BHP hit by same job same pay bid
The Mining and Energy Union is seeking to lift the pay of 1700 labour hire workers by between $10,000 to $40,000 a year, in a test of Labor’s same job, same pay laws.
The Mining and Energy Union has launched legal action against BHP, seeking to lift the pay of 1700 labour hire workers by $10,000 to $40,000 a year, in a key test of Labor’s same job, same pay laws.
The MEU on Wednesday filed applications in the Fair Work Commission for same job, same pay orders covering labour hire workers at three BHP coalmines in Queensland.
The 10 applications for regulated labour hire arrangement orders cover approximately 1700 labour hire workers employed by WorkPac, Chandler Macleod and BHP subsidiary Operations Services at Peak Downs, Saraji and Goonyella Riverside open cut mines in central Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
The MEU said the applications sought to lift the pay of affected labour hire workers by $10,000 to $40,000 a year, depending on factors including skills, rosters and current remuneration including bonus payments.
BHP last year declared the cost to the mining giant of Labor’s industrial relations changes would be significantly higher than its previous estimate of $1.3bn annually, saying the legislation threatens to make its $300m apprentice and traineeship program “unfeasible”
MEU Queensland president Mitch Hughes said the legal action sought to “address the labour hire rort at BHP, being the biggest player in Australia’s coal industry”.
“BHP has driven the casual labour hire model that has spread like a cancer throughout coalmining, driving down wages and job security across the industry,” Mr Hughes said.
“Today’s applications are a major step towards stamping out this model and closing the loopholes that have allowed BHP to avoid paying fair rates in site enterprise agreements.
“BHP must accept that using labour hire purely to cut pay is out of step with community standards and is now out of step with the law.”
Mr Hughes said the MEU would develop and lodge further same job, same pay applications across the coal industry, including at BHP’s other coal operations.
Peak Downs, Saraji and Goonyella Riverside are three of five Queensland coalmines owned by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and operated by BHP.
The applications lodged on Wednesday cover Operations Services production and maintenance employees at Peak Downs, Saraji and Goonyella Riverside; WorkPac employees at Peak Downs, Saraji and Goonyella Riverside and Chandler Macleod/Ready Workforce employees at Peak Downs.
The union said the applications covered about 1700 labour hire workers across the three mines.
About 1500 production workers are also directly employed across the three mines.
The MEU move follows the flight attendants union last week launching legal action against Qantas, seeking to use the same job, same pay laws to lift the wages of indirectly employed cabin crew members.
A BHP spokesperson confirmed the company had received the applications.
“Our focus remains on building productive and equitable workplaces that provide opportunity and reward high-performance, as well as supporting Australia competitiveness,” the spokesperson said. .
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