Support the BHP Pilbara Workers - Support Collective Bargaining BHP workers in the Pilbara in the remote north of Western Australia are under attack from their employer. Under pressure to sign individual contracts, workers are taking strike action. On Tuesday 19 January, police wielding batons charged the picket line at BHP 's Newman mine This led to the hospitalisation of several unionists with rib and arm injuries. They also arrested activists. There was further violence the next day as police cleared the entrance for contractors to cross the picket line. Again several unionists were arrested and another hospitalised after being hit by a truck. Democratic Socialist Party Industrial spokesperson, Melanie Sjoberg condemned the use of police violence against workers trying to defend their conditions and right to protest. `BHP, the so-called `Big Australian', is using individual contracts to undermine worker and union rights. It refuses to negotiate a new collective agreement with the workers' unions. BHP is using the threat of job insecurity and no pay rise, while holding out financial incentives as a bribe for those who sign up. This is dividing the workforce and the worker's community.' Sjoberg claimed. `BHP has publicly stated that it will save $80million through the use of individual contracts. BHP obviously wants to use this tactic to cut jobs and reduce conditions if it succeeds in breaking collective bargaining. This is the same BHP that is closing its doors on communities in Newcastle and Whyalla.' `We know that the push for individual contracts is not new. Big business supported by the government of the day, whether Liberal or Labor, have similar goals in many other industrial disputes, going back to Mudginberri and Robe River in the 1980s, then Weipa and Patrick in the 90s.' `Our experience of other disputes, especially in remote locations, like Weipa, show that rallies, industrial and solidarity actions in the cities are a necessary adjunct to the determination of striking workers. `The Democratic Socialist Party will encourage union and community solidarity action, pickets and rallies, to defend the fundamental right of workers to collectively organise and bargain through their union. Sjoberg concluded, `An attack on one is an attack on us all' Messages of support can be sent to the Pilbara workers via: CFMEU [EMAIL PROTECTED] AWU,WA fax 9377 2209 AMWU fax 08 9481 3303 WATLC [EMAIL PROTECTED] ACTU [EMAIL PROTECTED] People interested in participating in solidarity actions should contact Melanie Sjoberg, DSP National Industrial Coordinator 02)96901230, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or the DSP branch in their city. Green Left Weekly campaigning stalls will encourage support for the Pilbara workers all week. Democratic Socialist Party National Office PO Box 515 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Tel: 61 (0)2 9690 1230 Fax: 61 (0)2 9690 1381 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.dsp.org.au/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
