CFMEU ups ante on Morrison government, extends NSW coal mine strike

Unions look to increase pressure on the government in the lead-up to the federal election, as they chase a controversial pay rise.

The CFMEU says workers at a NSW South Coast coal mine will extend strike action. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Labour hire workers at a NSW coal mine have voted to extend their week-long strike by another week, as unions seek to increase pressure on the Morrison government over “exploitation” of labour hire workers in the lead-up to the federal election

The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union said today that workers at the Wollongong Coal-owned Wongawilli Colliery had decided to stay out for a further week after commencing a seven-day strike this morning.

The union members are seeking to pressure labour-hire firm CAS Mine Services to bring the pay of its fully casualised workforce into line with union members in nearby mines.

CFMEU mining and energy south Western District vice president Bob Timbs said today the anger of workers on the picket outside the colliery was directed at Wollongong Coal owner, Jindal Steel and Power.

Mr Timbs said the India-based company was profiting from Australian resources while hiding from their responsibility to Australian workers.

“These workers are not casuals and should be treated as the permanent employees they are,’’ he said.

“Wongawilli mine is a classic labour hire rip-off. Across mining and the broader workforce, employers outsource workers to labour hire companies to drive down wages and conditions.”

He said Wongawilli miners worked in some of the most difficult underground coal mining conditions in the region.

“They are not asking for anything extravagant. They simply want conditions that are basically in line with the region,’’ he said. “They deserve job security and pay and conditions in line with industry standards.”

CAS, which the union ­accused of unlawfully employing its entire 100-strong workforce as casuals, said last week it would “go broke” if it had to fund a 10 per cent pay-rise claim that it said would wipe out its ­current operating margins.

The strike is the latest flashpoint in the battle between employers and unions in the wake of last year’s precedent-setting court ruling on casuals, with labour-hire firms hit with union claims and class actions over their allegedly unlawful use of casuals in the ­mining industry.

The striking workers are paid hundreds of dollars a week less than permanent workers at nearby mines.

From next month, CAS will employ them on 12-month ­contracts but they will lose their casual loadings.

Under the industry award, the use of casual employees is not ­allowed except through an enterprise agreement but CAS did not employ the workers through an agreement, exposing the company to back-pay claims.

CAS business manager Jesse Yvanoff said the labour-hire workers were paid $34 an hour compared with permanent workers at nearby mines who were paid $42 an hour.