The West Australian reported that Rio Tinto will appeal against last week's Federal Court decision to overturn a non union employment agreement between the mining giant and its Pilbara iron ore workers.

Rio Tinto president of Pilbara operations Mr Greg Lilleyman said the company's lawyers would file an application to seek leave to have the case heard by the High Court.

The Federal Court said Rio's non-union agreement violated the Fair Work Act because it was not an employee collective agreement.

Meanwhile, workers at Mermaid Marine's Dampier Supply Base remained on strike yesterday over a wages claim.

The union went on strike over a deal the company claimed would pay waterside workers a total salary package of more than $190,000 a year. The Maritime Union of Australia says the offer was worth substantially less than that and would not adequately compensate workers for the cost of living in Karratha.

(Sourced from thewest.com.au)