BHP workers at four major mines vote on strike action

Negotiations over the biggest enterprise agreement in Queensland coal have devolved as BHP workers in the Bowen Basin vote on strike action at four major mines. Here’s what it means.

Generic mine BHP coal Daunia operations in central Queensland. Picture: BHPcoal mining coal mine

Four major Central Queensland mines are being threatened with strike action as union figures accuse BMA (BHP Mitsubishi Alliance) of ‘not listening’ to worker concerns.

Members of the Mining and Energy Union are currently voting on what kind of protected industrial action they will take, which could include full or part-shift stoppages, overtime bans, and more.

The Fair Work Commission ballot follows months of negotiations over wages, conditions, and job security – particularly the rising rate of labour hire positions supported by BHP’s in-house provider, Operations Services.

Miners taking part in the ballot work at the Saraji, Peak Downs, Blackwater and Goonyella Riverside mines.

MEU Queensland president Stephen Smyth said the BMA Central Enterprise Agreement was the biggest agreement in the Queensland coalfields.

“It sets the standard across the broader industry,” Mr Smyth said.

“We had over a year of negotiations with BHP, then months more assisted by the Fair Work Commission, but BHP just aren’t listening.

“Job security is the biggest issue at BHP coal mines and our members will fight for permanent jobs. They’ve seen jobs around them axed and replaced by insecure, lower paid work.

“They’ve watched for a decade while permanent EA jobs declined to be replaced by labour hire (and) the shameless contrivance of BHP’s in-house labour hire provider, Operations Services

“They’re not willing to settle for hollow promises anymore. They want hard protection built into the agreement around EA job numbers, redundancy protections and career progression.

“BHP needs to come to understand the determination of our members to stand up for permanent jobs now and into 2023.”

CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland District President Stephen Smyth. Picture Daryl Wright

BHP maintains the position that the Fair Work Commission process is the best path forward to reach an agreement, and will continue to focus its discussions on a package of measures that address employees’ concerns and keep operations safe, productive and sustainable.

The mining giant’s current proposed package of measures to address job security concerns and enable employment opportunities under the agreement includes a range of offerings, such as one-to-one replacement of EA employees who leave through natural attrition, with new employees to be covered by the Agreement.

In addition to the one-to-one replacement, it also includes a commitment to hire additional new employees under the agreement.

Paid union AGMs for all sites is also in the agreement, as well as the ability to offer voluntary early retirement at any time and replace these employees with new EA employees, simplification of the redundancy provision to increase EA protections and increased redundancy pay, no forced redundancies as a result of deployment of Operations Services during the term of the agreement and a four-year agreement to provide certainty for employees and the business.

BHP also rejects the inference that Operations Services is ‘labour hire’ and maintains that it is a team of permanent BHP employees providing maintenance services to its Australian assets.

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In return for the major considerations, BMA is seeking a new career structure, which includes improved career development to retain and attract a broad range of talent to our business and provide training and development opportunities for all employees that meet business needs.

A BHP spokesman said the company remained committed to constructive bargaining and reaching an agreement as quickly as possible, throughout negotiations with the Fair Work Commission.

“The best way forward for a win/win outcome is to continue negotiations,” the spokesman said.

“We want to reach an agreement quickly to provide certainty to our employees and to our business.

“Industrial Action has a negative impact on all parties, including the communities where we operate, and will only serve to disrupt negotiations that have been occurring in good faith through the Fair Work process.”

The Protected Action Ballot Order asking union members to nominate their choice of industrial action is underway from Friday.

Voting commences on October 14, 2022 and ends October 24.

In February, Anglo American responded to long-term criticism of its use of labour hire firms with a review of its employment model for workers at Grosvenor Mine.

Anglo American metallurgical coal business CEO Tyler Mitchelson said “we have been progressively increasing the number of permanent roles at our five mining operations in Queensland”.

“Including creating around 130 new permanent jobs over the past six months, with more on the way.”

Following the review, Anglo briefed Grosvenor mine in July that it had created 200 permanent positions.

Originally published as BHP workers at four major mines vote on strike action