Western Australian-based Total Corrosion Control (TCC), one of the contractors engaged by ALCOA in Pinjarra to erect scaffolding has served writs on the 40 metalworkers it employs. The workers face $28,600 in fines plus unspecified damages — for a union meeting that allegedly went 15 minutes over time. The workers’ union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), also faces fines, totalling $220,000 plus unspecified damages.

On July 28, all 40 workers and the union were served with applications to the federal court for fines under both the Building and Construction Industry Improvement (BCII) legislation and the Workplace Relations Act (WRA), plus unspecified damages for the loss of production. The employer’s application also says that money paid to cover any fines imposed will be passed directly on to them.

The 40 workers and the WA branch of the AMWU appear in court on August 29, the same day as the 107 WA construction workers facing similar fines. more details

Messages of support can be emailed to amwuwa@amwu.asn.au