The rantings of AWU National Secretary Paul Howes against Rio Tinto Alcan brings back memories of the same union’s militancy in the pastoral industry in the 1980’s.

The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams says Mr. Howes reminds him very much of another AWU official Ernie Ecob who caused turmoil and division in rural Australia during the wide comb dispute in the shearing industry.

Senator Williams said at that time shearing sheds were black-banned and division erupted between rural workers while the AWU fanned the flames.

In the period following, more than 60 percent of pastoral workers left the union.

“Paul Howes is going down the same path with his attack on Rio Tinto Alcan. His comments that ”monkeys could do a better job” and “you cannot hide behind your slimy, grubby mates from the Coalition because we’re coming after you” are sheer lunacy.

He claims the company is intimidating workers into not joining the union or organising at work. This is just Paul Howes trying to bolster the membership of the AWU so it can be an even more powerful arm of the Labor Party.

His public attack is designed to lift his own profile, although Australians hardly need reminding he is one of the faceless men of the Labor Party who removed their Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in June last year.

Prime Minister Gillard has shown she cannot or does not want to reign him in even after he berated one of her own Ministers, and this is a stark reflection on her leadership.

Paul Howes needs to pull his head in or the Union leadership should cut him loose if it wants to retain any credibility”, Senator Williams said.