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Australian Mining Union Secures Key Benefits for Pilbara Workers
Compensation for Flight Delays at Rio Tinto
The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) announced that it has successfully negotiated significant benefits for workers at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations. FIFO (Fly-In, Fly-Out) workers will now receive compensation for delayed flights when returning home:
- A$500 for delays over 4 hours
- A$1,000 for delays over 12 hours
This agreement applies to workers across Rio Tinto’s operations, including the Paraburdoo iron ore project.
Push for Collective Bargaining
More than 400 workers at Rio Tinto’s Paraburdoo mine have signed a majority support petition to initiate collective bargaining — the first such move in over 20 years. The petition, backed by the Western Mine Workers Alliance (WMWA), is currently under assessment by the Fair Work Commission (FWC). If approved, Rio Tinto will be legally required to enter negotiations.
National FIFO Travel Coverage and Training Allowance Increase
In addition to flight delay compensation, Rio Tinto has agreed to:
- Fully fund national FIFO travel for up to 30% of its rail crew workforce
- Increase the annual training allowance for on-the-job trainers from A$5,600 to A$7,500
Retention Bonuses at BHP
The union also secured gains from BHP Group. All rail crew members, regardless of classification, will receive a retention bonus of A$10,500. This move is expected to help retain skilled workers amid increasing demand in the mining sector.
Company Response Pending
Neither Rio Tinto nor BHP have publicly responded to the announcements at the time of reporting.
“Australian Mining Union Secures Key Benefits for Pilbara Workers”