Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by NHCLS (talk | contribs) at 11:45, 17 December 2024. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article, Weipa Dispute, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary. Reviewer tools: Inform author

The Weipa Dispute was a six-week-long strike and industrial dispute at the Weipa mine in Australia, from from 13 October to 30 November 1995.

Background

Weipa Prices and Incomes Accord Comalco Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union Bob Hawke

History

On 13 October 1995, the 75 unionised miners voted unanimously to launch strike action. They would subsequently set up the first picket line in Weipa's history blocking a bridge on the Mission River. The striking miners then set up a further picket line using boats to block the port of Weipa after the company attempted to circumvent the picket line by ferrying non-unionised workers across the river.

On 10 November, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) announced that it would allow the company to take common-law action against the striking miners. The company subsequently filed a motion with the Supreme Court of Queensland asking for an injuction against the miners.

On 21 November, AIRC president Deirdre O'Connor announced the terms of the settlement the AIRC would impose on the two sides. The settlement included an 8 cents per hour pay rise for the striking miners as well as back pay from 1 March 1995. In return, the striking miners would be forced to end the strike. In the settlement ruling, the AIRC stated that the Australian industrial relations system was "based upon collective processses as the means of providing terms and conditions of employment." The AIRC further accused Comalco of attempting to "deliberately seeking to eliminate the role of the unions at the workplace through the establishment of individual staff contracts," which the AIRC called "inconsistent with the central role that registered organisations are given under the Industrial Relations Act in the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes. The Commission has a statutory obligation to encourage registered organisations."

On 24 November, five of the miners taking part in the floating picket line were arrested.

On 29 November, the striking miners voted not to fight the imposed settlement and to return to work on 1 December, ending the strike.

Reactions

Trade unions

Prominent trade unionist Bill Kelty described the Weipa Dispute in November 1995 as "a line in the sand. For us to be beaten is for the union movement to lose its heart, its soul and its purpose." Australian Workers' Union Victorian secretary Bob Smith called for AWU president Bill Ludwig to resign over his handling of the dispute, particularly calling Ludwig's overseas travel during the dispute a "disgraceful act."

Industry

Queensland Chamber of Mines chief executive Michael Pinnock stated that it was "worrying that the coal industry is being used as a tool in any industrial dispute because it is further affecting Australia's reputation as a reliable supplier in the face of increased overseas competition."

Analysis

Contemporary

Simon Grose of The Canberra Times described the Weipa mine as "a snapshot taken partway through the process of change which Australia's mining industry has undergone" and the dispute as "a lurch backwards, a blast of anger from the past, but it is less likely to reverse this process than it is to redefine it."

Nicholas Way of the Australian Financial Review stated that Comalco's "long-term strategy has been to have all its workers on individual contracts," a strategy which "evolves from a corporate philosophy of nearly two decades, which says employees work best when their only allegiance is to the company." Way also stated that the strategy's success or not depended on "weaknesses in the trade union movement," saying that "unions, to various degrees, lost touch with members at the very time was training its management to reach out to them. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the AWU."

Historical assessments

Peter Lewis of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has described the Weipa Dispute as "fundamental to the development of Australian labour relations," saying that it aimed to ensure "that corporations can't actively discriminate against union members."

In popular culture

Paddy Gorman, then editor of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union's journal Common Cause, published a book in 1996 titled Weipa: Where Australian unions drew their 'line in the sand' with CRA about the Dispute.

References

1. Ross, Liz (1 January 2020). "Defending Unionism: The Weipa Dispute, 1995". Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
2. Jackson, Carl (26 November 2015). "The Weipa strike: when 75 workers took on a mining giant". Red Flag. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
3. Davis, Mark (23 October 1995). "80 on strike in CRA war". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
4. Mason, Bill (14 November 1995). "Strike spreads over Comalco writs at Weipa". Green Left. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
5. "Comalco sues Weipa workers". The Canberra Times. 11 November 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
6. Taylor, Mike (16 November 1995). "ACTU move turns heat on Brereton". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
7. Taylor, Mike (18 November 1995). "Weipa crisis: judge steps in". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
8. Taylor, Mike (20 November 1995). "Defiant coal unions refuse to call off strike". Retrieved 14 December 2024.
9. Thompson, Jennifer (21 November 1995). "Weipa workers defend union rights". Green Left. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
10. Taylor, Mike (22 November 1995). "IRC orders Comalco to give workers 8pc more". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
11. ^ Taylor, Mike (23 November 1995). "Bosses grit teeth and wait". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
12. "Five arrested in blockade". The Canberra Times. 25 November 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
13. "CRA issues threat to those still on strike". The Canberra Times. 29 November 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
14. Taylor, Mike (30 November 1995). "Workers at Weipa back tomorrow". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
15. Aiken, Bob (11 December 1995). "Miners Strike Wins Widespread Support In Australia". The Militant. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
16. Bull, Sue (12 December 1995). "Lessons from the Weipa struggle". Green Left. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
17. "IRC ruling no cause for gloating". Australian Financial Review. 24 January 1996. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
18. Vassilopoulos, James (25 June 1997). "Union renewal at Weipa". Green Left. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
19. Floyd, Louise Willans (1 January 1999). "Weipa and the wharves: Australian strike law" (PDF). University of Tasmanian Law Review. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
20. Fetter, Joel (1 December 2002). "The Strategic Use of Individual Employment Agreements: Three Case Studies". Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
21. ^ Lewis, Peter (21 October 2015). "20 years after Weipa, the union movement must maintain that 'line in the sand'". ABC News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
22. "Time for AWU boss to resign: official". The Canberra Times. 24 November 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
23. "Unions accused of using industry". The Canberra Times. 13 November 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
24. Grose, Simon (16 December 1995). "Don't weep for those at Weipa The life of the modern miner, although tough and hard, is not all dust, dry bread and beer". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
25. ^ Way, Nicholas (27 November 1995). "Union solidarity over Weipa hides a split". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
26. Thompson, Jennifer (28 February 1996). "Weipa: record of a strike". Green Left. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

• Pending AfC submissions
• Pending AfC submissions in article space