AWU Seeks Assurances From Zinifex

Date: 12 December 2006

The Australian Workers' Union is seeking strong assurances that the proposed new owner of smelters in Port Pirie and Hobart will maintain all existing jobs and continue to negotiate wages and conditions on a collective basis.

AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said nearly 400 AWU members could be affected by today's announcement by Zinifex and Umicore that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the objective of combining their respective zinc smelting and alloying businesses.

"Our 400 members at the Port Pirie smelter and the Risdon zinc smelter in Hobart deserve thorough and definitive assurances that their current wages and conditions will be maintained," Mr Shorten said.

"It is our members' skills and labour that have put Zinifex in a position where it obviously feels confident enough to join forces with Umicore to become a global market leader."

Mr Shorten said the AWU did have concerns that the proposed new company would be incorporated in Belgium, and have its global headquarters in London.

"The new company will have to work hard to ensure there is good communication between all parties - including workers, AWU representatives and Australian and Belgium management - so any workplace issues are addressed promptly.

"Nobody benefits when you feel like the people in charge are absent landlords."

For further information

Union:	The Australian Workers' Union
Phone:	03 8327 0888
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au

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