Rio drivers’ group to stop work on Friday

<p>A group of Rio Tinto rail drivers at the Pilbara operations in Western Australian have planned a four-hour stoppage on Friday which was expected to intensify next week.</p> <p>About 39 drivers out of a workforce of 315 would be involved in a planned series of four, 12 and 24-hour stoppages in a bid to force Rio Tinto to negotiate expiring workplace agreements.</p> <p>A number of drivers were involved in a strike last Saturday which Rio Tinto said had not disrupted the haulage of iron ore from mine to port.</p> <p>The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union secretary of the Western Australian mining division, Gary Wood, said the union intended to recruit about 30 more Pilbara drivers who would come off workplace agreements before March.</p> <p>The 39 drivers involved in the strike action refused to sign new agreement’s late last year and were now taking industrial action.</p> <p>Mr Wood said the train drivers still had no response from the company in regards to a union negotiated collective agreement and were prepared for a long campaign.</p> <p>&#8220They are prepared to do this as long as it takes,&#8221 he told the <em>West Australian</em> .</p> <br />