Grosvenor workers criticise Anglo American employment offer

A major mining company is signalling a shift away from labour hire with new permanent roles on offer, but some union workers say the company isn’t going far enough.

Mining behemoth Anglo American is moving away from labour hire with 200 new permanent roles at its Grosvenor Mine.

For miner drivers Dean Long and Jason Hopper and Lodge president Steven Hall however, the shift has generated “mixed emotions” among union workers.

“Usually, you would be excited about getting a permanent job,” Mr Hopper said.

“You have got stability but the way they went about it was totally wrong, where they said they were hiring externally as well instead of internal.”

At present, some 315 employees at Grosvenor are contracts with One Key, a labour hire firm.

Anglo has stated these employees will be “fast-tracked” to interview for a direct hire position, but Mr Hall said that would still leave a portion of the workforce in labour hire.

Anglo workers (front row left to right) DJ Boynton, Matthew Mackay and Dean Long and (back row left to right) Justin Hill, Chevi Kane, Jaye Garnham, Jesse Tremain, Brett Newell, Jason Hopper and Joshua Cooper. Picture: Contributed.

“That will leave a number of the workforce actually without permanent jobs, still working for a contract company,” he said.

“They have not dedicated 100 per cent of the workforce to jobs.”

Mr Long also expressed dismay at Anglo’s decision to potentially source labour from outside the pre-existing Grosvenor pool.

“A blow to the balls,” he said.

“We have been fighting for full time jobs for a long time and then all of a sudden they go, ‘oh no, we’re not just going to give it to the boys who have been here and worked, we’ll give it to somewhere else’.”

The workers also expressed some trepidation about the new contracts on offer, though they acknowledged the pay was better.

“It is definitely better than One Key but it still needs to be worked at,” Mr Hopper said.

Anglo flagged a change in its employment model in Grosvenor in February and the Fair Work Commission approved the shift last week.

In its submission to the FWC, Anglo stated the move would give workers greater job security and elevated rates of pay.

Grosvenor Mine resumed longwall mining operations in February 2022 after a methane explosion injured five workers in 2020. Picture: Anglo American

Anglo American Executive Head for Underground Operations in Steelmaking Coal, Matt Cooper, said the new roles would be progressively offered across Grosvenor’s longwall, maintenance, outbye, development and supervisory teams.

“We have been progressively increasing the number of permanent roles across all of our steelmaking coal operations in Queensland,” he said.

“Importantly, our existing Grosvenor workforce members who apply for roles are being fast-tracked directly to the interview stage, as we look to support our workforce who supported us through a difficult period.

“The decision followed a review of the mine’s employment model, which began earlier this year and included looking at the best ways to support our Grosvenor workforce into the future.

“This new model is aligned with our other underground operations where a majority of core, permanent workforce is supported by a small section of labour hire employees and by mining services contractors.

“We believe it will support career development and operational stability, helping to underpin the successful operation of the mine going forward.”

The company is in discussions with the CFMEU to finalise an enterprise agreement that will cover Grosvenor’s production and maintenance employees.

It is understood the EA will be taken to an employee vote in the near future.

Originally published as Grosvenor workers criticise Anglo American employment offer