Coal employees will temporarily stop performing duties to demand better job security.
The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) recently applied for a protected action ballot order from the Fair Work Commission. The move lets workers lawfully conduct full-shift stoppages, part-shift stoppages, overtime bans, training sessions, step up duties and meal breaks at designated times.
Industrial action could potentially be taken at the following BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) coal mine sites:
- Saraji, 231km southwest of Mackay
- Blackwater, 226km west of Rockhampton
- Peak Downs, 210km southwest of Mackay
- Goonyella Riverside, 203km southwest of Mackay.
MEU hopes the proponent will revise its central enterprise agreement (EA) to ensure permanent crew members are replaced with new permanent recruits, instead of lower-paid labour hire and contracted staff. QMEB can reveal the pact covers about 2050 BMA workers across Central Queensland, and only 40 per cent of them are permanently employed. Labour hire and contractors account for the remaining 60 per cent.
“Job security is the biggest issue at BHP coal mines. Our members have seen jobs around them being cut and replaced by insecure, lower paid work. They want to protect permanent jobs by building protections into the EA regarding EA job numbers, redundancy protections and career progression,” MEU Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said in a public statement.
Smyth blamed the mining giant for failing to resolve concerns after they were directly raised in private.
“We had 15 months of negotiations with BHP then another three months of negotiations assisted by the Fair Work Commission but BHP refuse to do the right thing,” he said.
The proponent said it was still open to holding talks and would continue to engage with the union until a mutual agreement is reached.
“We are working respectfully with our BMA EA employees and their representatives at Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, Blackwater and Saraji mines to reach an agreement that continues to support safe, productive and sustainable operations,” a BHP spokesperson said according to News Limited.
Related articles
Management improves environment after not paying employees
Coal employees stop work early for pay rise
Axed coal employees awarded up to $290K after legal battle
Resources giant creates 200 permanent jobs after labour hire review.
Add Comment