Aurizon has applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to terminate the agreements, which cover over 5,000 rail workers in Queensland, in a bid to strong-arm workers in negotiations.
Aurizon put their wage-cutting deals to the workforce ahead of the case, but people in two of the three agreements roundly rejected the offer and the FWC is currently considering voting irregularities relating to the third agreement. The FWC can terminate agreements on expiry, if a party applies for it.
However, unions believe that using the commission to disrupt industrial relations in this way contravenes all principles of justice.
ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow said: “This is an attack on Australia’s well-established enterprise bargaining system on wages and conditions, and is an attempt to force workers onto minimum pay and conditions. It could set a dangerous precedent, undermining the integrity of the entire enterprise bargaining system.” ITF president Paddy Crumlin, of the Maritime Union of Australia, commented that unions globally were staunchly opposed to such attacks on the fundamental rights of workers and would be joining the RTBU’s public campaign.
