PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Miners at diversified miner BHP’s Central Queensland coal mines are undertaking protected industrial action, with bans on overtime and step-up duties in place until further notice.
The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) on Thursday said that the industrial action would affect the Blackwater, Saraji, Peak Downs and Goonyella Riverside operations, and that members at Peak Downs and Goonyella Riverside would take an additional five-hour stoppage on November 4 from 15:00 to 20:00.
The stoppages are timed to facilitate attendance at the Moranbah Miners Memorial event.
MEU Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said protected action would be strategic, measured and responsive to BHP’s willingness to address members’ job security concerns.
“With coal prices so high there is constant pressure to maintain and increase production, so we are confident our bans and stoppages will be felt.
“We are continuing our dialogue with BHP to work through members’ concerns about protecting current and future permanent jobs. We will have no hesitation in ramping up our industrial campaign if members feel that progress is not being made.”
The industrial action followed a ballot last month after BHP reportedly failed to support permanent jobs.