CFMEU lodges Fair Work Commission application over One Key contracts at Grosvenor
A Fair Work Commission application has been lodged over new contracts issued to the mine’s labour hire workers last month.
Mackay
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Queensland's mining union is challenging labour hire employment contracts at Anglo American's Grosvenor mine amid job security fears.
A Fair Work Commission application argues 'maximum term' employment contracts sprung on One Key labour hire workers last month could rob them of job security.
The CFMEU says the application, filed on Friday, details contracts that provide for a 12-month extension but also suggest workers may be sacked any time within that term or have their contracts extended.
It relates to the response time frame on a recent contract extension One Key offered its employees at Grosvenor Mine, under its registered Enterprise Agreement to which the CFMEU is a party.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth said workers were recently given the contracts to work at the Moranbah mine at short notice.
He said they were told they would lose their jobs if they did not sign them or would be presumed to be accepting the terms if they continued showing up for work without signing.
"Fixed term employment is not analogous to 'maximum term' employment," the application reads.
"The CFMEU requests that the purported 'extension of contract' letters be rescinded immediately and the company acknowledge the true nature of the employment relationship with the relevant employees, that being of permanent employment.
"No employee should be prejudiced should they not return the purported extension letter by the date indicated by the company."
In response to the CFMEU's concerns, One Key managing director Ben Lewis sent an email saying the company had not received any concerns directly.
He said his workers were not permanent employees and their current contracts were expiring on May 31, 2021.
"We would like to make it clear that One Key has no ulterior motive in issuing contractual extensions to our workforce at Grosvenor," he wrote.
"These extension letters have been issued as soon as possible after the execution of the extension to the contract One Key holds with Anglo American.
"Employees are free to accept or decline the offer to extend the duration of their contract at their discretion."
Mr Smyth argued the mine workers were really permanent workers who deserved the job certainty and entitlements that went with permanency.
The union's application claims 'maximum term' contracts are not provided for under the terms of the FES Coal Greenfield Agreement 2018 that labour hire firm One Key uses.
"Most of these workers have been working at Anglo's Grosvenor Mine for several years," Mr Smyth said.
"Despite this, One Key and Anglo have been trying to make sure they remain indefinitely in insecure work by having them sign dodgy 'maximum term' contracts that provide for termination at any time.
"The contracts are designed to try and ensure that these workers remain on tenterhooks about their future and never get a meaningful opportunity to bargain for fair terms and conditions."
The Queensland Coal Board of Inquiry heard labour hire and contracting firms employed 76 per cent of the workforce at Grosvenor.
More stories:
What's next for Grosvenor mine explosion probe
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'Smoke screen': Union slams response to explosion findings
But the Daily Mercury understands the mine's workforce has been stable with a low turnover.
An Anglo American spokeswoman did not answer questions about the CFMEU's assertions on job security fears or whether permanent employment might lead to better safety outcomes.
"We have provided stable and consistent employment for our workforce at Grosvenor Mine since longwall mining started in 2016, including over the past year," she said.
Workers at Grosvenor were stood down on full pay after the May 2020 mine blast that critically injured five men.
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Longwall operations and mining development activities at Grosvenor restarted earlier this month after the mine was given the green light to re-enter the site.
Mr Smyth said Anglo and One Key must take immediate steps to ensure workers were offered permanent and secure work.
"When it comes to improving safety, we don't need gimmicks, we need employers to take real and tangible steps to improving job security," he said.
"Getting rid of these dodgy 'maximum term' contracts would be a good first step.
"The impact that insecure labour hire arrangements have on safety is the worst kept secret in the industry."
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Originally published as Job security fears after new Grosvenor labour hire contracts
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