Female workers reveals shocking sexual harassment, bullying in QLD mines

Public urination, all-day pornography and sex talk over the two-way – three brave women have shared shocking stories of sexual harassment on Queensland mine sites. WARNING: Distressing content.

Women working in the Central Queensland mining sector have revealed the shocking assaults and sexual harassment they face, as major stakeholders figure out the best approach to tackle the issue plaguing the industry.

One woman was urinated on following an angry confrontation with a man she rejected, another alleged she was hounded with vile sexual questions and comments, while another says she was targeted and bullied.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THEIR STORIES

Women working at the coalface have even come forward as part of a confidential survey to say not only do they not feel supported to make a sexual harassment complaint, but are discouraged.

Women have shared their experiences with sexual harassment and bullying while working within the Queensland mining sector.

“We expected there to be a problem … it’s just how big a problem that it was,” CFMEU Queensland president Steve Smyth said.

“It’s certainly concerning and the real challenge for us as a union and I guess the industry is how we go about dealing with it.”

Mr Smyth said the next step was a broader discussion with all stakeholders.

“About how we actually address and deal with this real issue that’s in the mining sector,” he said.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland confirmed it had been working with industry and unions to assess occupational risks in the resources sector, including sexual harassment.

“A baseline review and stakeholder submissions are being used to inform an overall resource industry occupational health strategy and priority areas for action, using a risk-based approach,” an RSHQ spokeswoman said.

Mr Smyth said the union would welcome a parliamentary inquiry, following the results of a confidential survey on sexual harassment and bullying in the mining sector.

“We think it’s warranted,” he said.

CFMEU Queensland president Stephen Smyth said the union would welcome a parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment experienced in the state’s resources sector. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

“And we think that people should be able to come forward and give evidence, or at least tell their stories and that needs to be done in a confidential and private way.”

The survey, which was conducted over 72 hours during which 625 workers responded, informed the union’s submission to the state evaluation into occupational health and safety risk within the resources sector.

It found one in four workers reported experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace in the past year and the majority of workers did not believe employees were supported through the process of raising sexual harassment issues.

Anecdotes within the survey include a female BMA worker alleging she was “asked several times in the workplace for sexual favours and the supervisor not taking no for an answer”.

Mr Smyth said if a perpetrator was the boss or a friend of the boss, victims were not going to speak up “for fear of reprisal”.

A male worker said in the survey, “It’s pretty simple, get rid of women out of mining, (we) never had this problem years go.”

On the back of the survey the union put together recommendations that included ongoing education “to make sure workers across all demographics understand and recognise sexual harassment in all forms” and the creation of an independent reporting process for sexual harassment.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland confirmed it had been working with industry and unions to assess occupational risks in the resources sector, including sexual harassment

“We see change in the mining sector at a rapid rate and obviously diversity has been a big part of that,” Mr Smyth said.

“Just introducing a diversity program without the education, support and understanding and training.

“I think the employers are failing a lot of these women and young men with these programs at times.”

The RSHQ spokeswoman said sexual harassment or assault in any form “must not be tolerated anywhere, including in our workplaces”.

“Resources sector workers can make a confidential complaint to Resources Safety and Health Queensland on any safety and health matter, including if they are experiencing bullying and harassment,” she said.

“RSHQ will report any instances of conduct that could amount to an offence under the Criminal Code to the Queensland Police Service.”

This publication has contacted mining companies for comment in relation to this issue.

Case study 1

Mel* was the victim of a degrading act – a male co-worker whom she worked with at a Central Queensland mine in 2014 peed on her after she rejected his advances.

“I don’t mix work with pleasure,” she said, adding she had politely declined being set up with him but “that rejection just got out of hand when we got back to site”.

She said his behaviour towards her deteriorated to the point she confronted him about his conduct.

One woman (not pictured) shared how a male co-worker urinated on her in a pub parking lot.

“I put him in his place,” she said, adding that unbeknown to her this occurred in front of her boss.

She said she had just wanted to say her piece and move on, without making a formal complaint.

“I didn’t want to cause any rift … or draw any more attention to it,” she said.

Mel said she switched circuits on her job in an effort to avoid him, only for him to also switch to be on the same run as her – and his poor conduct towards her continued.

When another supervisor stepped in it “made things worse”, she said.

Later that night she had been at a Dysart pub where the co-worker began harassing her, calling her derogatory names including “sl-t”, “c--t” and “prick tease”.

He was moved to another area in the venue, but she said he began yelling abuse and profanities at her across the space.

She said she decided to leave and began walking to her car when “he followed me” and called her name twice – she said he would have been within a metre.

“I turned around … and he’s got his penis out he’s pissed on me,” she said, adding she felt “violated” and “disgusted”.

“He just laughed, he thought it was funny.”

After she made an official complaint to the site overseer she said she was sacked.

“Because there was an incident between miners, regardless if one is the perpetrator or not, it’s both go,” she said.

Mel said she also received unwanted sexual advances from a former supervisor during her time in the Central Queensland mining industry.

“He was like a dog with a bone,” she said, adding he had harassed her for a date and information about her life.

“I felt like I had to provide that information.

“It made me that uncomfortable I had no one to speak to.”

And when she finally did speak up “two weeks later, I had no job”.

Case study 2

Rachel* revealed working in the mining and gas industries in Central Queensland was her first experience “of really chronic sexual harassment”.

“There were a number of reasons why I felt like I had to play it really carefully and try an extract myself from the situation without losing my job,” she said.

Rachel* (not pictured) revealed how a former supervisor would play pornography he starred in within the office.

She said the perpetrator was a close friend of the company owner’s son.

She said during her first day on the job he played homemade pornography of himself with a woman on full volume in the office, with her in earshot.

“I was just horrified,” she said.

“He’s playing porn that he starred in.”

She said he displayed images depicting “the gutter end of pornography” on his laptop in the office.

“They were like his screen savers so you didn’t really have a choice whether you saw them or not,” she said, adding they worked in proximity.

She said nothing was done about the situation including from supervisors who also worked in the same office.

“They thought it was hilarious,” she said.

She added he also questioned her about her sexual preferences and her body.

And she said other the men in the office, including supervisors, did not engage in the same behaviour she felt their lack of action seemed to enable it.

“The boys … laughing thinking it was funny just encouraged it,” she said.

“It was really bad.

“I was desperate to stay in the job.”

She endured the conduct for two years in early 2010s and said it made her feel “voiceless”.

“Just constant questioning, ogling and comments about my body, talking to me about sex clubs that he went to,” she said, adding he would even ask about her sexual orientation.

“It was beyond his comprehension that a woman would say no to him I guess.

“It was constant and it wore me down.

“I did not want to lose my job and I knew that if I went to HR and told them … I would have just been gone … they would have sacked me straight away.”

Case study 3

Sarah* has worked in the mining industry for more than two decades and her sexual harassment story takes place in the mid 90s at a precious metal mine in northern Queensland.

The Central Queensland woman said she was one of the first women on her crew and men would sniff the seat where she had been sitting or make comments such as “I smell c--t” when she walked into the site’s crib hut.

Sarah* (not pictured) said the degrading sexual talk about her had impacted her whole life.

She said while she was never physically assaulted, the constant harassment had “affected my whole life”.

“It’s ruined me,” she said.

“I should be married, I should have children. I just don’t let anyone near me because I’m so untrusting.

“It’s completely rewired my whole body image.

“It’s impacted me to the point I’ve become a social recluse.”

She said men would refer to her using sexually derogatory names for a woman, even though she would do everything to “hide my femininity” at mining camps.

“I couldn’t handle the dirty talk,” she said.

“Driving a truck on night shift and having to listen to the two-way where they were talking about me.

“I’ve got to listen to a conversation like … do you reckon she takes it in the arse”

She said it was “just degrading” and from men who had children around her age.

She said she endured the behaviour and was too “scared” to speak up.

*Names changed for legal reasons.