemned a decision by Rio Tinto to make 28 long-term workers redundant, forcing them to “pack up their lives, uproot their families and relocate”.
ETU Queensland and NT secretary Peter Ong said the 28 members at the company’s Gove refinery had been told they would be replaced by contractors for the remainder of the mine’s life.
Mr Ong said the move flew in the face of advocacy from the federal government’s Net Zero Economy Agency which “highlighted the importance of supporting workers through the transition to renewable energy”.
“We absolutely condemn this decision by Rio Tinto,” he said.
“The Northern Territory government should look to the Queensland energy and jobs plan and how it ensures that no energy workers will be left behind in the state’s transition to renewables.”
Mr Ong said the workers — some of whom had lived in Nhulunbuy for up to 20 years — were “well and truly part of the community” but had now been given 28 days to find new jobs.
“These members will most likely have to move away from Gove to find employment opportunities,” he said.
“Their partners also work in the community and their kids go to local schools.
“Rio Tinto hasn’t just ended their employment, this decision has uprooted theirs and their families’ lives — it’s an absolute disgrace.”
Mr Ong said ETU members in the coal, gas and mining industries understood the “energy transition is coming” but called for a plan “to guarantee that these workers, their families and their communities are not left behind”.
“The ETU was proud to be involved in the Queensland government energy workers charter that guarantees that no workers will be left without a job in instances like what’s happening in Gove,” he said.
“Our members understand that the refinery is nearing the end of its life but that shouldn’t mean they’re turfed out of a job, their homes and their community because that date is approaching,”
“All Australian jurisdictions and employers in coal, gas and mining industries should be looking to the Queensland government energy workers charter as the gold standard as we transition to renewables.
“The transition is inevitable but job losses absolutely shouldn’t be.”
A Rio Tinto spokeswoman said no “final decision” had been made about the proposed transition to contracted employees.
“Rio Tinto is committed to working with all stakeholders to prepare the Gove Peninsula for a future beyond bauxite mining, which is expected to cease later this decade,” she said.
“To help ensure the smooth transition of Rio Tinto assets we now run, like water and power, we propose to transition roles in our electrical department, waste water neutralisation plant and residue disposal area to contracting partners.
“No final decision has been made, and we are currently undertaking consultation with our employees.”
The spokeswoman said the move was “focused on activities required beyond mining”.
“We need to work efficiently towards a future transition, while developing local expertise and experience wherever possible,” she said.
“We realise changes like these affect our team members greatly and we will work with those impacted on potential redeployment within Rio Tinto or elsewhere.
“About 30 roles at Rio Tinto Gove will be impacted.” Hear Strawbs’ interview on the issue here
