Anglo American offering 270 permanent jobs at two mine sites

As part of a coal giant’s shift away from casualisation, two Central Queensland mines are now recruiting for permanent roles. The mining union has raised doubts over plans to fast-track certain applicants.

A mining giant has created 270 new permanent jobs at two Central Queensland mines as it continues a bold move away from labour hire contracts plaguing the industry.

Anglo American told its Grosvenor Mine workforce in a series of briefings it had created 200 jobs after a review of the mine’s employment model.

While Queensland’s mining union says the move “is a big step in the right direction”, the CFMEU still believes too many will be left behind.

Anglo’s decision comes a year after the CFMEU challenged labour hire employment contracts at the Moranbah mine.

A Fair Work Commission application argued ‘maximum term’ employment contracts sprung on One Key labour hire workers could rob them of job security.

The CFMEU said the documents detailed contracts that provided for a 12-month extension but also suggested workers could be sacked any time within that term or have their contracts extended.

The entry to Grosvenor Mine, near Moranbah. Picture: Daryl Wright

The union claimed the practice of placing workers on fixed-term contracts disguised the permanent nature of their employment.

In response, One Key said its workers were not permanent employees and were free to accept or decline the offer to extend the duration of their contract at their discretion.

Anglo, which has already created 130 jobs across its five Central Queensland mines in the past year, has said the move was about retaining skilled employees and entrenching its focus on safety.

The move comes at a time when workers across Mackay and Central Queensland are in the box seat to nab incredible wages as coal prices have boomed upwards of more than $500 per tonne.

Signing bonuses have also ramped up, with mining services firm Thiess promising a $10,000 sign-on bonus for workers who join the company and a $5000 bonus for a successful referral.

The gold rush is also open to unskilled workers but permanent roles could well be viewed as golden tickets.

Anglo’s review, which began earlier this year, came after a troubled period for the mine and its workers following a May 2020 explosion that left five miners seriously injured.

Earlier this month, a woman was taken to hospital with a leg injury after an incident at Grosvenor Mine.

The mine only resumed longwall operations at the site in February.

Executive Head of Underground Mining for Anglo American’s Steelmaking Coal business, Matt Cooper, said the company would progressively offer the 200 permanent positions at Grosvenor across longwall, maintenance, outbye, development and supervisory teams.

“We have been working to identify the best way of supporting our Grosvenor workforce into the future,” he said.

Executive Head of Underground Mining for Anglo American’s Steelmaking Coal business, Matt Cooper. Picture: Contributed

“Our existing Grosvenor workforce members who apply for the roles will be fast-tracked directly through to interview stage.

“Our focus remains on our people, and we believe our new Grosvenor Mine employment model will support career development and operational stability, helping to underpin the safe and successful operation of the mine going forward.”

The CFMEU says it has been in discussions with Anglo about a draft enterprise agreement with “industry-leading conditions” for these new jobs but the new jobs came with “a big sting in the tail, meaning many workers will miss out”.

But it says the process for existing labour hire workers to access the jobs was “too hard”.

“We will always welcome permanent jobs; and two hundred direct, permanent jobs with Anglo is a big step up from zero,” MEU Queensland president Stephen Smyth.

“However Anglo is making it too hard for its long-term, loyal labour hire workforce to access these new permanent jobs.”

Mr Smyth said he was also concerned 120 of 320 jobs on site would remain labour hire rather than permanent and Anglo had not clarified how many of the 200 jobs would be production or engineering roles.

He said existing workers would need to compete with external applicants and each other for the new permanent positions in roles they were already performing.

“We are urging Anglo to fill all new positions from the existing workforce and to create more permanent positions,” Mr Smyth said.

Grosvenor Mine restarts operations after a methane explosion injured five workers in 2020. Picture: Anglo American

The new roles have been confirmed as part of the first phase of the employment model review, focused mainly on underground activities.

Anglo American says a second phase, to be completed later this year, will consider other areas of the mine, including surface activities.

Mr Cooper said a further 70 permanent positions had also been announced to the Aquila Mine workforce this week.

The Aquila mine is part of the company’s Capcoal complex, which includes Capcoal open cut mine, Grasstree mine, a coal handling and preparation plant and associated infrastructure. Picture: Supplied

“Supporting and retaining skilled personnel is a key priority for us in ensuring the future sustainability of our business,” he said.

“As part of this work, we have been progressively increasing the number of permanent roles across all of our steelmaking coal operations in Queensland.

“Across our other mines, we have majority permanent, operational employee workforces, and we encourage our people to live locally including through rental subsidy programs and other initiatives.

An injured person from an explosion at Grosvenor Mine at Moranbah pictured arriving at the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Brisbane on May 6, 2020. This is the second flights to arrive after an explosion at the mine left five people seriously injured. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP)

“We also want a guarantee that no existing workers will lose their jobs through this process.”

Earlier this year, Anglo American introduced a new bonus structure at Grosvenor Mine, increasing its focus on leading safety indicators in line with the company’s global Elimination of Fatalities program.

The global mining giant’s policy reduces executives’ bonuses in the event of mine site deaths.

Anglo has been under fire through various hearings including the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry and the Senate Select Committee on Job Security.