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Peabody again locks out Helensburgh miners

peabody-metropolitan-coal-mine-stock-pileMiners at Helensburgh’s Metropolitan mine in New South Wales have again been locked out by owners, Peabody Energy, after the workforce voted to take further industrial action over a freeze on pay increases.

The seven-day lock-out comes after a similar incident earlier this month which saw the mine stop production for 3 days, as well as two union-instigated 48 hour strikes.

The Illawarra Mercury reports that the industrial action has been taken after employees were told that there would be no pay increase this year. Peabody’s counter offer includes a 2 per cent increase in each consecutive year as well as bonuses.

A Peabody spokesperson said the company “will idle the mine until the CFMEU and bargaining representatives are willing to remove the current disruptive working restrictions”.

“Peabody Energy has been bargaining in good faith throughout the negotiation period, and has put forward numerous offers that are fair and reasonable,” the spokesperson said.

CFMEU south-western district vice president Bob Timbs said the union had been prepared to accept a 12-month agreement but says the deal offered by Peabody would put workers’ wages behind 20 per cent behind those at other operations in the region.

“They’ve offered a substantially reduced pay deal than what other miners within our area are receiving,” Timbs said.

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