How Rio Tinto tried to dispose of me

by Kerrianne Mills

My name is Kerrianne Mills and I have worked for Rio Tinto in Western 
Australia since April 1995. I started with them at the Argyle Diamond Mine 
and transferred internally in July 1995 to Hamersley Iron. My reason for 
transferring was due to my husband getting a job in Paraburdoo.b

Since working with Hamersley Iron I have suffered humiliation, loss of 
dignity and have been intimidated beyond belief.

I started off with Hamersley Iron in the plant and continued my operator's 
experience from previous mines.

I had been there 12 months when the first blatant and obvious intimidation 
and harassment began. I was being "picked on" by a fellow employee, an ex-
police officer.

Despite the intimidation, exploitation, harassment and indignity I was 
subjected to, the supervisor and superintendent did not take my formal 
complaint seriously which in the end led to me requesting a transfer to the 
hill, driving trucks in the pit.

This transfer was granted but, as I was to find out, at a cost. My 
superintendent had labelled me a "trouble maker" and warned the new bosses 
of my arrival.

I started on the back foot and did not stand a chance. Not prepared to 
accept Rio Tinto's treatment as some sort of industrial robot with no 
feelings or rights, I was subjected to continued harassment.

Stress soon took its toll on my health and personal life. Suffering from 
constant anxiety my relationship with my fiance was strained resulting in 
the postponement of our wedding.

I was prescribed anti-depressants and went to counselling to try to get my 
life back on track. My general health also suffered and I ended up with a 
rumbling appendix which was removed.

Due to the rate of my absenteeism trying to cope with my illness, I was 
removed from the hill and told a position could not be found for me. After 
threatening to go to Rio Tinto's "Fair Treatment System" I was put in the 
laboratory for six months and when no job was available in the end I was 
given two weeks notice of dismissal.

It was at this stage that I was put on to the CFMEU [Construction, 
Forestry, Mining and Energy Union]. Until then, because we were on 
individual contracts, I was led to believe that there was nothing the union 
could do for me.

It is a similar belief held by many other of my workmates which has been 
carefully fostered by the company.

However, I managed to contact Western Australia CFMEU Mining Division 
Secretary Gary Wood and with the support of some of my workmates who were 
also being treated shabbily, I initiated a fair treatment complaint and was 
sent back to the plant. I was told that this was the company's "only 
option".

The superintendent intimidated and threatened me from the start. The 
immense pressure I was put under was ridiculous and cruel and I was soon 
terminated on suspicious grounds.

While I and other employees have been dragged through the [Fair Treatment] 
System for months on end, I was amazed how fast and efficient it became 
when management resorted to it.

Within eight weeks the company had "processed" the case to dismiss me. In 
contrast, there are employees who have been fighting their case against 
management for over 15 months.

Fortunately for me I turned to the CFMEU who are now supporting my unfair 
dismissal case in court.

Rio Tinto's so-called "Fair Treatment System" is a sham.

It is a camouflage for a war of attrition designed to break down the 
workers' spirit and allow the company to dictate. I have found through 
bitter experience that without the union to support you workers have no 
protection against Rio Tinto or, indeed, any of the other company sharks 
who bribe or beat their employees onto individual contracts.

Acknowledgements: Common Cause.