Union workers start industrial action at BHP’s Peak Downs, Saraji, Blackwater and Goonyella Riverside mines

Pressure has been building for months between the CFMEU and a mining giant over a new enterprise agreement for coal workers. And the union has warned the measures could escalate and go on for months.

CFMEU's mining and energy president in Queensland, Steve Smyth. Photography David Kelly

Union workers have started industrial action at four Central Queensland coal mines in a bid to pressure mining giant BHP on job security provisions in a new enterprise agreement.

Tension between the CFMEU and BHP management has been building for months over the issue and union members voted to pursue action in October.

Workers at the Blackwater, Saraji, Peak Downs and Goonyella mines have stopped working overtime and step-up duties and union members at Peak Downs and Goonyella will take a five-hour stoppage on November 4 to attend a Moranbah Miners Memorial event.

Mining and Energy Union Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said workers could ramp up their campaign in the coming weeks, including the possibility of continuous stoppages or full-day strikes.

“That can happen,” he said.

“If they feel BHP is not listening to their concerns.

“There is a lot of stuff we can do but at the end of the day the ball is in BHP’s court.”

Mining and Energy Union Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said workers could ramp up their campaign in the coming weeks. Photo: David Kelly

In October, members voted to pursue a range of possible measures including one-to-six hour stoppages and shift-length stoppages, bans on non-rostered overtime and bans on training and assessing, hot-seating during shift changeovers and step-up supervisor duties.

The union has long argued the use of labour-hire firms in the Bowen Basin has reduced job security for coal workers and is pushing to eliminate the practice.

“Job security is the biggest issue at BHP coal mines and our members will fight for permanent jobs,” Mr Smyth said before the October vote.

“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.”

Mr Smyth said the action could potentially go on for months but his members would not look to “drag it out”.

“We want to resolve it, we don’t want to drag it out,” he said.

The EA covers production and engineering employees, for example truck, dragline and dozer operators and workers in wash plants.

With coal prices hitting $500 per tonne, any sustained disruption to production could potentially cost the company millions in lost revenue.

“It (the industrial action) has nothing to do in any shape or form with money,” Mr Smyth said.

Mr Smyth said some workers were “nervous” because of the uncertainty but adopted the pressure tactic “with their eyes wide open”.

Workers at the Blackwater, Saraji, Peak Downs and Goonyella mines have stopped working overtime.

Workers lose pay when they pursue stoppages and Mr Smyth said it was possible workers could be locked out of the four sites.

“Glencore done it,” he said in reference to the 2017-2018 Oaky North strike, which saw union workers locked out of the mine for 230 days.

A BHP spokesman said the company had plans in place to minimise disruption to its operations.

“We plan for all scenarios and have a detailed business continuity plan in place to minimise disruption and ensure safe operations,” he said.

“We are disappointed that some of our employees have chosen to engage in protected industrial action.

“Strike action is disruptive and will not result in a quicker outcome.

“The best way forward is to continue negotiations and focus on reaching agreement.

“We have tabled a package that contains industry-leading conditions, job security protections and measures that keep our operations safe, productive and sustainable.”

It is understood BHP has offered one-to-one replacement of EA employees who leave through natural attrition with new employees covered by the agreement, a commitment to hire additional new employees under the agreement, paid union AGMs for all sites, simplification of the redundancy provision to increase EA protections, increased redundancy pay and no forced redundancies as a result of deployment of Operations Services during the term of the agreement.

In return, the company is seeking a new career structure that includes improved career development to retain and attract a broad range of talent to its business and provide training and development opportunities to all employees.

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

Originally published as Union workers start industrial action at BHP’s Peak Downs, Saraji, Blackwater and Goonyella Riverside mines