ETU, AMWU walk off site at Rio Tinto’s Queensland Alumina Ltd refinery at Gladstone day after strike demanding better pay and proportional shift loading

Tradies at Gladstone’s QAL have staged a walk-off, just one day after holding a labour strike, as two major unions engage in the most significant industrial action at the site in recent history.

An inflatable rat left outside QAL on Tuesday morning in protest of fair wages and shift allowances after failed negotiations with workers in recent months. Picture: Supplied (ETU)

Workers at one of Gladstone’s major industrial hubs have walked off the job, just one day after holding a labour strike, as two major unions engage in the most significant collective action at the site in recent history.

Electrical Trade Union (ETU) and Australian Manufacturers and Workers Union (AMWU) members stopped working four hours earlier than their rostered time on Wednesday morning at Queensland Alumina Ltd’s (QAL) refinery, with more members to follow suit as the afternoon unfolds.

The protected industrial action began about 11.30am Wednesday, with at least fifty electrical and metal workers understood to have participated.

A view of Gladstone's Queensland Alumina Ltd from a lookout on a wet, gloomy Wednesday morning, ahead of protected industrial action by AMWU and ETU workers Picture: Nilsson Jones

QAL has now banned union officials from entering the site for meetings or to talk to members, according to the ETU.

It comes as Rio Tinto’s quarterly report revealed poor equipment reliability impacted the site and contributed to lower operational stability.

Rio Tinto’s quarterly Alumina production (1.8m tonnes) was five per cent lower than the same period last year.

More to come.

EARLIER:

On Tuesday morning, ETU and AMWU members at Queensland Alumina Ltd went on strike for two hours after months of negotiations over pay and proportional shift allowances broke down.

The two main grievances over the next Enterprise Bargaining Agreement are fair and equal pay, and to make shift allowances proportional to base salary, rather than the current arrangement which is fixed loading.

An inflatable rat placed outside QAL on Tuesday morning in protest of fair wages and shift allowances after failed negotiations with workers in recent months. Picture: Supplied (ETU)

From 5am to 7am Tuesday, members waved flags and chanted outside QAL’s site whilst standing beside a large inflatable rat with the letters ‘QAL’ hanging from its neck.

QAL confirmed it had received notices of intended protected industrial action from the two unions.

In April, Rio Tinto took over direct control of operations at QAL, in the wake of impending sanctions affecting Russian aluminium giant, Rusal, which owns 20 per cent, while Rio Tinto owns the remaining 80 per cent.

Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) is one of the largest alumina refineries by alumina production capacity in the world. Picture: Dan Peled

An ETU organiser told The Observer they believed tradespeople at QAL were underpaid when compared to similarly qualified positions in the industry across Central Queensland, and said members did not want to sign the ‘blind agreement’.

He said Tuesday’s industrial action was the most significant at QAL in “a long time”.

The organiser said QAL had twice rejected a pay rise proposal put forward “within seconds and without consideration”.

Tradies at QAL, Gladstone took industrial action on Tuesday morning after negotiation breakdowns over fair and equitable wages and shift allowances. Picture: Supplied (AMWU)

Negotiations began in February this year, and it is understood the two most recent EBA proposals were rejected on September 6 and October 7.

AMWU state secretary Rohan Webb said members wanted Rio Tinto to come to the table with fair and equitable wage increases.

“In a tight labour market, with cost of living increasing, our members just want their fair share,” Mr Webb said.

AMWU Secretary Rohan Webb after addressing the Australian Manufacturers Workers Union conference in Brisbane, 2019. Picture: Glenn Hunt

“We’re asking Rio Tinto QAL to give shift workers the same percentage allowance that’s reflected in the Award.

“Generally, these shift workers can work 365 days a year, and they work 12 hour days, they sacrifice public holidays, like Christmas, and time with their families … workers deserve better.”

A QAL spokesman said the company remained open to facilitating honest and transparent discussions.

Tradies at QAL, Gladstone took industrial action on Tuesday morning after negotiation breakdowns over fair and equitable wages and shift allowances. Picture: Supplied (AMWU)

“QAL works closely with its employees and their representatives and is committed to fair working conditions for all of its people,” the spokesman said.

“QAL has hosted regular meetings with bargaining representatives since February 2022 regarding negotiations for a proposed new Enterprise Agreement.”

The action comes weeks after subcontracted workers at QAL also protested outside the site.