Nyrstar Port Pirie plant set for strike just months after taxpayer bailout

Workers at Nyrstar’s troubled Port Pirie smelter in South Australia have voted to strike just months after the plant scored a big taxpayer-funded bailout.

Almost 50 staff from the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and Communications, Electrical, Energy and Plumbing Union approved industrial action in a ballot last week.

The move will spark renewed debate about the role of governments pumping cash into struggling industries — with Nyrstar securing about $135 million in August amid complaints its facilities could not survive overseas competition.

The vote was filed with regulators on Friday and opens the door for a potential strike, bans on staff relief and a prohibition on working outside of ordinary hours.

But the unions would need to serve notice of a strike before proceeding.

Nyrstar’s taxpayer-funded support package for lead and zinc smelters in SA and Tasmania was largely funded by the Commonwealth Government but the two States also backed the bailout.

At the time, both the Government and Nyrstar had insisted the handout was necessary to keep the smelter running amid international competition.

It was followed by a flurry of lobbying across the metals industry for further handouts.

The company confirmed the strike vote to The Nightly.

“Nyrstar is aware of the filings to the Fair Work Commission and continues to negotiate the renewal of its Enterprise Bargaining Agreement at Port Pirie in good faith with all parties,” a company spokesman said.

The AMWU and CEPU’s South Australian divisions did not respond to requests for comment.