Union workers vote for industrial action measures at BHP mines

The long-running tussle between unions and management over job security concerns in the Bowen Basin is reaching a fever pitch at four massive coal mines, with industrial action set to break out. Here’s what it means.

Union workers have voted to pursue industrial action at four Central Queensland coal mines as negotiations between the CFMEU and mining giant BHP break down over a new enterprise agreement.

Following a 10-day ballot between October 14-24, workers at the Saraji, Peak Downs, Blackwater and Goonyella Riverside mines voted to support one-to-six hour stoppages and shift-length stoppages and ban non-rostered overtime, training and assessing, hot-seating during shift changeovers and step-up supervisor duties.

The workers also voted to support action on the time and location of meal breaks.

The members voted overwhelmingly for the measures, with all options garnering support levels of 90 per cent or more, with the exception of shift-length stoppages, which registered 81 per cent support.

Despite the potential ban on training and assessing, the union said there would be no elevated safety risk for miners.

It is not clear at this time when the disruptions will commence or which actions will be taken.

Mining and Energy Union Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said his members would now develop an effective plan for protected industrial action.

Mining and Energy Union Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said his members would now develop an effective plan for protected industrial action.

“The next step will be to engage with members and develop an effective plan for protected industrial action to achieve a fairer Enterprise Agreement that recognises the value of job security,” he said.

“Today’s ballot result means we have a range of options available and we are confident of strong support from members.”

The union has long argued the use of labour-hire firms in the Bowen Basin has reduced job security for coal workers and is pushing to eliminate the practice.

The EA covers production and engineering employees, for example truck, dragline and dozer operators and workers in wash plants.

“We had over a year of negotiations with BHP, then months more assisted by the Fair Work Commission but BHP just aren’t listening,” Mr Smyth said before the vote.

“Job security is the biggest issue at BHP coal mines and our members will fight for permanent jobs.

“They’ve seen jobs around them axed and replaced by insecure, lower paid work.

“They’ve watched for a decade while permanent EA jobs declined to be replaced by labour hire (and) the shameless contrivance of BHP’s in-house labour hire provider, Operations Services.”

BHP rejects the claim that Operations Services is labour hire and says it is a team of permanent BHP employees providing maintenance services to its Australian assets.

The BHP Blackwater mine control room.

In response to the ballot outcome, a BHP spokesman said the company remained committed to “constructive bargaining in good faith through the existing Fair Work Commission process”.

“We have tabled a package that contains industry-leading conditions, job security protection and measures that keep our operations safe, productive and sustainable,” the spokesman said.

“The best way forward for a win/win outcome is to negotiate an agreement, not industrial action.”

It is understood BHP has proposed a range of measures to embed job security at its operations, including one-to-one replacement of EA employees who leave through natural attrition with new employees to be covered by the agreement, a commitment to hire additional new employees under the agreement (in addition to one-to-one replacement), paid union AGMs for all sites, the ability to offer voluntary early retirement at any time and replace these employees with new EA employees, simplification of the redundancy provision to increase EA protections and increased redundancy pay.

In return, the company is seeking a new career structure that includes improved career development to retain and attract a broad range of talent to our business and provide training and development opportunities for all employees that meet business needs.