Rio Tinto says 96 per cent of iron ore workers have received at least one COVID jab

Rio Tinto has disclosed 96 per cent of full-time workers in its flagship iron ore division — which employs the overwhelming majority of its WA workforce — have received at least one COVID-19 jab and updated their vaccination certificate. It marks the first time a miner has shared data for first vaccination doses following the McGowan Government’s mandate in October ordering the State’s fly-in, fly-out workforce to get their first jab by December 1 and their second by January 1. Rio expects the number, which translates to about 13,440 iron ore staff being vaccinated of about 14,000, will rise in the coming weeks as data is updated and workers return from leave. It is understood the vaccination rate across all of the miner’s operations in WA is similar, while the double dose rate is believed to be aligned with the State figure which was sitting at 78.3 per cent on Tuesday. While the mining industry says the response to the FIFO jabs mandate has been overwhelmingly positive, the deadlines are being resisted by some workers, prompting unions to ask they be allowed to take accrued leave before being stood down without pay or terminated. “These numbers provide a snapshot as to where our vaccination program is at, at this point in time, but we expect the total number to increase in the coming weeks as some people return from leave,” Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott said. “We’ll continue to work one-on-one with the remaining unvaccinated employees and provide whatever support we can.” It is understood Rio expect the final vaccination rate to be about 98 per cent. Mr Trott said Rio had worked hard to make the jab available to its workforce through its vaccination hub at Perth Airport, specifically designed for FIFO workers flying to and from the Pilbara, and pop-up vaccination clinics in towns such as Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Dampier and Pannawonica. Anglo American on Tuesday followed Rio and BHP in extending the mandatory jab policy to its entire workforce, including office-based staff, by March 1. The company runs five coking coal mines in Queensland. Woodside is also working towards implementing a similar vaccination policy. Western Mine Workers’ Alliance co-founder Greg Busson said nine members in the Pilbara had quit over vaccination mandates, four of whom indicated they were headed to early retirement. “There’s still a couple on leave considering their options,” Mr Busson said. “For some, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I haven’t had great backlash — I’ve had more not wanting to work with people who are unvaccinated.” He said nearly 20 members had been stood down from an open cut coal mine and a lithium operation he represents in the South West.