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The West Live: Unions call to wind back FIFO ‘divorce rosters’

Headshot of Caitlyn Rintoul
Caitlyn RintoulThe West Australian
Many of Australia's major mining companies doubled, and in some cases tripled, the length of rosters in late March
Camera IconMany of Australia's major mining companies doubled, and in some cases tripled, the length of rosters in late March Credit: 9NEWS

The mining union has stepped up calls for COVID fly-in, fly-out rosters to return to normal pre-pandemic swings — joining The West Live this morning to talk about the tyranny of "divorce rosters" tearing families apart.

Many of Australia's major mining companies doubled, and in some cases tripled, the length of rosters in late March, with some changing from two-weeks-on and one-week-off to four-weeks-on and two-weeks-off.

The debate over the rosters comes after an underground contractor died at the Saracen Mineral Holdings’ Dervish goldmine, 120km north-east of Kalgoorlie, when his loader veered off the edge of a slope and fell 25m.

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state secretary Steve McCartney will speak to The West Live host Jenna Clarke from 8.45am about the pressure the WA fly-in, fly-out community is under amid the pandemic.

Later on the show, Shadow Tourism Minister Alyssa Hayden will join Clarke to discuss a petition she has launched to advocate for more COVID-19 relief grants for small businesses.

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