Major miners have been forced into the first multi-employer bargaining for the industry after a key union won approval to negotiate a pay deal for critical supervisors across three different coal mines, raising the prospect of mass shutdowns.

A Fair Work Commission full bench late on Friday ordered Peabody Energy, Glencore’s Ulan Coal, and Whitehaven Coal to engage in at least 12 months of talks with the Collieries’ Staff and Officials Association on behalf of crew supervisors, managers and shift engineers at their NSW mines after rejecting the companies’ strong opposition.