Enterprise update: Unions take an international approach to labour relations

Overview

In what may be a sign of things to come from unions, the CFMEU has made a complaint alleging that Xstrata has breached the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises with respect to its industrial relations practices in Australia as well as by engaging in anti competitive conduct with a major shareholder.

The CFMEU has made the complaint not only on the basis of its role as a trade union in the coal mining industry but also as a direct shareholder through its wholly owned entity Unite Organising Pty Ltd and as a representative of its members who have holdings in Xstrata through superannuation funds.

As a precursor to making the complaint, the CFMEU through its affiliation with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, arranged for meetings with Xstrata plc management in Switzerland to discuss its concerns. Those meetings did not resolve matters.