Industrial disputes & news - 19 March 2025

NSW psychiatrists; Keolis Downer; Cleanaway; Noosa City Council; Rio Tinto; Aesop; BAE Systems; Tomago; Silicosis; & the CFMEU

ASMOF NSW - Public sector psychiatrists

Arbitration between ASMOF and the NSW Government in relation to NSW public sector psychiatrists began in the NSW IRC on Monday (17/3). Earlier this year, 200 psychiatrists resigned over the poor working conditions in the public sector, and those resignations were on top of over 100 vacancies in the sector. Staff shortages are an enormous problem with beds closed and waiting times growing. ASMOF have outlined many issues facing the sector including a growing reliance on locums, burnout and staffing shortages. Psychiatrists are calling for an urgent recruitment drive to fill all vacancies; funding training and registration fees to attract new doctors; a 25% pay increase; the establishment of a formal Psychiatry Workforce Committee to oversee staffing and recruitment and the implementation of a dispute resolution process to improve working conditions. The NSW Premier has said the psychiatrists’ pay demands are “unaffordable” and that the government’s offer of 10.5% over 3 years was “generous”.

RTBU NSW - Keolis Downer

Last Thursday (13/3) buses in Newcastle operated by Keolis Downer ground to a halt after a driver was threatened with serious assault, the latest in a number of incidents of increased aggression on the network. After an inadequate response from Keolis Downer, an HSR issued a cease work notice, which severely disrupted the afternoon’s school bus schedule. Following SafeWork NSW inspectors attending the workplace and a safety evaluation being undertaken, bus services resumed. The RTBU and workers are calling for more roving security on the bus network and safety screens. In November last year, bus drivers in Canberra walked off the job following the assault of a bus driver, and as a result were promised the introduction of safety screens, de-escalation training and more transit officers on the network.

TWU QLD - Cleanaway

For the second time in 3 weeks workers at Cleanaway in Noosa took strike action. The action on Friday (14/3) by workers affected an estimated 8000 bin collections. In addition to the strike, workers implemented overtime bans on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (15-17/3). The TWU has asked the Noosa Council to intervene, as they contract Cleanaway to deal with household rubbish collection, but the CEO of Noosa Council has said they are not involved in the negotiations. Workers are seeking a 7% pay increase.

The Services Union - Noosa City Council

Also in Noosa, workers directly employed by the Noosa City Council are taking strike action today (19/3) including a stop work meeting at 9am outside the Noosa Council chambers in Tewantin. The Council has refused to budge from its offer of 13.5% over 3 years. Workers want a better deal that keeps up with the cost of living and the wages of other council workers.

WMWA - Rio Tinto

Workers at Paraburdoo mine in the Pilbara have secured a Majority Support Petition - the first at a major Pilbara iron mine in 30 years. This means over 50% of workers at the mine are in favour of enterprise bargaining. Once the petition is confirmed by the Fair Work Commission, Rio Tinto will be obliged to negotiate an enterprise agreement. The petition has been organised by the Western Mine Workers Alliance (WMWA) , a joint project between the MEU and AWU. This is a significant turn of events given the almost complete de-unionisation of the Pilbara throughout the 1980s & 1990s.

RAFFWU - Aesop

In other Majority Support Petition news, workers at Aesop with the assistance of RAFFWU lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission accompanied by a petition signed by 118 of 200 workers. A formal ballot commenced yesterday (18/3) and will run through to 28 March. If successful, Aesop will be obliged to commence EBA negotiations with workers at Victorian Aesop stores. A special shout out to the beautiful Instagram reel on the theme of bread and roses!

AMWU/AWU/CEPU SA - BAE Systems

For the third time in recent weeks, workers at BAE at Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide have walked off the job. 500 workers took strike action on Monday (17/3) in pursuit of a 30% wage increase over 3 years. Workers at BAE are paid up to 20% less than other workers in the shipbuilding industry. BAE Systems is refusing to budge from their offer of 12% over 3 years. Workers have been in negotiations with BAE since July 2024.

AWU NSW - Tomago

The Herald Sun has reported that industrial action at Tomago was suspended after an improved offer from management. Workers had been demanding 4% annual increases, but Tomago was not prepared to budge from 4% in the first year and 3.5% in the second and third years. According to the report, the improved offer is 4% in the first year, and 3.75% in the second and third years along with a $1500 cost of living payment. Neither Tomago nor the union has made any public statement as yet… so stay tuned for confirmation.

AWU - Silicosis

In terrible OHS news this week, 13 workers on tunnelling projects in NSW have been diagnosed with silicosis. CPB failed to inform the regulator of 12 of these cases. While this is awful in and of itself, what makes it worse is that companies - like CPB - and SafeWork NSW knew about dangerous dust levels on projects as early as 2017 but failed to take action. In November last year, the AWU released documents obtained through FOI requests and warned of a “silicosis tsunami coming for metro tunnellers”. Air monitoring reports on NorthConnex, WestConnex, M6 stage 1, and Western Harbour Tunnel projects were withheld from being released. According to a letter from SafeWork NSW this was because “release of the reports will… adversely impact upon the reputation of CPB.” This all feels incredibly reminiscent of the James Hardie asbestos saga. It also reminds us that the ban of engineered stone won by unions last year does not spell the end of silicosis. The CFMEU NSW Branch shared some helpful advice on their Facebook page for workers in the tunnelling industry: “If you feel that you are being exposed to unsafe levels of silica in your workplace, please contact your delegate, HSR, or union organiser. We also encourage all our members who have worked on tunnelling projects in NSW to contact iCare on 1800 550 027 to organise a free lung screening.”

CFMEU - 60 Minutes

On Sunday (16/3), Nick McKenzie fronted another 60 minutes segment focused on the CFMEU, which kicked off another round of articles in the “Building Bad” series. The allegations against the Victorian branch of the union focused on associations with bikies; Mike Gatto acting as a mediator/fixer; and allegations of violence and harassment against women perpetrated either on construction sites or by CFMEU delegates. National Secretary Zach Smith responded with a strong statement condemning corruption and violence against women. The statement was followed up with a Victorian delegates meeting held yesterday (18/3) which according to reports in The Age passed several resolutions committing to oppose corruption, intimidation, violence and specifically violence and harassment against women. The meeting (according to The Age) also endorsed a new policy that would require shop stewards to have 5 years of uninterrupted membership, industry experience, a demonstrated commitment to union values and be required to be elected by the members on each project - at the start of the project and once during the life of the project. The meeting also passed a resolution in support of CFMEU organiser Lisa Zanatta and the Victorian Branch’s Women’s Committee. Zanatta was portrayed harshly by the 60 minutes piece as having not adequately supported women members of the CFMEU who faced harassment and violence. A statement from Smith countered that the union had limited resources to deal with the issue and said that “I fully support Lisa Zanatta and the work that she has done. I believe the union has also let her down.” In a statement, Zanatta shared that “I may not have always got it right, but I have always tried my best for the women that I represent.” It does, to my mind, seem a bit bloody rich to put the blame for how the union handled complaints from women members about violence and harassment squarely on the shoulders of the one woman who by all accounts has spent her working life supporting women in the construction industry. I don’t have the time, skills or information to critically examine each allegation made in the 60 minutes report. What does remain clear to me is that any issues within the union can only be adequately resolved by the members of that union. The need for a union run by members, for members has never been greater.

And in closing, last week the ABS released the most recent stats on industrial disputes. In the December Quarter, 69 disputes occurred involving 25,200 workers. 53,800 working days were “lost” (lost is what the bosses say, you or I might say “put to good use”). I haven’t had time to dig into the data. Any nerds or wonks out there who have any analysis to share - please get in touch. What I do know, is I definitely did not cover 69 disputes in the December quarter!! To help me cover more disputes - please get in touch if there’s something going on in your workplace, your industry or your union.

In solidarity, Sarah.