About 160 coal miners locked out of work without pay over a pay dispute with Peabody Energy

About 160 miners have been locked out of work for more than a week without pay over a pay dispute with their employer.

About 160 coal miners have been locked out of work for more than one week without pay over a bargaining dispute with their employer.

The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) allege US-owned Peabody Energy retaliated after union members at the Helensburg coal mine near Wollongong in NSW stopped work for one hour in response to a “lack of progress in negotiations.”

The union was advised its members would be locked out without pay for eight days from Wednesday less than two hours after a meeting with the Fair Work Commission over the dispute.

The Mining and Energy Union allege US owned Peabody Energy retaliated after union members at the Helensburgh coal mine stopped work for one hour in response to a “lack of progress in negotiations.”

Miners asked for three pay increases of 5 per cent over a three-year period and an extra $1.50 added to their hourly rate, after miners were allegedly told they would be looked after when they received a low increase under their last agreement.

MEU South West District vice president Mark Jenkins said Peabody’s lockout was a harsh response aimed at coercing MEU members into giving up their bargaining position.

Mr Jenkins said workers had experienced several years of low wage growth compared to high inflation and cost of living pressures, but had continually set production records at the mine for their employer.

“Now, they deserve to see some of the benefit that they were promised in the last agreement,” he said.

Peabody allegedly locked out of its Helensburgh coal mine about two hours after a Fair Work Commission meeting with the MEU over the dispute.

“Peabody’s move to lock out MEU members for over a week is nothing but an attempt to punish and intimidate workers for exercising their industrial rights.”

A Peabody spokesperson said Metropolitan Mine acknowledged that employees engaged in industrial action and the union notified the company of further industrial action to come.

“In response, Peabody made the decision to implement employer response action, with a lockout of employees commencing night shift Wednesday, June 18 and continuing until day shift Thursday, June 26.

“Peabody remains committed to the bargaining process and will continue to negotiate in good faith toward a new enterprise agreement.”

Originally published as About 160 coal miners locked out of work without pay over a pay dispute with Peabody Energy