A former Mayor of Mount Isa is urging mining companies to adopt a Monday to Friday rostering system, where possible, to make mine employment more family friendly.
Ron McCollough made the comments to the North West Star on the eve of voting on Glencore’s Enterprise Agreement at Mount Isa Mines.
Mr McCullough said families and communities paid a high price for inflexible rostering at mine sites.
“Mining companies want to maximise income for shareholders, I understand that, but it really is time the government and these companies factored in the social cost of 12-hour shifts and seven days on, seven days off rosters,” Mr McCollough said.
“They need more favourable hours so the community and families can benefit.”
“The people I’ve spoken to, particularly in the past year, are less happy with the long hours and feel that the seven-on, seven-on roster is an imposition on family life,” he said.
A Mount Isa Mines spokesperson said voting took place yesterday and also today.
“As per standard practice every four years Mount Isa Mines works with its employees to discuss and ultimately agree on our Enterprise Agreement,” the spokesperson said.
“The EA sets out the terms and conditions of our EA workforce which accounts for about 2500 of our people.
“Since October 2014 we have been working in consultation with our employees to determine the conditions within the new EA.”
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