MP speaks out in support of PN Coal workers

Michelle Rowland, Labor MP and member for Greenway, today spoke out in Federal Parliament in support of Pacific National Coal workers.

Below is a transcript of her speech:

I rise to speak in support of workers at Pacific National Coal who are currently locked in a protracted industrial dispute with their employer over a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

The workers, represented by their union, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union have been negotiating with PN Coal for over 12 months.

On 23 January, the company walked out of negotiations despite the RTBU seeking to extend discussions by a further 48 hours, in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

Workers at PN Col deserve a fair and reasonable pay rise that will bring them in line with other companies in the industry and

I give my support to these workers and stand with them in solidarity in whatever course of action they choose to take.

In what is a bullying tactic by the company pay rises have been offered to individual rail workers who do not take part in legal strike action. I understand that the RTBU is taking this to the Federal Court as a breach of the Fair Work Act.

I wish to recognise the work of RTBU National Secretary Bob Nanva, National Assistant Secretary, Allan Barden, NSW RTBU State Secretary, Alex Claassens and NSW Locomotive Divisional Secretary Bob Hayden.

Most importantly, I recognise the hundreds of workers at PN Coal who deserve a fair go, not the bullying and intimidation they have received at the hands of their employer for over 12 months.

There are important lessons we can learn from this dispute. The tactics used by PN are simply a curtain raiser for Tony Abbott’s Australia. Let there be no doubt that if Tony Abbott wins the next election, he will bring back the worst aspects of WorkChoices.

Those opposite wants nothing more than to bring back individual agreements and make it harder for workers to bargain collectively.

Because in Tony Abbott’s Australia, the only thing that is dead, buried and cremated about WorkChoices is its name.