The Australian reported that the Tasmanian government has rejected Rio Tinto's plea to overturn a judgment allowing unions to hold health and safety meetings in the lunchroom of one of Rio's aluminum smelters.
In a decision hailed by Mr Paul Howes leader of Australian Workers Union as a victory over the mining giant, Justice Department secretary Mr Lisa Hutton rejected Rio's appeal against a Supreme Court judgment made last month.
The court ruled in favor of the AWU's right to use the lunchrooms at the Bell Bay aluminum smelter near Launceston to talk to workers about conditions. The Bell Bay smelter is one of three Rio plants being targeted by the AWU in its bid to unionize the aluminum sector.
Mr Howes said that the decision should end the stoush which began in November. Rio is using their gigantic bank balance to try to buy the result they want using our legal system. They just don't want workers at the Rio Tinto Bell Bay site in Tasmania to talk to their union in the workplace about their real workplace safety concerns.
The AWU notified Rio's Bell Bay management last year of its intended entry under the Workplace Health and Safety Act to discuss health and safety issues with workers during a meal or other break.
Rio refused entry, saying AWU representatives should use purpose built meeting rooms so other workers could eat their lunch without disruption.
A Rio spokesman said that last night the company was disappointed with the department's decision but stuck to its original position. We have always sought to cater for union representatives' visits by providing purpose built meeting rooms. Our people have the right to eat their meals and enjoy their rest breaks without disruption.
（Sourced from www.theaustralian.com.au）
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