Mining giant Rio Tinto has requested that the High Court overturn a Federal Court ruling that would see its non-union pay and condition agreements in the Pilbara region rendered invalid.

 

In an internal staff memo, Rio announced it would take leave to challenge the ruling after President of Rio’s Pilbara operations Greg Lilleyman described the move as a “very serious step to take”

 

“The ability to directly engage with each of you about the matters that affect you remains our key consideration” Mr Lilleyman wrote.

 

“All our employees have a contract of employment which is a valid legal document and does not change as a result of this decision”

 

The ruling has cast doubt over the validity of a similar non-union agreement that BHP Billiton has with its employees.

 

Although the collective 20,000 iron ore mining workforce of the two mining giants is largely un-unionised, the victory is set to give the mining unions a formal role in representing bargaining and conducting legalized industrial action.