Employees on an even time roster could lose 20 per cent of their earnings in Central Queensland’s Isaac region.
Those considering benefits and drawbacks of working seven days on, seven days off should think again according to the Mining and Energy Union (MEU).
The minimum number of weekly hours is 35 at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA’s) Goonyella Riverside coal mine, 225km southwest of Mackay. This means the proponent could legally reduce each shift from 12.5 to just 10 hours according to MEU.
“We estimate that going back to 10 hour shifts would be a loss of $39,904 per year. That is a big gamble,” the union said in a new fact sheet.
“Depending on which department you work in you at you would lose at least 2.5 hours’ pay every day. That equals to $109.02 for each day worked or $3325.35 per four-week roster cycle.”
The number of permitted overtime shifts significantly decrease when working a 7/7 roster, limiting opportunities to earn extra income.
“According to the fatigue policy you will be only able to do one overtime shift a month after day shift swing. To add insult to injury it will have to be in the middle of your days off, if you travel that means more time away from your family. Currently on the lifestyle roster you can do three a month,” the fact sheet said.
Working an even time roster also requires a four-hour camp after completing the last shift. If this does not happen the risk of fatigue related car accidents jumps from medium to “high to extremely high potential”.
“Unfortunately, 65 people never made it home to their families. That is three people every year for twenty three years,” the fact sheet said.
“There were 1275 single vehicle (single vehicle accidents suggest a high likelihood of fatigue) crashes in the Issac Region in the last 23 years … of those crashes 547 people were hospitalised, meaning they are off work.”
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