Disgruntled union workers staged a collective protest at Kemerton Industrial Park recently.
The unions said the protest was in response to the "repeated failure" of Albemarle Corporation to respond to requests from workers to sit down with them to discuss wages and conditions.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) state secretary Steve McCartney said the company had refused to meet with worker representatives to negotiate site agreements.
"They want to build the job under sham contracts and baseline agreements that pay at, or possibly even below, award wages under our broken industrial laws," he said.
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Mick Buchan said the union was "sick and tired of multinationals ripping off workers."
"Every dollar that these big multinationals squeeze out of the wages and conditions of local workers is one less dollar that goes into the local economy and instead gets sent straight offshore," he said.
"Every person and every business in our community pays for the greed of these companies."
Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Carter said lithium had the potential to be the next great resources boom but workers played an essential role.
"They're our resources and we demand that our local skilled workforce are paid under union-negotiated agreements that pay a living wage and provide decent conditions, safety and dignity to working people," he said.
"Let's not squander this boom like the last one."
An Albemarle spokesperson said with the commissioning of the Kemerton Plant not scheduled until 2021, hiring was premature at this stage.
"Albemarle confirms discussions were held in good faith with the AMWU last month and we have nothing further to add at this time," they said.
Bunbury MLA Don Punch said he believed the unions were angry with a lack of communication from the company.
"I understand the unions had some discussions with Albemarle and agreements were made about continuing discussions around works entitlements, which were terminated afterwards," he said.
"I'm very keen for Albemarle to essentially lift its profile and communicate more effectively with all stakeholders about the benefits that will flow to our community out of local contracts and local people being employed on decent terms and conditions."
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