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Mine contractor will lock out workers who join industrial action

Transport Workers Union
Transport Workers Union

A mining services company has been accused of resorting to locking out its own employees to avoid negotiating a better deal.

Greyhound Resources allegedly told workers they would be unable to return to work if they join the Transport Workers Union (TWU) in bargaining for a new enterprise agreement.

No deal

TWU confirmed a number of its members who worked for the mining transporter had applied for a protected action ballot but the contractor refused to “bargain in a fair manner” and decided to lock out any workers who joined a 45 minute stoppage indefinitely.

“These workers were aiming to take a small and minimally-disruptive stoppage but the company is now taking a ridiculous and over the top step to stop these workers engaging in their right to withdraw their labour,” TWU Queensland branch secretary Peter Biagini said in a public statement. “Greyhound Resources are willing to shut down their entire operation instead of working with their employees on a deal that will leave everyone better off.”

‘Cowardly’ act

The union called the company hypocritical for pulling out of Adani Australia’s $21 billion Carmichael Coal Mine after what appeared to be cyberbullying on social media and scripted phone calls from anti mining activists linked to both Stop Adani and School Strike 4 Climate.

“Maybe Greyhound Resources should listen to their workers as much as they listen to environmental activists,” Biagini said. “These shortsighted and cowardly threats will only serve to weaken their business further as they aim to demoralise and break the spirit of their workforce.”

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