Workers have rallied outside Tomago’s Pacific Aluminium smelter in protest of foreign workers replacing Australians.
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Maritime Workers Union members rallied to coincide with the annual general meeting of Rio Tinto, Pacific Aluminium’s parent company.
Roughly 50 unionists joined Newcastle MUA branch secretary Glen Williams at the site on Thursday morning.
The rally was an extension of the CSL Melbourne incident, when police removed the Australian crew as the ship was berthed in Newcastle.
A foreign crew replaced the one that was evicted. Police escorted them aboard the vessel.
CSL said at the time it reassigned the ship, which has been hauling alumina from Gladstone for smelting at Tomato, after the termination of a major long-term contract.
Pacific Aluminium gained “temporary coastal licences” from the government to replace their ships with foreign-flagged vessels.
The evicted Australian crew joined 100 union members and supporters outside Tomago Aluminium shortly after their eviction in February.