Unions protest over jobs lost to foreign workers
About 150 workers have rallied outside a city hotel to protest against the loss of jobs to overseas workers.
The union protest follows a Federal Court decision to throw out a challenge to a move by the Federal Government to make it easier for foreign workers to be employed on offshore oil and gas projects.
Up to 400 Construction Forestry Mining and Energy, Maritime, Electrical Trade and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union members chanted "local jobs" and other slogans surrounded by a police blockade.
The AMMA yesterday welcomed the Federal Court decision.
More than 20 police officers are on standby as protesters sit at the foot of the Duxton Hotel entrance.
The MUA is considering an appeal to the full bench of the Federal Court.
The MUA and the Australian Maritime Officers Union took the Abbott Government to court claiming it was using a "legislative instrument" to re-open a loophole to allow cheap foreign labour in the offshore.
Police guard the car of Senator Michaela Cash. Picture: Kate Smithers/7 News
Protestors hit out at WA Senator and Assistant Immigration Minister Michaela Cash, a vocal advocate of the Federal Government's targeted skilled migration scheme.
"As a local politician she has a responsibility to ensure our youth and mature workers should be given jobs in the resource sector," CFMEU WA Secretary Mike Buchan said.
MUA WA secretary Christy Cain described the Federal Court decision as "nonsense" and said the unions would fight until more security on local jobs was given.
In a statmement the MUA said the Abbott Government had undermined Australian participation in offshore oil and gas projects.
MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said the joint maritime unions would not rest until the job security of Australians working in Australian resources projects is protected.
“The majority of Australian Senators voted to disallow the Abbott Government’s attempts to open the floodgates to foreign workers in the offshore oil and gas sector,” Mr Crumlin said.
“That’s before the decision was steamrolled by Assistant Minister for Immigration Michaelia Cash.
“You can rest assured that those Senators were closely watching (the) decision.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Senators to monitor the offshore oil and gas industry in particular and the protection of job security more generally so that Australian workers’ interests are protected and advanced.
“It beggars belief that a Government can override a decision by the Senate and we’ll continue to look at all avenues of appeal.
“The joint unions believe Australian maritime workers should have the right to work in their own country and the ideological warriors in the Abbott Government and Australian Mines and Metals Association are seeking to take out an entire Australian industry."
The protest lasted about two hours.
