16:30 AEST Tue Jul 3 2012
Thousands are expected to attend union rallies in Western Australia opposing the federal government's enterprise migration agreements (EMA).
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) plans protest rallies in Perth and the Pilbara towns of Karratha and Port Hedland on Wednesday.
The union says it welcomes the introduction of a resources sector jobs board, but is concerned the website will merely pay "lip service" to the issue of hiring local workers before importing foreign labour.
So far, the only project that is covered by an EMA is Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill iron ore development in the Pilbara, where 1700 overseas workers will be hired.
CFMEU national secretary Michael O'Connor said Australia's skills shortage pointed to a crisis in training.
"We need to be training our local kids to meet those shortages first and foremost," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"That's the priority the community wants to see.
"We have this massive mining boom - let's maximise the benefit for jobs."
UnionsWA president Meredith Hammat agreed WA's performance in training was going backwards.
"With all machinery and vehicles that need to be maintained as well as construction work you'd expect more training in these critical areas," Ms Hammat said.
Also on Tuesday, WA Labor leader Mark McGowan launched the party's plan to help local businesses - particularly manufacturers - compete for resources work.
The party is bolstering its policy platform ahead of the state election in March.
"WA is in the midst of a mining boom and despite the contribution the mining industry is making to our state's and nation's economy, some sectors of the economy are struggling," Mr McGowan said.
"These are industries which are complementary to the boom yet some businesses are being forced to shut down because of a lack of work."
Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union state secretary Steve McCartney said resource companies should be held to account for training.
"We need to know what skills are being built, particularly for the future of WA manufacturing," Mr McCartney said. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode
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