Strike threat by BHP coalminers

BHP Queensland coal miners are threatening industrial action across key mines.

The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union’s mining and energy division has applied for a protected action ballot order.

BHP Queensland coalminers are threatening industrial action across key mines, accusing the resources giant of failing to provide adequate commitments about permanent job numbers, redundancy protections and the career progression of employees.

The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union’s mining and energy division has applied for a protected action ballot order on behalf of coal workers covered by the BMA (BHP Mitsubishi Alliance) Central enterprise agreement at the Saraji, Peak Downs, Goonyella Riverside and Blackwater mines in central Queensland.

MEU Queensland president Stephen Smyth said the union wanted a ballot of members as to what type of industrial action they were willing to take, including consecutive full-shift stoppages, part-shift stoppages, overtime bans, training, performing step-up duties and taking meal breaks at designated times.

Mr Smyth said the parties remained in dispute, and had yet to discuss wage increases, despite 18 months of negotiations with BHP, including three months assisted by the Fair Work Commission.

“With a steady decline of permanent jobs over the last decade due to labour hire, and the introduction of BHP’s in-house labour hire provider Operations Ser­vices; members are determined to protect and restore permanent jobs,” Mr Smyth said.

“There’s no question job security is the biggest issue at BHP coalmines. Our members have seen jobs around them being cut and replaced by insecure, lower paid work.

“They want to protect permanent jobs by building protections into the enterprise agreement regarding EA job numbers, redundancy protections and career progression.”

He said the BMA Central agreement was the biggest in the Queensland coalfields covering about 2050 workers and set standard across the wider industry.

“BHP shouldn’t underestimate the determination of our members to stand up for permanent jobs now and into the ­future,” he said.

Mr Smyth said since 2012, the number of permanent coal employees covered by the agreement had fallen to about 40 per cent, with labour hire and contractors making up 60 per cent.

The union was seeking an undertaking that departing permanent workers be replaced with permanent workers and not labour hire or contractors. Mr Smyth said the new workers should be paid the same as the departing workers, but BHP wanted to pay less.

A BHP spokesman said: “We are working respectfully with our BMA EA employees and their representatives at Goonyella River­side, Peak Downs, Blackwater and Saraji mines to reach an agreement that continues to support safe, productive and sustainable operations.”