The Western Mine Workers Alliance is calling on BHP to drop a new policy which allows the company to search the personal belongings of BHP Village residents at the whim of managers, claiming it opens more avenues for further harassment on site.
The new policy, contained in the update ‘BHP Village Rules’ states that: “BHP, Village Management, Security or delegates may conduct searches of Village rooms, resident belongings or vehicles for all BHP employees and contractors on a random basis…” BHP has threatened to withhold accommodation if workers do not sign up to the invasion of their rights.
WMWA spokesperson Greg Busson (Secretary, WA Division of the Mining & Energy Union) said BHP’s policy is wide open to abuse.
“This appears to be a blank cheque to any petty manager with a vendetta to bully and harass a worker they don’t like,” Mr Busson said.
“There are absolutely zero restrictions on how or why these searches can take place. BHP reckons it should be an any time, any reason sort of affair.
“This drastic new rule was slipped in sneakily by BHP with the hope, presumably, that no one would notice and would just sign. So far we are aware of no protections about how searches of personal belongings are undertaken, including who is present or training on how appropriate searches can be conducted.”
WMWA spokesperson Daniel Walton (National Secretary, Australian Workers’ Union) said the union was demanding clarity from BHP.
“Given the horror stories coming out of the sector about harassment, especially of women, this is the last policy BHP or any other employer should be introducing,” Mr Walton said.
“Our union is recommending that employees do not give their express consent to BHP over this policy. The union agrees BHP has the right to search their own property, but not personal belongings.
“Of course we recognise the pressure workers — especially casual contract workers – are under to sign away their rights when the boss stands over them. But that’s why we are fighting back as a union and demanding better.”