BHP could face a strike at its coking coal mines
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Safety operators are threatening to strike at Australian company BHP's coking coal mines in Queensland, while train drivers at its iron ore operations in Western Australia (WA) are refraining from a proposed strike, the Argus reports.
Around 70 to 80 open pit supervisors at five BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) coal mines – Daunia, Blackwater, Saraji, Goonyella Riverside and Peak Downs Mines – are voting on whether to go on strike, with voting closing on December 20. Businesses at all of these mines could be forced to shut down if the operations offices overseeing occupational safety stop work at the same time.
Under Australian law, the OCOs union must notify the BMA of any planned stoppages at least a week in advance, and the first possible disruption to coal production could occur on December 28. BHP hopes to reach an agreement with the unions through negotiations, with the next meeting scheduled for December 13.
Train drivers at BHP's iron ore works voted to go on strike in October, but the strike never took place. Members of the Mines and Energy union have agreed not to take any strikes until a union vote is taken on whether to accept the offer from BHP, which includes higher wages and other conditions. Voting will begin on December 12 and end on December 15.
BHP has joined other mining companies, including the Minerals Council of Australia, in condemning legislation passed by federal parliament last week that forces companies to pay the same amount to all people doing the same job. The provision of the new law could affect how BHP operates its internal contract business Operations Services, which is often paid less per hour and on different terms of employment than workers employed directly by BHP.
BHP says Operations Services gives it the flexibility to carry out work that would normally be carried out by external contractors who don't pay their workers the same as BHP. Unions see this as a way to avoid paying workers higher wages that were agreed upon through collective bargaining.
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